Amy Boyd graduated in December 2009 with a degree in Communication. She was involved with the UW Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) for three years, serving as the president her junior and senior years. As a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, she served on the board as the PR Chair and was a Miss Greek candidate in Delta Tau Delta fraternity’s annual philanthropy where she raised more than $12,000 (out of the total $85,000) for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Boyd also participated in two Summer Exploration Seminars to Greece in 2008 and Argentina in 2009.
What have you been up to since graduation? Before I graduated, I solidified a job at Frause, a full-spectrum communications agency. I interned there for six months prior to graduating and received full-time employment in January 2010. I started as an assistant account executive dabbling in more than 10 client accounts. I recently left Frause where I was a senior account executive managing client accounts in industries spanning real estate, construction, retail and financial services.
Just last month I left Frause after 4+ years for a new challenge at Lively, a tech startup. I started just a few weeks ago as public relations manager working with our marketing team. Lively works with artists and performers to use high-quality audio and video equipment to capture and record live performances. Those performances are available on the Lively app. Shameless plug: check out the app – its free!
Explain your typical work day: I started just a couple of weeks ago and every day at Lively has been different. I’ve been drafting half a dozen press releases in preparation for big national announcements in January. I’ve also feverishly been getting up-to-speed on the tech and music industries and applying for awards and speaking opportunities to continue to get Lively’s name out to the masses. Oh yeah, there’s also the occasional mid-day concert at our office.
How did you find that job? I was recruited for my current job at Lively. One of my best friends recommended me to the recruiting agency. A few phone meetings, a couple of in-person interviews and a live concert later, I was hooked.
Do you have any tips on finding a job for those still in school? My dad has always told me, “It’s all about who you know.” The more experience I gain, the more this statement resonates with me. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get out from behind your computer and network. Making substantial relationships can go a long way. Networking can be scary if you haven’t done it before, but start small. Join a club, get to know your peers first, and then move outside of the university, volunteer with a local nonprofit or reach out to a professional and ask for help with your resume or to job shadow.
In supplement to networking, also spend time perfecting your resume and tailoring it to the job you’re hoping to obtain. If you’re looking for a career in communications, writing is essential. Start a blog or write mock press releases in order to gain writing experience and add strong pieces to your portfolio. The most important thing to remember is: How will you stand out from the masses of recent graduates looking for your same job?
What is the single most important thing to do while in school to prepare you for the real world? Get real world experience in your field of choice. That experience can be in the form of an internship, a job shadow or volunteering. Reading and studying are valuable, but living the experience and getting a taste of what you may be doing after graduation is crucial.
Now that you’ve had some time to reflect on college, what advice had you wished you received while in school? Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, in fact; expect to make them. The most growth I’ve had so far in my career has resulted from making mistakes (big and small) and learning from them. Also, be curious every day and never stop learning.
Where do you hope to be in five years? Continuing to take the public relations world by storm and giving back to my community.
Anything else to add? Never burn a bridge. Be humble. Listen; it’s the first trait of a good leader.