It’s the New Year and it’s the time for new resolutions.  As you are planning your path to graduation and preparing yourself for a career in public relations, don’t forget to add BYU PRSSA’s Interlock mentorship program to your list. 

There is a lot to be said for learning in the classroom and even for learning outside of the classroom—think BradLab or PRSSA’s chapter clients—but there are some things you just won’t learn unless you ask. So why not ask someone who has been there, done that and gotten the t-shirt? Here I go.  Maybe you’ve heard me make my spiel for Interlock. Maybe not. Either way, I’m about to make another shameless pitch. Interlock is a program designed to pair students with professionals to better prepare them for the ‘real world’ of PR. What will life in an agency be like? What skills do I need to make me competitive? What should I include in my resume and how should I format it? What will employees look for in my portfolio? How do I get started if I want to end up (insert hypothetical career destination here)? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions (or if you should be asking yourself these questions) the Interlock mentorship program is for you. 

Local professionals from all walks of PR—agency, corporate, design, entertainment, high tech, international, non-profit and sports—eagerly await the student with whom they can share their experience and expertise. Trust me, they’ve told me so. Interacting with your mentor may be as simple as a phone call, a lunch meeting, or an office visit.  Whatever it may be, it will make a world of difference.

“Great. You’ve sold me.  Now how can I get involved?” If you’re interested in getting involved, e-mail me at prssa.interlock@gmail.com and I’ll send you our Interlock application that asks a bit about you and what you want out of the experience. I will pair you with a mentor that can best meet your needs. It’s then up to you to contact your mentor, meet with them as much as you like, and then report your results back to me so we can share your success story, and yes, it will be a success.

So instead of buying that Gold’s membership you’re never going to use or wasting time with low-cal, low-carb meals you’re not even going to like, apply for BYU PRSSA’s Interlock mentorship program and make the most of your 2009.

-- Carrie