Progressions

Lessons Learned Navigating the Job Search: My Journey from Student to Intern to Full Time Employee

During my senior year at the University of Washington (UW), questions about what came next constantly swirled in my mind. Unsure of what I wanted to do in communications — but knowing what I didn’t want — I found PRSSA at one of my most uncertain moments.

In January 2025, I felt lost and insecure. With mounting fears about the declining job market, I worried constantly about how I’d bridge the gap between college and my career. What would I do after graduation? What if I couldn’t find a job? What would my career look like? Was I a failure? 

Luckily, I found some stability through my local PRSSA chapter. I joined on the recommendation of my public relations professor, Jacque Coe, APR, Fellow PRSA, as well as Nathan Hambley, APR, the communications professional who sponsored my membership. In a world that seemed scary and uncertain, I focused on what I could control — networking. 

The first connection I made was with a seasoned professional who graduated from UW’s communication program. Chick Ramey worked in communications for decades, and through his support and array of connections, I began meeting with every professional he recommended. Chick’s first introduction, Mike Mecham, met with me early one Friday morning and shared fascinating stories about his early career. His insights helped me identify the fields that interested me most: government and law. Without talking to these connections, I wouldn’t have learned where I wanted to go in my career. Talking through the nitty-gritty of my experience was extremely helpful, but having someone help me figure out my professional interests within the vast world of communications was invaluable. 

I met for coffee with contacts from my university and PRSSA at least once a week that quarter. I went so far as to make a spreadsheet to track who I met, how we connected and what I learned. I made the most of the people who took time out of their busy schedules to share their wisdom with me. I put my heart and soul into networking. While this experience didn’t immediately lead to a job, I gained a valuable skill: building professional relationships. In total, I met with nearly 20 people in 10 weeks. 

I attended a few PRSSA events and tried to stay engaged with my local Chapter. As a senior, however, I found myself prioritizing other things to finish my degree and tie up loose ends. Still, one of the most important connections I made was with Nathan Hambley, the professional who sponsored my PRSSA membership. At the time, we were both navigating the job market, as mass layoffs occurred in all sectors. I received a lot of advice from Nathan — the main point was to just keep going. He told me the right opportunity would come along, but persistence was essential. Continue applying, networking and learning.

I took this advice to heart when I applied for an internship at the United Nations after graduating in June 2025. 

My fall internship at the United Nations Headquarters in New York presented the perfect chance to combine two interests: communications and government. As an intern for the Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship, I helped promote this prestigious opportunity to journalists from developing countries through social media, using my creative writing and communication skills. This unique opportunity allowed me to learn directly from journalists and United Nations leaders, including Secretary-General António Guterres. 

On top of gaining new skills at the UN, I recorded my experience on LinkedIn. Through the connections I made through my coffee chats in college, I maintained these professional relationships, which allowed me to reconnect with them when I applied for jobs. 

I used the same strategy that helped me secure the UN internship when I started searching for full-time positions in New York: apply, apply, apply. I tailored my resume to ensure it fit each job posting and wrote conversational but informative cover letters to highlight relevant experience.

After many, many applications, an employer reached out and asked me to interview for an entry-level public relations position. Infinite Global is a strategic communications firm that represents a range of global businesses, from the world’s largest law, accounting and consulting firms to multinational technology enterprises. When I first started the three-stage interview process, I didn’t know what to expect. This is where my connections saved me. 

I contacted my former UW professor, hopping on quick calls before interviews to prepare for the specific position. I even studied my old PR course materials to balance how I presented my skills with concepts I learned in class.

As someone who prefers predictability, I found that being overprepared is the best way for me to go into an interview with confidence. And from what I’ve learned, that’s what interviewing is about: preparation and being confident in yourself and your experience. 

My interviews with Infinite Global all went well because I connected with my interviewers. The process included a recruitment conversation, a panel interview and a one-on-one meeting with a colleague. Each conversation explored my past work, all of which I was prepared to discuss. However, being personable and present is what helped me the most. 

Although I once felt lost about my next steps after college, I focused on what I could control. I learned, studied and believed in myself. Now, as I sit at my desk as a junior account executive at Infinite Global in New York City, I am thankful for the support system that helped me reach this point: PRSSA, Jacque, whom I can’t help but call Professor Coe, Nathan, who understood what it was like to be in my shoes, Mike, who helped me through one of the craziest application processes I have ever been through and Chick, whose guidance I continue to rely on to this day.