Is your company downsizing? Are you working longer hours with fewer resources? Can't hire new positions to finish those critical communication projects? Who wants to begin the New Year with the project 'blues'? Mount Royal University has the answer - hire a public relations student for a four-month work-experience term!

Our senior work experience term runs January to April 2010. We have a total of 60 eager and experienced, senior students seeking a four-month term position. These students are in the final year of the applied degree in communications – public relations. They are skilled and ready to hit-the-ground-running as they assist your team through their senior directed field study (DFS II) placement.

The DFS placement is the employer-paid work experience term that forms part of our students degree program. Students in our three-year applied degree in public relations spend a total of six on-campus semesters and two, paid four-month work terms learning what it takes to become valuable contributors to organizations.

The senior DFS II placement provides an opportunity for them to apply and enhance the knowledge and skills they've acquired through classroom learning and their junior work-term experience. They’ve had hands-on experience in research methods, strategic communication planning, applied and technical writing, computer mediated communication, event management, media relations and much more. They’ve already worked across sectors including government, publicly traded, private and non-profit organizations.

If you could use an extra set of experienced hands for a short-term placement this winter, please consider one of our skilled public relations students. For more information or to post a term position, please call Cindy Drummond, Career Services Supervisor, at 403.440.6231 or cdrummond@mtroyal.ca or Jane McNichol, Chair, Public Relations at 403.440.5697 or jmcnichol@mtroyal.ca. Further information is also available through the career services website at www.mtroyal.ca/careerservices/

University of Calgary

Communications Studies students at the University of Calgary have the opportunity to participate in the Co-operative Education program where they alternate academic study with paid work terms. The University of Calgary Communications Studies co-op program provides work experience but also brings together practice and theory so that Communications Studies majors have a better grasp of how communication concepts are applied in the real world. Students develop skills in writing, speaking, research, analysis, an understanding of communications technology, an awareness of communications media and their impact on society. Students are available for 4-8 month periods starting in May, September, and January.

For further information contact the University of Calgary Career Services at 403 220 8020.