Being a CPRS member has many benefits, but did you know that you can participate in the mentorship program at no extra cost? Whether you are a new or senior Public Relations practitioner, being a mentor or mentee is a wonderful opportunity to enhance your career while building professional relationships and exchanging knowledge and experience with a fellow PR professional.
How It Works
The CPRS mentorship program thoughtfully matches professionals based on a number of factors, including experience, shared career interests (i.e. industry type, organization type, job functions) and location for a formal four-month program. The program starts with the kick-off event. Mentors/mentees are asked to meet a minimum of three times throughout the program, with at least one meeting taking place in person. All mentors and mentees are then invited to gather at a closing event and share their experiences of the program.
As a newcomer to Canada, I faced many challenges while looking for a job in the PR field and I knew that I could benefit from the guidance of an experienced professional. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to be partnered with my mentor Julia White, and I am grateful for her support which was crucial to learning more about the Canadian market, as well as following best practices during my job search.
Mentor Testimonial
It’s interesting as every mentor wishes to pursue a different line of questions during our time of working together. We might discuss how to approach a specific communications challenge at the mentee's workplace or we might dive deep into communications theory and best practice. Grunig anyone? Each mentee has a different focus and set of questions and I believe we both learn a lot from these discussions. [...] As we all know, it takes a lot to build a communications career and its satisfying to play a small role in helping someone become more successful in their work and, in many cases, forge a deeper connection with CPRS.
~ Clive Camm, External Relations Leader at Vancouver Coastal Health
Mentee Testimonial
I found the mentorship program to be valuable since I’m only beginning my career in PR and communications. I would bounce off ideas and challenges that I was dealing with at work to my mentor Wayne, and he would offer a fresh take on tackling challenges that I hadn’t really considered before. [...] I think it’s important to have a mentor since they have walked the path that you’re just starting out on–they know about each bump in the road and can provide you with advice that they learned along the way.
~ Bernice Puzon, Marketing and Communications Associate at Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies
About the Author
Paula Schütt is a Communications Coordinator at Munro Thompson. She has a bachelor's degree in Public Relations from UNIVALI and a Marketing certificate from Arbutus College. With over 3 years of experience working both in agency and in-house, she has been involved in communications projects for non-profits, First Nations communities and organizations in the fitness, logistics, accounting and cosmetics industries. LinkedIn & Twitter: @paulaschutt