The Final Test
You’ve just graduated from college, you’ve taken your graduation trip to celebrate and now you are faced with the constant “what’s next?” question. For outsiders, finding a job once you graduate from college is sometimes considered to be easy. There is a lot of competition and more hoops to jump through to land your first “real” job, and to my surprise the tests weren’t over because I had graduated.
When I made it to the final step of my interview process for my first PR job post-graduation, I was faced with taking a writing test. My first thought was to use Google to see what others had to say about writing tests for PR jobs. To my surprise this was a common thing, but not anything that had ever been talked about in my classes. I researched on what kind of things would be expected of me, but ultimately I was nervous. This test could mean I would never get a job, and I potentially spent the last four years focused on the wrong thing (I can be a dramatic person sometimes). I am sitting here writing this today, so I must have done something right and learned a few things through school.
Now, that I have secured my first “real” job, I feel like it is only fair to share some of the things that helped me conquer the writing test. I hope by sharing it will help the next frantic graduates when they turn to Google for answers.
- Research
When it comes to anything new and unfamiliar, research can be your best friend. My initial reaction to anything that is unfamiliar is to research until I gain as much understanding as possible. The research about the writing test included what to expect on this test, what employers are looking for and what I can do to prepare to do my best on this test.
- AP Style
This should be an easy one, but know your AP style and use the guide. I had a professor tell me “never assume you know.” There are plenty of AP style things that I feel like I know just from using them so frequently, but every time I want to assume “I know” something I hear a faint reminder in my head to never do so. In school, the AP Stylebook was always fair game to use when writing, so treat the writing test the same way.
- Short Sentences
Writing in short sentences has been a tip that I have been given since high school English classes. This is not meant to say never use long sentences, but in a timed situation where you are trying to work fast it can be helpful. Using short sentences can minimize the chances to misplace a comma or make other grammar mistakes.
- Breathe
Lastly, you have to remember to breathe. When I first opened my writing test, I felt myself begin to panic. It seemed like a lot of work without enough time. Remind yourself of the last four years you just spent studying and practicing, you got this.
