Past award recipients, Amanda Paterson and Jessica Chong, give their advice to aspiring applicants
Students may be wondering if they should apply for the CPRS Toronto’s Student of the Year, awarded annually at the Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Gala. If you’re involved in your community or the public relations industry, you should take the chance, apply for the award and put yourself out there.
From agency to in-house communications department, the last two recipients of the CPRS Toronto Student of the Year award took different paths and here’s where they are today:
What’s been the most rewarding part of winning the CPRS Toronto’s Student of the Year?
Amanda: Winning the award means that I have the CPRS name behind me whenever I am job hunting. I feel confident that I can leverage that recognition into better opportunities in the future.
Jessica: I had ton of fun volunteering with the CPRS and working with the CPRS Toronto Student Steering Committee – so the most rewarding part of the award was having made those genuine connections with people in the public relations community.
Where are you working now?
Amanda: I’m currently on maternity leave from my position as a Communications Specialist at Baycrest Health Sciences.
Jessica: I’ve been at High Road since June and I’m currently an account coordinator.
What’s your day-to-day role?
Amanda: I am responsible for planning and executing internal and external communications plans. My day-to-day includes pitching journalists and editors, writing for web and social media, producing and designing our staff newsletter, and developing marketing strategies for Baycrest’s programs for seniors.
Jessica: My day-to-day schedule changes often and I love how fast-paced an agency setting can be. My role can vary on the digital side and include content calendar creation, web writing, social measurement, community management, influencer relations and sometimes even live-tweeting at events like Taste of Toronto.
Has your path in PR changed from what you wanted when you were a student or freshly graduated?
Amanda: I had worked in healthcare marketing prior attending my post-grad, and wanted to continue in that field afterward. It’s an interesting place to be.
Jessica: Before starting my post-grad, originally I wanted to work in-house in a communications department because I didn’t know too much, if anything, about agency life. Going through a post-grad program was my first introduction to agency life. What drew me to agency was how challenging and rewarding it could be to support multiple accounts.
What’s your advice to current PR students aspiring to win the award?
Amanda: Treat your program like a job and your teachers like your managers. Impress your faculty and they will be happy to write nomination letters for you.
Jessica: Think about what you can contribute to the public relations industry in the future and what you’ve already contributed. Don’t discount your past experiences before your post-grad or non-PR experience. Sometimes those experiences help paint a more holistic picture of who you are and what you can contribute to the industry.
Looking back what is one takeaway from the award you would like current students to know? Is there one piece of advice you would like to give them?
Amanda: Public relations is all about measurable results. The award is proof of the value you can bring to an organization.
Jessica: Network. Head out to events or for coffee and put yourself outside of your comfort zone. Make connections and ask questions because you’re genuinely curious about their role and their experiences – in and outside of the office.
If you’re ready to jumpstart your career and build connections, consider applying for the CPRS Toronto Student of the Year award. All you need is to submit a resume and one-page endorsement from a faculty, fellow student or mentor. Whether you wish to contribute back to your school or broader community, consider how you will continue to make an impact on others and share your story with the CPRS Toronto today.
—
Public relations students, did we cover your questions and satisfy your curiosity about the CPRS Toronto Student of the Year award? You can always connect with Amanda and Jessica on Twitter.
Written by: Jessica Chong, Account Coordinator, High Road Communications