As a Truscott Rossman intern and a junior at MSU, of course I’m thinking about my post-graduation plans. I read an article called, “6 Things Young PR Pros Should Know to Land a Job.”
The first point was: “Understand that PR is more than press releases and parties.”
That’s a popular misconception among PR students. It also made me think about other myths that my internship at Truscott Rossman has busted.
Myth #1: You’re a great writer in class, so you will be a great writer on the job.
Definitely not, and you learn this quickly! Every single word has to carry its weight in the real PR world. Every one! It takes time to perfect your writing, so new writers will benefit from a PR pro’s revisions. Believe me, I know…
Myth #2: PR is only about writing and strategy.
Don’t forget about media relations! This aspect of PR isn’t stressed in classes, but I’ve learned how important it is to know which reporters work at which media outlets and what they cover. There’s no better way to learn that than through hands-on experience.
Myth #3: PR is glamorous work.
Yes, it’s exciting— no, it’s not always glamorous. Lots of tedious behind-the-scenes work needs to be done before holding a news conference or speaking with the media, including perfecting your messaging. PR isn’t always easy work, but it’s satisfying working on projects knowing that you’re helping clients achieve their goals.
I hope I haven’t scared off any potential TR interns. The reality, though, is that PR is challenging but exciting work. Glamorous? Not so much.
