By: Anna Kendall
As Central Michigan University’s in-person classes and activities come to a halt for the remainder of the school year, it can feel like other parts of life come to a halt as well. Don’t let your professional development be one of them! Consider these five ways to stay up to date on everything PR and continue career development while staying safe from COVID-19.
Apply for scholarships. There are many scholarships available to PR students through PRSSA national and PRSA Detroit. These scholarships are designed for aspiring PR professionals to help make next semester the best one yet. PRSSA national has more than ten scholarships available with amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2020. Many of the scholarships require letters of recommendation, so it's best to start as soon as possible. On a more local level, the Detroit PRSA Chapter has two scholarships worth $2,000 available for PRSSA members. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2020.
Become certified in a new PR skill. Consider taking time to obtain a certification that will help you learn a new skill and make you more attractive to a potential employer, such as social media analytics or digital advertising. Google offers its certifications for free, and these programs are highly desired by professionals in the communication field. LinkedIn Learning also has a 30-day free trial and a variety of classes you can complete to further develop a PR specific skill or a general career skill.
Examine the response of corporations to COVID-19. Within the last week, you’ve probably received a few dozen emails from various companies telling you what they’re doing to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. Though the first impulse is to send these messages to the trash, consider reading a few of them and examining the content from a PR perspective. What does their response say about the company and its values? How are they addressing various audiences in the message, including employees, customers and investors? Consider what you might have done differently as a PR pro, or what you admired about their response. Share your thoughts and start a conversation with others by writing a LinkedIn post or a blog!
Check out new webinars and podcasts. As a paid PRSSA member, you have access to a variety of webinars on the PRSSA website, covering everything from crisis communications during the coronavirus to communicating with the next generation (hi there, Generation Alpha!). Other professional organizations such as Hootsuite also offer free webinars on a variety of subjects related to digital communication. If webinars aren’t your style, consider adding a new podcast to your morning routine. Some shows such as Pitching PR and Young PR Pros can be especially valuable for students interested in the professional communications industry.
Update your resume, portfolio and LinkedIn. Although the COVID-19 situation may leave you with a lot of time on your hands, consider using it to update your professional documents. Add your most recent jobs and RSO positions to your resume and LinkedIn profile, and add some class or internship pieces you're proud of to your portfolio. Looking for a bigger project? Consider creating an online portfolio. Having your portfolio on a personal website can be especially useful when applying for internships or jobs. Employers may not have time to look at your materials during the interview, but might be interested in reviewing them later. Sites like Wix and WordPress will even allow you to create these websites for free.
Though it may feel as if everything is coming to a stop, you can continue moving forward in your career by completing some of these activities.