Recently, the Editing, Writing and Media program interviewed former alum, Nicole Diaz. Diaz received a B.A. in EWM with a minor in Communications and currently works as an Account Coordinator for a Tampa-based agency called PRESS PR + Marketing. Working with her clients, she finds and fixes their brand challenges to create a greater impact for their company.
During college, internships are a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience prior to graduation. In many cases, an internship can help find a passion you never knew existed or decide against something you once felt strongly. Diaz had several internships throughout her college career, and they allowed her to explore different outlets within her discipline. “I always had an interest for the field of public relations which led me to getting my very first internship with The Mayfield Group, a Tallahassee-based boutique agency that focuses on luxury lifestyle hotel clients. Working at The Mayfield Group is what really changed the game for me. It was then that I gained an understanding of what it means to build and reposition a brand and help them achieve their business goals. The thought that my marketing strategies can one day help support someone’s dream really drove a passion in me”, Diaz said. Diaz also mentioned that after her internships she became not only a better writer but a better overall communicator. Her internship with The Career Center allowed her to strengthen and build on her graphic design skills which later came in handy. She currently designs content for social media among other things.
Looking for a job or internship can feel overwhelming but one of the most important things you can do is network! Networking on LinkedIn, for example, is a fundamental way to connect with other people in your profession as well as connecting with potential employers from a company you’ve had your eyes on. Diaz stated, “I always recommend it to anyone who says they are looking for a job/internship. I find it more helpful than any other job seeking site out there. You can make meaningful business connections when applying to jobs and when submitting applications, it gives you access to similar jobs which just opens the doors to more potential job opportunities.” LinkedIn not only serves as a networking tool to connect with people in your industry, but it’s also a way to see what jobs are available in your area and allows you to apply to any job openings.
Diaz’s current role includes tasks like crafting press releases, media alerts and external media relations deliverables and assisting in overall digital communication strategy. Challenges come with any new job but what truly matter is how you overcome and handle these situations. Diaz shared, “When I first started pitching media, it would take me about two hours to write a single pitch. Now it takes me half the time, but I used to take so long because I’d craft the pitch so perfectly and overanalyzed every sentence. Eventually my boss and I had a talk about how I should trust my work. It made me less of an over thinker and a better writer.” It is easy to overthink your work but once you gain confidence, your work will reflect that.
As we all know, in 2020 many jobs went remote, and this posed a lot of changes in the way things were done. A vast majority of companies had to transition from in-person work to remote working and still manage to find alternative ways to get things done. We asked Diaz if her job experience shifted when everything went remote and how she was able to adjust to it. Diaz replied, “Very much so. I was laid off in March 2020 at my job in Miami. Six months later I moved to Tampa and found a new job. It was a difficult transition, but luckily I found a company I absolutely love and the friendships I’ve made with my colleagues has helped make the adjustment easier.” Professional careers consist of many obstacles and challenges, but Diaz turned a challenge into an opportunity when she moved.
Many graduates this semester may be asking themselves, “So what now?” While a lot of work is still being done remotely, it does not mean that there isn’t a job for you out there. You have to put yourself in a position to show employers what you can achieve for their company. This might mean applying to jobs on Indeed or networking with companies on LinkedIn. We asked Diaz if she had any words of wisdom to give to seniors and recent graduates. “Don’t stress about the ‘plan’. When you’re in college, there is so much pressure to make every decision based on which path you will take in life. Your time in college is a time to try different things and see what fits. Take classes that interest you, push yourself to learn new things, and experience everything FSU has to offer. Your path will change as you move throughout your life.” Some advice that Diaz said she would give to her freshman year-self is, “You’re going to end up having to do things that are out of your comfort zone and that’s a good thing. Challenge yourself that way. So, the advice would be don’t worry about being afraid of it, just do it.” Don’t stress yourself too much about what comes next, but instead focus on what you can do now to put yourself on the path to success.