Navigating PRSSA National

By: Arianna Delgado

All About PRSSA 

Learning to navigate an entirely new website can be tough, especially when there is so much information available all over the site. The PRSSA National website holds so much valuable information, but its layout can be daunting to new members. Breaking it up into the most important sections can help it seem easier to take on. What better way to get started than getting to know all about this organization? The “About” section on the homepage provides extensive information about PRSSA such as their history and mission, advocacy and national initiatives. Each tab under this section displays the transparency of PRSSA’s operations. PRSSA strives to maintain diversity and equity within each Chapter representing the organization, and here you can learn all about how they are doing just that through their mission, vision and strategic plan. Everyone wants to know what they’re getting into before diving in. This section is a great place to start!

Internship and Job Center

One of the most exclusive benefits available to all PRSSA members is the Internship and Job Center. The Internship Center offers undergraduate students, graduate students and recent graduates the opportunity to find internships to gain experience and new skills. Applying through the internship center shows employers that you are interested in this career field and actively working towards your career goals by being a PRSSA member. With internship listings in the areas of communications, media relations and analytics, members are bound to find an exciting opportunity to apply for. Additionally, members can upload their resume directly to the internship center for employers to browse. Bridging the gap between student and professional life, the Career Resources Manual aims to provide resources to improve skills for young professionals. The manual offers insight into salary negotiation, interview tips and landing an entry-level position in your early career. Here you can also compare salaries in different fields and connect with mentors. Similarly, the Job Center allows members access to over 1,000 communications and public relations job openings across the globe. Job seekers can personalize their experience by searching by location, experience needed and by setting up personalized job alerts which send a notification when a relevant job listing is posted. Goodbye to scrolling through hundreds of listings asking for twenty years of experience! Personalized alerts are here to take some pressure off the job search. When uploading your resume for either the internship or job center, be sure to update it regularly so prospective employers can view all the great ways you are working towards your career.

Scholarships and Awards 

It’s award season! The Scholarships and Awards tab is home to dozens of offers for financial grants for members. These scholarships and awards recognize students for outstanding grades, campus leadership, internship experience and more! With diverse offers including general financial assistance, any member can find a relative scholarship to apply for. The PRSSA Scholarships and Awards Qualifying Chart puts all important information in one place for members to check before applying. There’s no need to dig for information or question if you are qualified since it is all in one spot. Members can submit applications for these scholarships by visiting the PRSA Foundation website or simply clicking on the link of each individual scholarship. 

Events

Have you ever wondered if you are missing out on a PRSSA exclusive opportunity? The events section makes sure members are up-to-date and informed about all important virtual events and deadlines. One exciting aspect of this section is the PRSA Storytellers webinars. These previously recorded webinars focus on important and relevant topics to today’s unique world. From Sports and Entertainment to Crisis Communications and Ethics in a pandemic, these webinars hold extremely valuable recounts from professionals with first-hand experiences in our changing field. These webinars are available for immediate access and free to PRSSA members!

Online Learning and Communities

In the fields of communication, we must be lifelong learners, staying constantly curious and open to learning. The MyPRSA Portal offers online courses for navigating issues faced in the fields of public relations and communications. By selecting “My Learning” and then “My Online Courses,” students can access an array of insightful, educational courses. With courses such as “Communicating in a time of COVID-19,” and “A Practical Guide to Multimedia Communications,” professionals aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world of media. The best part of all? PRSSA members can access many of these exclusive courses for free rather than the prices starting at $200 for non-members. All you need to do is register and get started! Professionals with years of experience aren’t our only way to learn. We have so much to learn from one another!

A newer addition to the national member site, the Communities tab offers open forums for students and professionals to engage in dynamic conversations on pressing topics such as diversity and equity. Fostering these conversations between individuals of all ages and backgrounds can help us better understand one another which is crucial when pursuing this career field. 

Publications & Media 

It’s always exciting to see all the ways PRSSA and its members are making an impact across the world. The Publications and Media section allows viewers to see the great things Chapters and their members are doing in the areas of PR. With announcements on new campus Chapters, Bateman Case Study Competition winners and student accomplishments, this section shows that the opportunities and possibilities to excel in your studies are endless. It’s motivating to see all the amazing things fellow students are taking part in. Additionally, students can expand their experience and portfolio with writing for Progressions, the PRSSA’s national blog which aims to share experiences, advice and resources when pursuing your career. Acceptable topics for admission would cover internship and career advice, PR in current events, Chapter practices to successfully recruit and run a firm and more! This is a great opportunity for members to practice conversational journalistic writing skills while contributing to an informative publication and building a portfolio. Many publications have extensive requirements for submissions, but Progressions only has two: be a PRSSA member and have an interesting informative topic. Get started today!