A Cautionary Tale from an Elder Gen-Y’er

I’ve been very lucky to meet some amazing PR grads via the social media circuit.  Ambitious, motivated, optimistic and just plain friendly.  They remind me of me when I was fresh out of college.  I felt like I could take on the world, pull no punches., no one was going to get my way.  I’m here world, BRING IT ON!

So I decided to share some of my advice and experience with those new grads and other amazing Gen-Y folks I have met and have yet to meet.  Due to my uber-organized Type-A brain I must put this is a Top 10 list for your viewing pleasure.  My first five will start today and I’ll end with the  rest tomorrow so stay tuned.

1.)  Do internships.  Only in college.  (Or within a year of graduation)

Internships for those of you in the marketing industry are essential.  Especially done during your college semesters or summer break.  (Yes, summer break…suck it up, you can deal!)

My first internship started after my sophomore year and it was actually paid, which worked out perfect for the rest of my college career.  It was with a Fortune 500 company, which was flexible with my school schedule.  I worked full-time in the summer and it was flexible if I had other internships.  It also gave me my first look into the corporate world.  (These are CLUTCH internships, if you can find them, take FULL advantage)

That next summer I  interned at a radio station, unpaid.  But the experience was totally worth it.  I saw the really fun and interactive side of marketing and promotions and of course the “dirty” side of radio.  Face it, you’ll see a lot of stuff you never thought you would, but think of it as a sign that you just aren’t fit for it.  That was my experience.

The following fall semester of my junior year I went on to intern (also unpaid) with the Buffalo Sabres. Awesome experience except that I had very inexperienced supervisors.  Another thing you may find is that if your “internship supervisors” are not older than you and low on the totem pole, get ready to really be treated unfairly.  However, just another learning experience, that you’ll find hopefully one day saying “I will NEVER treat an intern like that”.

2.)  Don’t let anyone tell you your bachelors (or master’s) degree isn’t worth anything

Sorry guys.  It’s going to happen.  Especially now.   Now that much of our generation is attending and graduating from college, you are a dime a dozen. Especially if you are a marketing/communications major.  And frankly, I don’t care what Big 10 or SEC school you went to, there will be 20 others just as good as you up for that job.

Set yourself apart.  Does it mean going to grad school?  Possibly.  I absolutely loved my graduate school experience.  Proposals and market research for just about ever class AND I studied international marketing in China.  It was a once in a lifetime experience that the student loans I now have to pay don’t bother me.  (Ok yes, it sucks to pay a car payment every month, but I have a master’s degree…not a shiny new beamer.  No worries…I’ll have 5 in my driveway one day…but I digress) Many schools are offering degrees in Integrated Marketing Communications , St. Bonaventure’s IMC program was my choice and I’ll never regret it!

3.)  Trademark any personal branding logo

Hopefully now that you are a graduate, soon to be, or have for a few years, you have started to develop your own personal brand.  This is essential.  Yet another way to stand apart from the crowd.

However, my first piece of advice is:  trademark that logo… ASAP!  I got screwed.  My awesome husband, designed a quirky logo that fit my “Glass Half Full” brand.  Within 2 months another small PR agency used said logo (mind you they twisted it slightly) but all in all…the damage was done.  Trademarking your stuff is not expensive and take it from me, a very essential thing to do if you plan on using this personal brand for a long time.  Here is some more info on trademarking.

**Editor’s note:  Have no fear, Glass Half Full Communications is in the midst of a big re-branding campaign that will be bigger and better than ever. And you can bet your ass it’ll be trademarked.

4.)  Don’t work for free unless:

a.) You never did internships during college

b.) You are volunteering for a great cause

Don’t do it.  No matter what anyone tells you.  “Oh if you work for us for 3 months, we promise you’ll be first in line, when we start to hire again.”  Because of this economy many companies (especially small agencies) are looking for very inexpensive help and offering a lot of empty promises.  If you are not careful (and trust people way too much) you will get burned.  Take my advice, work for very little instead of working for free.  Or suck it up, and work a job that is not in your career field until you can find one that is.  Just DO NOT work for free.  Please.

5.)  Pick and choose your battles

If you are a bit of a strong-willed, independent and firecracker like I am, you need to really choose your battles.  You will find many people you work with professionally are most likely not looking out for your best interests.  Instead of blowing up or getting angry,  try to peacefully resolve the issue, or decide whether the situation is really right for you.  Some battles deserve and need a good fight, but be professional, be honest and stand your ground.  And then some will get you no where, so honestly, take that energy and focus it in the positive.  YOU!

Alright, so maybe some of this stuff didn’t sound so “glass half full” as you may have expected.  Here’s my thing.  I WISH I would have had someone tell me some of this stuff.  Would it have kept me from doing what I’ve done?  Maybe not.  But I may have proceeded with a bit more caution.  Any of you reading this have obviously taken some time to put a lot into your budding career.  You are out there, interacting, engaging and meeting new people.  You are doing the right thing.  What happens between the time you graduate and maybe 30 (Only a number people, I only choose that as my “really need to grow up age”)  is all a learning experience.  It will not end your career.

So take it all in, learn from it and don’t forget to focus on the YOU!

Tags: advice, career, Gen-Y, PR