On Feb. 21, PRSSA Sac State welcomed Sacramento Republic communications manager Omar Gonzalez as he spoke to our members about his journey into PR and the sports industry.
Gonzalez began the night by providing members with some background information about himself and his career. Afterward, Gonzalez opened the floor to any questions members had and in the process offered up some valuable advice and information.
Gonzalez started off as an Economics major at UC Davis. At the end of his senior year, Gonzalez had three options: insurance work, banking, or government work. Feeling dissatisfied with his options, Gonzalez took a chance and interned with Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery as a Public Affairs Intern.
It was here Gonzalez found his true calling. Upon his return from Washington DC, Gonzalez decided to combine his passion for soccer, and his new found love for public relations and turn into a new career.
Advice from Omar Gonzalez
Gonzalez began the night by providing members with some background information about himself and his career. Afterward, Gonzalez opened the floor to any questions members had and in the process offered up some valuable advice and information.
Gonzalez started off as an Economics major at UC Davis. At the end of his senior year, Gonzalez had three options: insurance work, banking, or government work. Feeling dissatisfied with his options, Gonzalez took a chance and interned with Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery as a Public Affairs Intern.
It was here Gonzalez found his true calling. Upon his return from Washington DC, Gonzalez decided to combine his passion for soccer, and his new found love for public relations and turn into a new career.
Advice from Omar Gonzalez
- Have an end goal in mind and work your way back.
- It is never a straight forward path.
- Do not be picky at first.
- Exhaust all of your options.
- Use all available means to find a connection within the organization.
- Be a good communicator,
- Good writer and verbal communicator.
- Think critically.
- Be able to understand why you are doing something.
- Be moldable and creative.
- Remember: Skills can be taught and you are always learning.
- When contacting firms/agencies, pose questions as if you were seeking an informational interview.
- In an interview, when asked why you want the position, do not say it will be a great learning experience. This is obvious.
- Instead, talk about your strengths and what you bring to the table
- If you are feeling uninspired, mitigate it
- This also varies from person to person
- Work in an area that you passionate about. It will make your work life more enjoyable
- Make connections with media contacts
- This can be a simple reply to their social media post or sitting down to for a cup of coffee
- Do not stress about your future. It will work out
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