On Friday, Nov. 4, UA’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) visited the Eaton Corporation in Eaton, Ohio for PRSA Student Day. This event gave members of PRSSA the opportunity to understand the lives of public relations representatives and ask questions about their daily routines in the workplace.

The Eaton Corporation hosted three different panels with representatives from all over Ohio in such public relations careers as account supervisor, public relations coordinator, director of media relations, director of communication, and executive vice president.

The first panel was called “Communicating Cleveland,” and consisted of representatives from the Cleveland area.

In this discussion, the representatives stressed the formation of lasting relationships with others in the media industry. Developing a rapport and forming genuine friendships with others in the media help further a career in the public relations world.

The second panel was called “Careers, Resumes, and Interviewing,” and focused on what is necessary to get the job that one is interviewing for. During the question and answer session, the panel stressed that employers focus on three sections during the hiring process: the resume, the interview, and the afterthought.

Highlighting your skills and selling your values are essential in your resume. Being as professional as possible and confident with who you are is crucial to the interview process. A follow up appointment or letter of consideration after the interview has taken place is a way to tell your potential employer that you are very passionate about the job they are offering.

In the last panel of representatives, Eaton Corporation brought in young professionals who have recently been hired into public relations positions.

The session consisted of an “ask me anything” portion where attendees were encouraged to ask questions about how the representatives landed the job, what they do on a daily basis, and how stressful the job may become.

During this time, other professionals were looking over resumes brought in by PRSSA students from various universities.

“This is my second PRSSA student day and I believe that it is valuable to hear from several professionals in all different areas of the communication field,” said UA PRSSA President Baylee Diedrich. “They give me insight into what kind of people I could potentially work with and the different jobs that I may have in the future. These kinds of events are valuable to me because I can make connections and expand my knowledge of the public relations world.”

Akron’s chapter of PRSSA encourages any communications major to join PRSSA in the spring semester to gain a deeper understanding of what is expected of them in the real world. PRSSA can be followed on Twitter and Instagram @PRSSAUA. Future events hosted by the club will be posted in Kolbe Hall and the Student Union.