Multi-Tasking: It's A Must For PR

It's graduation time and young grads are thinking about hooking that first professional job. If you studied communications or public relations in school, get ready for a shocker. The real world is almost nothing like what you've learned in the hallowed halls of academia.

Wise grads already have an internship or two under their belts. They have at least given themselves the opportunity to observe the real world of PR up close and personal. If you've done that, you're already at the head of the stampede for the few jobs out there.

But do some soul searching too. It's a well-known fact that only a small percentage of college grads actually go to work in the field they majored in. Most move into something else and begin to build a professional skill set there.

Ask yourself: am I a multi-tasker? Can I make fast, but strategically thought-out, decisions? Am I a good and fast writer? Am I comfortable with rejection (you'll really need this skill when pitching stories)?

Do I have the right attitude for PR? That means being flexible, able to review both sides of an issue objectively, and able to maintain a relatively positive workplace atmosphere. A positive, can-do, ready-to-pitch-in-anytime attitude will take you far.

Most importantly, how comfortable are you with juggling several issues simultaneously? If you don't know how to juggle several important issues at once, PR may not be the job for you.