1. Public Relations Could this be the career for you?
Introduce purpose for the session and thank students for hosting us.

2. About Us
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is a pre-professional organization for college students interested in public relations and communications.
Take this time to explain the role of PRSSA. Explain how often your Chapter meets and other activities your Chapter does. Also, mention PRSSA as national organization and highlight things like National Conference, National Assembly and Leadership Rally.

3. About YOU
Ask the student group about what careers they want to pursue. If it's a smaller group, you can ask each person. If it's a larger group, you can take volunteers or name some common careers and have students raise their hands if it interests them.

4. What do you think it means?
“Public Relations”
Ask the students, “When you hear “public relations,” what do you think of?” Explain stereotypes vs. reality, based on student responses.

5. Public Relations, Defined
“Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” – PRSA
Define PR. Talk about how it is a mix of different strategies and tactics to build relationships and achieve goals. What does it mean to you?

6. Do you enjoy…. Learning Writing Public speaking Networking
Building relationships
Creating
Researching
Writing
Networking
Telling stories
Offering advice
Reading the news
Solving problems
Using social media
Organizing events
Ask for a show of hands for each item (or all the items).

7. What does this have to do with public relations?
Six Principles of PR
What does this have to do with public relations?
Now tell them how PR uses the activities on the previous slide to solve problems, build relationships and reach goals.

8. Six Principles of PR All about relationships
In PR, relationships are mutually beneficial, meaning both sides get something out of it. It’s just like how you are there for your family, and they are there for you in return. Relationships mean spending time with them and getting to know them. Both sides get value from the relationship.

9. Six Principles of PR All about relationships
Deals with facts, not fiction
Ask, “Can you have a good relationship with someone if you don’t tell the truth?”
Then explain how PR does tell an organization’s truth.

10. Six Principles of PR All about relationships
Deals with facts, not fiction
Connection between organizations and their publics
Communication. Have you ever tried to get one parent to communicate to the other on your behalf? It’s a similar concept.
Conveying information back and forth until understanding is reached. It can also be a persuasive function.

11. Six Principles of PR All about relationships
Deals with facts, not fiction
Connection between organizations and their publics
Uses social sciences
In PR, we use psychology and sociology to understand how to communicate with the public.

12. Six Principles of PR All about relationships
Deals with facts, not fiction
Connection between organizations and their publics
Employs social sciences
Obligation to foresee problems and solve them when they arise
Ask, “Have you ever missed the opportunity to explain a problem to your parents and had it turn into a crisis you both didn’t see coming?”
In PR, there are no such things as pleasant surprises. You have to be proactive.

13. Six Principles of PR All about relationships
Deals with facts, not fiction
Connection between organizations and their publics
Employs social sciences
Obligation to foresee problems and solve them when they arise
Service-oriented
Ask,
Who here volunteers?
Who plays on a team?
In PR we try to put others first. We aren’t always the ones in front of the crowd. We get to have a lot of fun/fulfillment from behind the scenes.

14. Six Principles of PR
Regardless of your career, will you expect to come into contact with:
Relationships?
Facts?
Communication?
Solving problems?
Service?
Show how core skills of PR are applicable to many various professions.

15. Launching Your Career
Talk about how PRSSA is a resource for students interested in PR, advertising and marketing. Explain why you joined, discuss how PRSSA has added to your education and/or discuss why a college education is important for creating a strong future.

16. Want a job in… Nonprofit Healthcare Entertainment Engineering
Automotive
Travel/Tourism
Education
Public Affairs
Fashion
Sports
Finance
Healthcare
Engineering
Technology
Food
Government
Music
Corporate
Agency
Talk about all of the different career paths for PR students. PR is a great field of study, because you can end up in any industry in any city.

17. Social Media: Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want a boss or teacher to see
Security functions aren’t enough
Do create a positive personal brand
Talk about the things students can be doing now to get ahead. Show them how they can use social media to their advantage.

18. Start Getting Experience
You can start determining what you want to do now
Job shadow days
Talk with professionals you know
Volunteer
How can they gain experience? This a great way to invite them to a Chapter meeting or PRSSA hosted event.

19. Connect With Our National Committee
Emma Finkbeiner Immediate Past
Andrew Cook
National
Allyson Berry
Vice President of Member Services
@allysonkberry
Andrew Young
Vice President of External Affairs
@andjyou
Leave this information as is, letting members know they may connect with the National Committee members. (Or, alternatively, alter it to your personal contact information and change the headline accordingly.)
@PRSSANational
PRSSA National
@PRSSANational

20. Questions? Thank You!
Take questions