Comet Branding - Branding | PR | Social Media

Networking: My Golden Ticket to Comet Branding

Hello everyone! My name is Emily Lenard, and I’m the latest addition to Comet Branding + PR.

My road to joining Comet can be summed up in one well-known saying, “It’s not what you know, but WHO you know that matters.”

Of course what you know–your professional experience, areas of expertise, etc.–is important, but in today’s economy and job market, having a great professional network is a must.

After deciding I was ready for my next professional challenge, my mentor, Laura Monagle, APR, Programming Chair and President-elect of PRSA Southeastern Wisconsin, recommended me to Al Krueger and Sara Meaney as an ideal candidate for their Social Media + PR Coordinator position.

I sent Comet my résumé a month after the job posting appeared on Big Shoes Network—which I assumed would be a waste of time as I knew hundreds of people had probably already applied. But given the strong recommendation from Laura on my behalf, I hoped luck was in my favor.

Sara Meaney called me that afternoon to set-up a phone interview for the following Monday. Just two weeks later I had an offer. Stoked doesn’t even begin to describe my reaction.

So although it’s my professional experience with public relations, social media strategy and implementation and academic accomplishments that got me the job, my professional network is what got me through the door.

The moral of my story: I cannot stress enough the importance of building your professional network through social media, by attending events, joining professional organizations and by having mentors whose career path you’d like to emulate.

Cheers to new connections!

Tags: APR, Big Shoes Network, Emily Lenard, Events, job, Laura Mongle, networking, PRSA, Public Relations, Sara Meaney, social media