NEED PR EXPERIENCE IN COLLEGE? VOLUNTEER.

Cliché alert, CoMC students! Think outside the box.

This oft-overused phrase really is a simple way to look at gaining experience in a communications-related field. Too often I hear from students who lament the “lack of opportunities” for internships and meaningful on-the-job, applied practice, and paid employment while in college.

My following ramble is intended to provide some ideas and examples around volunteering and the personal and professional value that can be gained from offering your time in exchange for experience. Basically, opportunities are all around you. Just think out...well, you know.

So, as we jump into the how-to portion of this piece, some key points to remember:

• If you can work on a volunteer basis, more opportunities will present themselves.

• Volunteering gives you more flexibility with hours, so you can work another job to support personal and educational costs you may have.

Now, “how can I get experience in communications?”

Volunteer. It’s as simple as that. There are many ways to accomplish this. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Contact a PR/Marketing/Advertising agency and offer to volunteer.

2. Contact a non-profit organization and offer to volunteer.

3. Contact a business and offer to volunteer.

4. Contact an office on campus and offer to volunteer (there are paid positions across campus as well).

5. Look for upcoming events in Lubbock (or wherever you attend college) or your hometown and offer the host organization your services in exchange for experience. PRO TIP: Don’t do this a week prior to the event. Plan in advance.

Some businesses may not know they need communications assistance until you talk to them about it.

Countless Texas Tech students have gained invaluable experience and bolstered their resumes over the years by volunteering. Some real-life examples of Red Raiders getting it done:

• Every year I offer students contact information for various college football bowl games and other athletic events in Texas and each year students end up working these events (save 2020 due to COVID). A few years ago, one student took it upon herself to work three different bowl games (two in Dallas and one in San Antonio) over one Christmas break and two Big 12 Conference championship events during the year. She is now living her dream as a successful sports broadcaster.

• In this recent spring semester, a student worked remotely for a PR agency, while continuing her classes at Texas Tech. She ended up – as a student – leading a research team on a project and has been retained through the summer for another project.

• One of the biggest deficits I experienced working in college athletic communications was a lack of student assistance during the holidays. A student from San Antonio a few years ago asked how she could gain experience. She ended up volunteering over the Christmas break with two universities in her hometown working games as a member of the media team (all while keeping her Guns Up, of course!).

• Another student got in contact with a university athletic communications office in Houston ahead of that school hosting the NCAA Men’s Basketball first/second rounds. She worked the event over spring break, made valuable contacts and is now a director of communications of an NCAA Division I athletic program.

• At least two students of which I'm aware went back to their small hometowns during the summer and worked in the municipal offices doing various tasks related to communications.

Opportunities are not going to fall before you, waiting on you to seize them. Be proactive, explore, reach out, and gain experience. Are you going to be turned down? Certainly. All you need is one opportunity to set you up for the next. It’s as simple as that. Don’t give up. Don’t get discouraged. Kick butt.

As always, you have a network of faculty, staff and alumni ready to help you succeed. Use them.

Good luck!