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Need Career Guidance? Pose a Question to the“Ask the Experts” Forum
If you have questions about your job search, turn to our career experts and get the edge you need. Members of PRSA’s College of Fellows are ready and willing to help you with two programs:
Ask the Experts: Answers to quick questions about your job search. Examples include:
- How should I respond to these types of interview questions: "Tell me about yourself” or "What are your salary requirements?”
- How can I develop a network? Where do I start?
- What am I doing wrong? I send out resumes but never get interviews.
- How long should I wait after an interview to hear from an employer?
To ask a question, scroll down to the question form and fill it out. When you’re ready to submit it, click the "Submit Question" button at the bottom. Many of your questions may already be answered in the more than 300 responses listed below so you may wish to review them first.
Mentor-Match: In-depth coaching. Examples include:
- Resume review
- Interview coaching
- Individual career assessment and coaching
- Tips for dealing with current job situations
There are currently 457 questions posted.
You are currently viewing questions 1 thru 5.
| posted: April 5,2013 02:51 PM -- submitted by: Dan D. | |
| Q1: | Hello There, I am curently worked at Viacom/ MTV Networks as a project-based Digitial PA. My position began on December 3rd with a 6 month stint ending on May 31. I know I do good work and I want to stay, but I am struggling to find the best way to havea conversation with my supervisor regarding the possibility of me staying or if I should start editing my resume. What's the best way to make the first move? Dan |
| A1: | Dan, I'm sorry no one responded sooner. Just found your request today. Have you talked with your supervisor about the work you are doing, asked for suggestions of what to continue doing, what to do more of and what to stop doing? Once he or she has given you an idea of your performance, you could then talk with him or her about your desire to continuing working for the company if a position were to become available. Good luck. Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA expert response from: Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA |
| posted: April 5,2013 02:49 PM -- submitted by: Arpit | |
| Q2: | I am a student doing engineering in Applied Petroleum. I had to follow this career path in certain unfavourable circumstances. I'd rather be a successful computer person in my life. I have good knowledge of computer languages and of computer in general. I really want to follow my dream. I want to know if it'd be possible for me to switch my career path after doing job in this sector for, say, 2-3 years? Is there any course or something to enable this? Pls Help!! |
| A2: | Arpit, Thank you for your email. PRSA is a professional organization for people in the public relations and communications field. We are not able to help you with issues related to computers and IT. Good luck in your career search. Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA expert response from: Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA |
| posted: March 14,2013 06:25 PM -- submitted by: Kristin | |
| Q3: | I have recently completed a PhD in Communication from a research university. After a year of working as a professor, I have decided I would like to enter the practice. I am worried my PhD may "scare" potential employers. I am more than willing to start at the bottom. How can I communicate this to potential employers? I have held several PR internships and have worked on grant funded projects to develop and evaluate communication plans, so I am starting with some relevant experience. |
| A3: | I actually would not list your Ph.D. credential unless working for a pharmaceutical company or an organization that would value the credential. When I was working in the industry, I did not advertise the fact that I was studying for my doctorate. My boss would have been threatened by it. I would feature your internships and funded projects. Suzanne FitzGerald expert response from: Susanne Sparks FitzGerald, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA |
| posted: February 26,2013 10:13 AM -- submitted by: Marci | |
| Q4: | I currently work in fundraising but would like to make the transition to PR at an agency. Fundraising is a subset of pr but I just don't know how to translate this into interviews. |
| A4: | Marci, I agree you will have to paint a picture during interviews that demonstrates how your skills would transfer. You might begin by creating a chart of the skills you use in fundraising that parallel public relations skills. When you give examples of work you have done, you can make those parallel. This will demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge needed for public relations. You might also consider earning your accreditation (APR) which will help you tell that story. It will also freshen some of the PR skills, knowledge and abilities you don't currently use everyday. I also recommend requesting informational interviews to learn more about agencies to understand if that is where you want to work next. Good luck, Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA expert response from: Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA |
| posted: February 25,2013 02:48 PM -- submitted by: Carling Spelhaug | |
| Q5: | I'm working on a graduate school project, and I'm wondering if you might have data that's relevant to my work. I'm looking for a data set of titles of communications professionals with roughly five years of work experience (all or most in a communications field). Ideally, the titles would relate to people who work in a corporate setting, but if you have anything, or could point me to anything, that might be relevant, please let me know. |
| A5: | Carling-- I have emailed you and attached pages from the "Public Relations Professional Career Guide" published by the PRSA Foundation some years ago. It contains titles and brief job descriptions for 7 levels of profesional growth within several types of organizations. The publication may still be available through PRSA's Book Store. expert response from: Jim Haynes, APR, Fellow PRSA |
| posted: February 15,2013 01:11 PM -- submitted by: Gautam Banthia | |
| Q6: | Dear Sir, I am studying CA, planning to do MBA course. In near future i want to make my own investment bank. Please give me Guidence about this Business, how to start it, risk, expansion, thank you... |
| A6: | Our mission is to serve public relations professionals. We are not able to provide the kind of information you are seeking. Good luck in your class work and your business venture. Regards, Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA expert response from: Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA |
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