Gaining PR experience meeting recap

Public relations students are constantly challenged by internship and post-graduation employers to seek relevant work experience. Kent State University offers PR students many opportunities to gain that experience on campus. PRSSA Kent invited four professionals to speak to students in round-table discussions about job opportunities at Flash Communications, IdeaBase and the Department of Recreation Services.

Luke Armour, Coordinator of Flash Communications

Flash Communications is Kent State University’s internal communication team, hiring public relations and communications majors to create content for the university’s website, newsletter and magazine. According to Armour, students produce 10-20 pieces  of writing for their portfolios after just one semester working with Flash.

As a member of the Flash Communications team, students can:

• write university news and feature stories
• create unique blog posts according to personal special interests
• develop social media content
• work special university events

To apply for a position at Flash, email Armour a résumé and a list of completed JMC classes.

Allison Ewing, Associate at True Digital Communications

Allison Ewing ’11, PRSSA Kent professional advisor and former president, returned to her alma mater to talk about the experiences she had in college that made a good impression when she applied for internships and jobs. As a student, Ewing worked at Flash Communications and used the work she completed there to gain an internship at Akron Children’s Hospital.

“At Flash, I was mentored,” Ewing said. “The edits on my stories helped me to grow as a professional, and I think that really set me apart when I was applying for my internship.”

Ewing also said that her involvement in PRSSA helped her stay organized and learn leadership skills that she uses at True Digital today.

Abby Millsaps, Marketing Coordinator of the Department of Recreation Services

Each year, Millsaps hires six to nine students for the Department of Recreation Services’ marketing team. In addition to writing press releases and creating social media content, students on the marketing team get to help plan and run special late-night events, such as the Outlast the Outbreak zombie apocalypse event this past fall.

Millsaps will be looking for a new team member this April, so students should check the Recreation Services website for a job posting sometime in March, regardless of their class standing.

“My team is mostly juniors right now, but I never rule out underclassmen,” Millsaps said. “Underclassmen are great because I get to have you for a few years. You have the opportunity to work your way up to a leader of the team.”

Evan Bailey, IdeaBase Operations Manager

“Every job is different,” Bailey said, “like snowflakes: perfect and completely different.”

A job at IdeaBase, Kent State’s student-staffed advertising agency, is no exception. Students who work at IdeaBase have paid positions in an agency setting with clients as small as local businesses or as big as national brands like Little Tikes.

“To work in an agency, you have to be a chameleon,” Bailey said. “When you’re working with a client, you have to have character, charisma and confidence.”

Public relations students typically complete the following tasks at IdeaBase:

• facilitate both quantitative and qualitative research
• create content on social media and websites
• proofread promotional materials as needed

Any interested students should email Bailey a cover letter and résumé.