Holly McFall is a public relations professional on hiatus to be a stay at home mom. She is also the founder of the fabulous football blog for women, Girls on Football. She has some advice for any ladies out there in the field of Communication:
1) The main thing I wish I had known before starting my first job was: Nobody knows the difference between Public Relations and Marketing. Most companies figure they go hand in hand and consider both jobs a function of the "Marketing Department". I studied PR. In my college curriculum, Marketing was a completely different major. Different classes, projects, and requirements. I feel that either businesses should start understanding that these two functions are separate or colleges should recognize that the business world is grouping them together and start a major that incorporates both so the graduate is prepared to step into a role as both PR and Marketing Expert. Because in the situations I have witnessed, Marketing Departments are not very big and one person is required to do Marketing, PR, MultiMedia, etc.
1) The main thing I wish I had known before starting my first job was: Nobody knows the difference between Public Relations and Marketing. Most companies figure they go hand in hand and consider both jobs a function of the "Marketing Department". I studied PR. In my college curriculum, Marketing was a completely different major. Different classes, projects, and requirements. I feel that either businesses should start understanding that these two functions are separate or colleges should recognize that the business world is grouping them together and start a major that incorporates both so the graduate is prepared to step into a role as both PR and Marketing Expert. Because in the situations I have witnessed, Marketing Departments are not very big and one person is required to do Marketing, PR, MultiMedia, etc.
2) One "Do" for young professional women: Do attack your job with a positive attitude. Even if you are overqualified or in a temporary job, a positive attitude is noticed and admired.
One "Don't": Don't get discouraged at managements lack of inspiration or resistance to brilliant ideas. Your creativity will be appreciated someday.
Another "Don't": Be friendly with all your co-workers but don't get locked into any one clique as management will sart to judge you based on aquaintances and not your performance.Can we second that one about being judged based on your office clique? Amen!
