Hitting the Ground Running

Higher learning: a uni on top of a mall.

First day of school down. My transit connections went well on the way there & I arrived quite early for class. In the morning we began our first assignment, a bio of a classmate, due tomorrow morning. I was lucky enough to be put in the only group of three, so I got to know two of my PR Program classmates a bit better today.

We talked about our practicums quite a bit in the morning. April--when we're set to do our three weeks of work experience--seemed so far away until we started talking about deadlines, information interviews & networking to set it all up. I have about three weeks to decide which direction I want to go in with my practicum, secure myself a place & officially confirm it.

The afternoon was a workshop mainly on the labour market, the hidden job market & networking. (Speaking of networking, if you know anyone working in PR/Communications in the Vancouver area...) It seems odd to be talking about how to get work almost before we've started the program, but in such a compressed program (six weeks of classes, then a three week practicum), I guess it makes sense.

I've started making lists already of contacts & even emailed a couple of people for information interviews. I feel like I should be able to find a good practicum on my own, if I don't apply for one of the already established ones on the list, but I need to figure out what exactly I'm looking for. Do I want to work for a PR firm? A bigger one or a boutique? Should I try for the non-profit sector? A charity? What about working for the in-house PR of a big corporation? Maybe a political party? A lot to think about...

A view from the Skytrain. If you look past all the parking lots, the mountains were quite lovely...

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