Answering “How is the job search going?” and other awkward questions during summer break

Summer break is a time for rest and relaxation, but it isn’t completely stress-free.

One of the greatest stressors of the sunny season is the barrage of questions from family members and friends who are dying to know answers to their inquiries that you might not know yourself.

These questions can blindside you at barbecues, birthday parties, or even family vacations, so it is important to be ready to answer them without letting your emotions get out of hand.

Here are some of the most common and uncomfortable questions you may get asked this summer, and tips on how to answer them:

1. “What do you do in your major?”- This question is so predictable for PR majors that most of us already have an eye roll on standby. However, it is important to remember that at one point, you may not have had a complete definition of your major, and you may have struggled to figure out where your studies would take you in the real world. Most PR students still have trouble finding a fitting definition for our major even after we have become upperclassmen! It can be helpful to speak about your favorite classes in PR or even describe the areas of PR that interest you the most. That way, you aren’t reciting a textbook definition, and you are explaining your interest in the field as well.

2. “Aren’t you worried about finding a job?”- This question is so forward, it may knock you off your feet when you first hear it. Unfortunately, people may ask you these kinds of questions, and even though it may sting at the time, it is important to be honest with your answer and be confident in your abilities. You can be honest if you are a bit nervous, but focus on the experiences you have had (such as internships) and classes you have taken that have prepared you for the professional world, and bulk up your answer with reasons that you are confident in yourself and your future job search.

3. “How is the job search going?”- Recent graduates are already under stress trying to find jobs, and random questions regarding the search can not only be annoying, but also upsetting. It is important to keep in mind that most people are not asking maliciously, and are only curious to see what your plans are. If you have a job secured, congratulations, but if not, don’t feel ashamed. Answer the question truthfully, and try not to get upset. It could be possible that the person asking has a position in mind for you to look into!

What do you think of these answers to these common questions? Let us know!

What I Learned From PRowl Public Relations

I'm allowed to get a little sappy for my last blog post, right?

Interviewing for PRowl was the best decision I made in my four years as a Temple Owl. I have met the most amazing people, learned more than I ever imagined possible and had the greatest experience I could have hoped for. PRowl helped me grow and be confident and try new things. Being a part of Temple's first and only student run firm not only solidified my knowledge that I chose the right career path, but it also taught me a lot and I've listed some of the most important things below:

1. We're all just trying to find our way
From freshman year through until graduation, we're all just trying to be the best we can be.

2. Your "competition" are also your biggest supporters
Yes, you'll be competing with your peers for jobs; but they're also going to be the ones you call when you get your dream job. Don't burn bridges.

3. You can learn as much from your peers as you can from your professors
Everyone has a unique perspective and their own expertise. Learn from those around you.

4. No challenge is too big or too small
You can handle anything with the support of the right team. Remember, you're not above anything.

5. People are inherently good
Your peers, your professors, the community and everyone in between wants you to succeed and are more than willing to help you get their if you're willing to make the effort.

Thank you to each and every member of PRowl, past and present for making my college experience amazing. I can't wait to see the firm grow and succeed even more.

Spend Spring Break Thinking About Post-Grad

Spring break is the perfect time to start thinking about post-grad opportunities. You finally have some free time to start planning your course of action.

Grad school?
Full-time internship?
Full-time job?
Travel?
Move back home?

The possibilities are endless to the point where soon-to-be graduates are practically drowning in them. If you're anything like me you have about a thousand questions and a lot of different ideas (some irrational, some totally plausible) about what's going to happen after May.

If you're considering grad school, here's a great resource from Pearson that offers the why's and why not's, FAQ's and other helpful resources to answer all your questions.

If you're not quite ready to enter the real-world workforce, a full-time internship this summer is a great alternative. You can gain more experience without the pressure of committing to a real job.

If you have a yen for travel now is the time. Ask for a trip for your graduation present! If you don't go now, you might never go at all. The only people who have more free time than recent grads are retired seniors.

