By Emily Stenlund –
Background
Imagine Public Relations as an umbrella. The umbrella of PR covers a vast amount of fields and interests within the professional world. Often, graduates of the PR program find themselves initially settling for one occupation, only to realize a desire to explore something different later on. They transition to new areas of PR while building on the knowledge gained from their past experiences. For this reason, it is helpful if we understand our interests before going into the PR field.
Application
During a School of Communications, event at BYU Campus called “Comms Lunch & Learn,” Hunter Sebresos, the CEO of a company that focuses on helping businesses find and connect with local workers, called Bacon Works, shares a method for analyzing your interests. He suggests drawing a horizontal line and on the top
of that line writing your interests–both personal and educational. Then, beneath each interest, draw a vertical line to indicate the depth of your knowledge or experience with it.
This visual representation can provide insight into areas you might want to develop. It can also help you identify which area of public relations would complement your interests. Take the next five minutes to jot down some of your interests.
Act on it
Now that you have this list of interests, you can start linking and seeking opportunities for growth. For instance, if one of your interests is filmmaking, but your knowledge is limited, and you are passionate about pickleball, consider this: the Brimhall building has an office that rents out cameras to BYU students. Visit the Communications Camera Checkout office (BRMB 120), borrow a video camera, gather some friends, and create a video of them playing pickleball. Get creative and craft a highlight reel, and then share it on your LinkedIn under “Experience.”
Importance
Identifying self-interests is crucial, especially as a student. This is the perfect time to be creative and leverage the expertise of professors and mentors at BYU. Learning from them will help you enhance your interests. As you work to improve yourself now, you’ll gain valuable experience in areas where you may otherwise miss out upon the completion of the program. Starting now by pinpointing your interests and making a plan to improve will help you become more prepared for the real world.
