Career advice (how to get a job and what to do once you get it) plus a crash course in internal communications for public relations students. Presentation originally given to students in the post-grad PR program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. Twenty-five years of PR experience condensed into 28 slides.

1. Advice for launching your
career and making your mark
in internal comms
Nov. 20
Mohawk Post-grad Public Relations Program

2. WHY ARE
YOU HERE??

3. Will you graduate
into a job
next spring?

4. Use informational
interviews to grow your
network of PR pros who
can refer you, hire you &
sing your praises.
Start now. Do two a week
until you graduate or
get a job offer.

5. FYI - your marks don’t matter.

6. GOOD CLASSMATE
GOOD COLLEAGUE

7. Anything and everything
you post on social media
can and will be used
against you during the
recruitment process.
Please clean up & lock
down your accounts.

8. CAUTIONARY TALE: Kickass Masterminds publicly shames 24-year-old intern. Intern fights
back & generates global coverage. Marketing firm deletes Twitter account, website and
makes Instagram page private. This incident still tops search engine results for both.

9. THE JOB
INTERVIEW

10. Research the organization, the leader
and the person you’d report to.
How do your values align with the organization’s values?
Why does the organization’s mission and vision inspire you?

11. Ace the airport test.
Would your future
boss actually enjoy
spending 4 hours
stuck at an airport
with you?

12. • Send a thank-you card.
Send a thank-you card after every informational and job interview.

13. ON THE JOB

14. Don’t pretend you’re this on day one. Or ever.

15. Put away your phone, talk less
and do more of this.

18. INTERNAL
COMMS 101

19. For employees, it’s always
me before we.

20. 3 questions employees want answered:
What do you want me to start doing?
What do you want me to stop doing?
What do you want me to continue doing?

21. “There are two things people want more than
sex and money…recognition and praise.”
- Mary Kay Ash

22. Everyone wants
to be part of a
winning team
so always be
pushing the
pride button.

23. Your leader is
not the hero.
Your organization is
not the hero.
The people your
organization serves
and the people who
do the heavy lifting
on the frontlines
are the heroes.

24. Build stories around ordinary people who do extraordinary things
and who represent the very best of your organization.

25. How to make your mark in internal comms:
Treat everyone with respect.
Be curious about everything.
Be one of your organization’s best writers.
Have strong news judgment.
Be courageous – say what everyone’s thinking.
Be a proactive problem-solver.
Be genuinely proud of your organization.
Be well-connected & respected.

27. Your leader
is the QB.
You’re the
left tackle.

28. Best parts of working in internal comms
You get immediate and constant feedback
from your colleagues. They’ll tell you if your
work matters and makes a difference.
You get to recognize and shine a spotlight
on outstanding colleagues who do
remarkable work and make a difference.