3 tips to help PR students succeed in the ‘real world’

If young people can master the three key topics we discussed, they’ll be fine as they enter any industry.

1. Have a point of view, and do something with it.

Be the person who’s doing something interesting, not the person looking for a job. Create something. Be proactive, and learn as much as you can about the people, issues, technologies, and news affecting your industry.

Discuss it with other people. Blog about it. Tweet about it.

Whichever way you’d like to show your point of view is fine, but you can‘t be afraid to do it. When I hit “publish” on a blog post, it means I stand behind what I’ve said. Doing this is crucial to professional success.

Two things have come up in every job interview I’ve had: my blog and my photography. Employers care about people who do something with their point of view. Be that person. Stand out.

Don’t just take my word for it. Take it from Gary Vaynerchuk, one of the most successful entrepreneurs out there and a thought leader in social media and business. I caught up with him at SXSW and asked him what his one piece of advice for college students would be. Listen.