Your PR Network Won’t Build Itself: The PR Student’s Playbook for Getting Connected

May 19, 2026

In college, professors, advisors and staff can all agree on one thing: networking is one of the most important skills for students to build. During my time in school, I didn’t get it – what could sending a LinkedIn message to a CEO really do for me? The answer: more than I could ever imagine.

Though my professional career is just starting, when I take a step back to analyze each milestone that led me here, it all leads back to the same thing: networking. So, yes, messaging a CEO (shoutout to Filomena for answering my message) actually did land me my first PR role. But this was just one steppingstone in a nearly three-year long process. Further, if you’re a college student looking to break into the PR industry, I’m going to reiterate what every professional is telling you to do – start networking early to set yourself up for future success. With graduation season upon us, it’s a timely reminder that it is never too late to lay the groundwork, especially for rising seniors with a full year ahead of you. Here are some tips and tricks to help get you started:

Master LinkedIn Messaging Do’s & Don’ts:

Let’s start with the basics. LinkedIn is one of the best ways to get on the radar of top professionals in your industry. With your initial message, it’s important to express your interest in learning more about the company they work for or their professional journey. My best tip is do your research and pull together an opening line incorporating a recent project, article or milestone they completed. For example, if you saw this blog post and wanted to message me, you could say something like, “Hi Bailey, I just read your recent blog post about the importance of networking and figured I would give it a shot. Do you have some time this week to connect?”.

Be witty and interesting, but don’t be demanding or desperate. An example of what a poor LinkedIn message looks like is, “Hi, I’m graduating college soon and need a job. Are there any positions available where you work?”. While inquiring about open positions isn’t wrong, establishing the connection first will lead to a greater reward in the long run.

Join a PRSSA Chapter:

If your school is one of the over 300 that have a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter, you should consider joining. By doing so, you gain access to tons of resources, plus it serves as an interesting conversation starter with past members. PRSSA not only gave me plenty of avenues for future connections, but it also helped me hone in on a clear path for my career. From beauty PR to medical PR, there are plenty of connections to discover within the PRSSA community.

Connect with Professors and Stay in Touch:

As soon as I graduated, the first place I turned to when looking for employment was my professors. While getting to know your professors won’t automatically guarantee you an “in” post-graduation, what you will gain is true industry insights. Ask them about their career triumphs, but more importantly, their mistakes, missteps and tips for success – and who knows – perhaps a past professor will ask you to work alongside them one day.

Talk to Friends and Family About Career Goals:

Your connections run deeper than you may think. You just have to ask. It may sound silly, but I personally learned about Impact PR through one of my best friends – someone I know who has never had a career interest in public relations. What did this teach me? Networking doesn’t have to be done with the biggest players in the industry; sometimes, sitting down and reflecting on your goals with the people you know best – friends and family members – could lead to doors you never knew existed.

Networking doesn’t have to be scary – it should be fun and exciting. Every honest conversation you have with family, friends and your professors, as well as every PRSSA meeting you show up to and every thoughtful LinkedIn message you send, is a powerful step toward the career you’re working hard to build. You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment. Start where you are with the people you already know before branching out and let each connection move you one step closer to the career you want.

This piece was authored by Impact PR & Communications’ Account Coordinator, Bailey Fredericks.