The document provides career advice from a communications coordinator. It discusses choosing a public relations major after initially studying chemistry and journalism. It emphasizes the importance of building a portfolio through unpaid work to gain experience. The document recommends having an eye-catching resume that stands out from templates and filling the entire page. It also stresses reading the interviewers and infusing personality during answers.

2. HI, MY NAME IS __________.
• BS in Public Relations in May 2010, MA in Communication in December
2011; both from Missouri State
• Communications Coordinator at WRVEC; January 2012
• Fun facts!
• KITTENS!
• CrossFit
• Grew up in KC
• Oldest of three girls (my poor father)
• Sweaters

3. HOW I ENDED UP IN PUBLIC RELATIONS
• Started as a freshman with a chemistry major and a career goal in
forensices (Hah.)
• Ditched chemistry two weeks into the first semester.
• Switched to journalism and started working at The Standard.
• Realized the job outlook for print journalism was not so great.
• How can I use the credits I already have?
• Voila! Public relations.

4. WANT A JOB? BE UNIQUE!
• What about you makes you stand out?
• Not just talking about academics or portfolio.
• How extreme couponing helped me land my job.

5. BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO & RESUME NOW
• Work for free now, get paid in the long run.
• Find opportunities to build your portfolio outside of the classroom.
• Compile your portfolio and resume online. Build as you go.
• christinaswaters.com
• Think critically about your resume.
• Have an eye-catching design. No Word templates! Ever.
• Big, bold name. Small contact info.
• Fill the whole page. If you think you have enough information for two
pages, you must fill the entire second page. If you can’t fill the page, you
don’t need a second page.

6. READ THE ROOM
• Learn to read the room and read the people who are interviewing you.
• Know how to infuse your personality into the answers you give.
• Ask questions and place yourself in the job when you ask them.
• If I started this job tomorrow, what would my first project be?
• How will my skills fit in with the department?

7. REVIEW
Remember that there are likely 10 others with the same credentials and
portfolio as you interviewing for the same position, so make sure you can
make yourself stand out.
• Make your resume bold and memorable.
• Let your personality out in your interview.
• Find something that’s unique about yourself and make sure you talk
about it.

8. QUESTIONS?