"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a common question we ask young kids? A typical response might be, "A teacher", "A doctor", or "A Lawyer".... But there are a gazillion of other jobs out there! That is why Career Day is such an important experience for kids. Career Day provides an oppprtunity for children to think about what they need to do in order to acheive these goals. Recently, I asked a few of my friends about their dream jobs. Each of them have worked hard ito achieve their goals. Please use this information so that you can strike up conversations with your child about what how to acheive their career goals. Remember.. ANYONE CAN ACHEIVE with determination and guidance. Let's show our kids that anything is possible and that they have to ability to do it! We want our kids to be successful and prosperous in their career. But most importantly we want them to be happy doing what they love.
For our first Virtual Career Day, we will learn about my friend who runs her own, very successful Public Relations Firm. Enjoy!
Virtual Career Day- Public Relations
1. At what age did you discover that this is the career path for you?
By high school I knew I wanted to be engaged in communications & media in some capacity.
2. What are the typical work hours?
Yikes! ;p 14-16 hours a day. Often work on weekends, too, with events
3. Did your job require any formal training?
Not necessarily formal training, although you often can’t crack into this field without at least your BA in communications, journalism. Definitely not without an undergrad degree.
4. What is a typical day like with your occupation?
Depends on your emphasis (specialty). Since mine is lifestyle, I could be managing clients that might range from restaurants and hotels to skateboarders and celebrities. I have responsibilities from running the agency and managing staff to developing and executing strategic communications campaigns, conceptualizing and implementing events developing collateral (press kits, web sites, lots of writing). It really depends on what client I’m working on.
5. Was there an event in your life, or person that made a significant contribution for your career path?
Dr. Donna Friess- a communications professor in college- had a huge impact on me to really push myself. She encouraged me to exceed expectations, aim for my own company, pursue my grad degree, etc.
6. What was the highlight of your career?
Having my son with me at events I’ve worked really hard to produce. He’s walked red carpets, met celebrities, traveled with me ... and always puts a smile on my face no matter how stressful work gets!
7. Do you work mostly alone or with a team of people?
A team of really talented people.
8. What are the most challenging aspects of your career?
It’s very high pressure, very high stakes and while a lot of people think it seems glamorous on the outside, it’s an incredible amount of work to manage a business, manage client expectations, earn publicity, make sure brands are positioned in a way that benefits their businesses, etc. Oh, and the 14-16 hour days ;)
9. If you have any advice for the students to pursue a goal similar to yours, what would you recommend for them to do?
Pursue a degree in PR and get lots of experience before you get your degree. With so many students earning degrees you need to do whatever you can to stand out from the pack. Take internships, volunteer, look for entry level positions where you can learn and grow into a position once you’ve obtained your degree.
