Why your PR career may start with a post-grad internship

Hats off to those PR students who recently graduated, and to those who are about to walk, both in your commencement ceremony and into the next chapter of your lives.

You are likely focused on your job search. Many grads will quickly realize that they don’t have what it takes to get that entry-level job. “Entry-level” would seem to indicate that there’s no experience required, but in PR, things work a bit differently. Most entry-level public relations jobs ask for at least one year of experience. In some cases, they may also ask for additional skills such as graphic design, publication layout, and Web coding, which are historically outside the realm of traditional PR or summer internships. While it can seem frustrating that to get work experience, it’s a necessity, and there is a way to get it: the post-graduate internship.