Are you looking to save some money? Moving back home is something many post-grads do. As long as you're sure you're doing it to save money and not just hide from your real-world responsibilities, it can be a sensible option.

If you're totally ready to start your full-time job then spring break is the ideal time to start looking around and applying. Make a list of the places you might like to be and then search for companies, organizations or agencies in those places. Be aware of what type of environment you want to work in; is it formal where you have to wear business professional or are you looking for an informal place where you can wear jeans? A company's website can tell you a lot about the atmosphere.

Some great job resources are LinkedIn groups, Indeed.com, CareerBuilder.com or your college or university's career center!

What are some ways you're preparing for post-graduation? Not planning on looking for jobs for a while? Tell us why!

Why Are PR Students Taking Jobs in Other Fields?

As graduation looms closer each day, the job hunt has begun for many college seniors. When chatting with fellow classmates about where they might see themselves post-grad, many have told me that they have no intention of actually going into public relations. To a PR-obsessed person like me, this sounds absurd (why would you ever want to do anything else, am I right?) but it's something that actually happens a lot.

There are several reasons why people who have dedicated four years of their life to studying this field might not want to end up in it:

Lack of internships
Classroom learning is great, but there's nothing like the real thing. If you don't get internships in college you have no way of learning the ins and outs of real-world public relations. It's a lot more hands-on and a lot more fun.

Letting a bad experience change your path
A lot of people have had that one teacher who told them "you're not going to make any money" "all you do is busy work" and that deters them from wanting to pursue a career in PR. Rather than take one person's opinions and basing your decisions on them, make sure you're asking around and seeing what the reality is.

PR was never what you wanted to do in the first place
Public relations, marketing and advertising go hand-in-hand and every university has a different way of teaching each subject. Sometimes the three are integrated in classroom teachings and sometimes they are kept completely separate. In the case of schools that keep them separate, you might come in thinking you want to do PR, not really understanding what it's all about and actually marketing would be a better fit--but you'll never know. Make sure you do a lot of research before you choose your major and always, always take classes outside of your field!

Of course there are people who spend all four years studying a subject and just end up finding a different path that works better for them. That's great! Before you make that crucial choice, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.

Have you or someone you know experienced this? Share your story!

PRowl's Senior Farewell

With graduation right around the corner, PRowl Public Relations honored its senior members in its last meeting of the semester yesterday. Each and every graduating member have made their mark on this organization and will never be forgotten. PRowl's 2013 graduates have helped to make PRowl Public Relations what it is today and will truly be missed. 

We are also saying goodbye to our 2012-2013 Firm Director, Samantha Wanner. She has been an amazing leader and true inspiration to all of our members! Check out @SamsPRowlLegacy on Twitter to see what our members had to say about her!

Here's to wishing to seniors good luck to the next chapter of their lives!

Katherine Carpenter

Kyra Mazurek

Samantha Miller

Jessica Ross

Emily Storz

Samantha Wanner 

Congratulations To Our 2012 PRowl Graduates!

Thousands of families converged yesterday to celebrate graduation day at Temple University. Broad Street was jam packed with graduates, family and friends. 

The class of 2012 filed into the Liacouras Center for the 125th commencement. It's the largest graduating class in the school's history with more than 8,600 bachelor, graduate, and first professional degrees.

Attending the ceremony for the School of Communication and Theater was bittersweet. Among those 8,600 were seven of some of our finest Prowlers! Although I am especially saddened to see these great members leave us, I know that each and every one of them have a very bright future ahead of them.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES:

Emily Ascani, former Assistant Firm Director

Doug Bennett, former Director of Finance and Account Executive

Alex Crispino, former Account Executive

Kurie Fitzgerald, former Staff Member

Niki Ianni, former Firm Director

Steve Jacobs, former Staff Member

Frank Kunkle, former Staff Member

From all of us at PRowl Public Relations, we wish all of you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors!

This post was made by PRowl Public Relations E-Board member Kaitlyn Sutton.