Share this:

I’ll never get to look back on my last semester of college and think about the angst, nerves or rejection that students encounter when putting themselves out in the job market. I don’t have to devote my Spring Break to sending out resumes and blind cover letters to every company with the words “PR, “Marketing”, “Advertising” or “Agency” in the name, hoping for at least an acknowledgement. Why not? Because I have been fortunate enough to find an agency, interview and receive a job offer more than three months before my May 8 graduation date. 

Here’s the story

While I’ve been active in the social media world for quite some time now, it has only been in the past few months that I have really put myself out there and engaged with other PR students and practitioners, and I have already gained so much by doing so, including a job.

One afternoon, I saw that someone I follow on Twitter had retweeted a comment that @jeffmello had made, so I looked around his profile like I usually do when I see a new person pop up. I followed him, and when he thanked me for the follow, we started a conversation. As luck would have it, he had just taken on a new position with Force Marketing and happened to be looking for talent to bring on board in the new Digital Marketing department. After  sending him my resume and writing samples, we scheduled a phone interview, which led to a day trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Alpharetta, GA for an in-person interview with Jeff and the CEO of Force Marketing.

You know how they say when something is right, you just know? Well that’s the exact feeling that I had after leaving the interview, and apparently they felt the same way. I got a call only a few hours later and was offered a post-grad position, and even some freelance work until I join the team in May. 

I will be joining Force Marketing, a full service advertising agency in the automotive industry, this May in what I consider to be my dream position. I will be brought on as in-house PR, but have endless opportunities to contribute in other ways with my new position. A follow-up companion piece will be in order once I begin and can describe my responsibilities more in depth

Why do I think this happened?

I truly believe I have Twitter, and social media in general, to thank  for this opportunity. It’s one of those situations where you’re just in the right place at the right time, and things work out for the best. 

I hope my unique experience will encourage more students to engage with other students and professionals, build up their online presences, take risks and put themselves out there. You never know when your comment on someone’s blog or a RT will peak the right person’s interest and make your job hunting experience easy, enjoyable and ending with the ideal situation: your first entry-level PR position right out of college.

Advertisement