NEW YORK: Aspiring PR professionals looking to tap into industry veterans' years of experience can now do so via the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) College of Fellows mentoring program.
The brainchild of College of Fellows chair David Simon, the newly created, year-round program is an expansion of the career counseling that normally occurs at the PRSA's annual conference.
The service - which is free for PRSA members, but $100 for non-members - is primarily e-mail based, but the advisee and mentor may agree upon an alternative method of communication.
'The intent is to focus on e-mail for those that have it,' said Simon. 'But sometime in 1999 we expect to be able to offer 'private-chat' mentoring, where the advisee and the mentor will be able to take part in real-time, completely private, online exchanges that only the two of them can see.'
The volunteer mentors are distinguished College of Fellows members with more than 20 years of PR experience. Consultations are geared toward PR professionals facing new management challenges, contemplating a change in career direction, or interested in discussing issues and opportunities affecting their professional lives.
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