Graduating, starting your first job or switching careers paths can be an exciting, yet stressful time, as you take a dive into the unknown. Although the transition may seem a bit overwhelming, there are numerous opportunities you can take advantage of to continue advancing your career – one of those being the PRSA New Professionals Section.
The PRSA New Professionals Section is a subset of PRSA national and works to help new professionals build and gain the skills needed for success. Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned professional making the switch to the public relations profession, members are in similar positions with having 0 – 5 years of experience.
Being a part of the New Pros Section is like having the ultimate PR resource in your back pocket for all the challenges a new PR pro faces – how do I negotiate a salary? How can I make connections in a new city? How can I continue to develop my professional brand?
All of these challenges are addressed by a group of similar-minded professionals. Here are three areas where the New Pros Section can help advance your career:
National connection to fellow peers.
There’s nothing like connecting with like-minded peers in similar spots in their career. Within the new pros section, there are more than 1,000 professionals facing the same challenges and situations and sharing their stories, advice and helpful tips. Through monthly New Pros Twitter chats, weekly LinkedIn discussions, connecting with local new pros groups, nationwide events and more, members are connected with peers across the country to share ideas and build relationships.
Content for continued professional development.
It’s oftentimes difficult to keep up with continued education or developing your personal brand when starting a new career. New Pro members have an abundance of resources at their fingertips that are targeted to junior and new PR practitioners. These include the new pros blog, The Edge, brown bag webinars with seasoned professionals, quarterly newsletters and networking through social media channels. These initiatives are tailored to provide a wealth of information for continuous education the foresters the growth of members.
Stepping stone to the PRSA network.
If you’re looking to get involved in your local PRSA chapter or on the national level, the New Pros Section provides an opportunity for members to seamlessly transition from PRSSA or other junior-level opportunities to advance within PRSA through more in-depth volunteering and leadership opportunities. With the ability to connect with the vast PRSA network and step into various roles to gain experience, New Pros members are set up to continue on a successful path in both their career and with PRSA.
Whether you’re looking to share best practices, explore new opportunities, find advice for day-to-day challenges or network with peers in the industry, the PRSA New Professionals Section is a valuable opportunity for any PR newbie or recent PRSSA graduate.
Ashleigh Mavros graduated from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism. She works as an account executive at Fahlgren Mortine, an integrated marketing and communications agency in Columbus, Ohio, and serves as the PRSA National New Professionals blog co-chair. Connect with Ashleigh on LinkedIn and Twitter (@ashleighmavros).
(To find more information or sign up for the New Professionals Section, head to http://www.prsa.org/joinus/howtojoin.)
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