Cold Emails and Coffee: My Gen Z Job Search Strategy

Before coming to college, my dreams were big. Growing up in West Michigan, I was surrounded by the many tight-knit communities: church, school, sports, orchestra, friends and more. I felt as if I had soaked up all I could and wanted to spread my wings. 

Before I knew it, I was a finance major at Belmont University. I fell in love with the endless opportunities that Nashville provided; however, it didn’t take long to realize that staring at spreadsheets and running financial models wasn’t quite the future I envisioned for myself.

A new vision arises

During my sophomore year, I had taken Public Relations Principles as a general education credit, and it unexpectedly clicked. For the first time in higher education, I found myself excited to complete homework assignments and go to class. The one snag I had in this pivot was that completely dropping my current degree wasn’t cost- or time-efficient. Instead, I made the strategic switch from finance to a double major in economics and public relations. This combination allowed me to flex my analytical muscles, which bodes well in the economics department, while also exploring studies that I felt excited about in the PR department. 

Fast forward to senior year, I was enrolled in a strategic management class. One of our key assignments in this course was to interview a manager about their leadership experience. At the same time, the reality of adulthood was sinking in. The scary fate that I could be unemployed if I didn’t secure a position before the end of the semester was daunting.

A serendipitous job search

During my job hunt, I came across an opening at Pierce PR for an account coordinator. Curious, I dug deeper and discovered that the agency’s president was well-connected in the PR community and had ties to some Belmont faculty. I reached out to a professor, got her email, and built up the courage to ask for an interview for my assignment. She wasn’t available, but kindly connected me with another team member, and the rest is history.

This interview turned out to be more than just a grade for a class. All at once, I was able to: 

1. Complete a homework assignment
2. Conduct an informational interview about an agency I admire
3. Begin building a relationship with a team that was hiring for a role I was qualified for
4. Secure an official job interview
5. Bonus: try some great coffee (shoutout Steadfast Coffee!)

Reflections on a successful transition

My path to Pierce PR was not conventional, but it was successful. If anything, my story proves the value of truly thinking smarter, not harder. I still did the research, put in the work and showed up when it mattered, but instead of sending in hundreds of applications that easily get lost in the mix, I created the opportunity to make a meaningful connection. I played my cards so perfectly that I received a job offer on my very last day of college. I graduated magna cum laude from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Public Relations, and I received a job offer from a PR agency that I wanted to be a part of. One chapter closed right as the next one began.

Introducing Kate: Digital Native, PR Creative

Now that I’m officially part of the Pierce PR team, I want to introduce myself and my expertise properly! Since joining, I’ve been responsible for email marketing, social media, content creation, digital analytics reporting and media research for many of Pierce PR’s clients. As a Gen Z and digital native, my talents and passions lie in the digital side of public relations. Canva, Google Looker Studio and CapCut are just some of the tools I love that aid success for our clients.

Before joining Pierce, what were some other roles you’ve held in the PR and marketing space? 

Before joining the Pierce PR team, I gained experience in content creation and community building as a social media marketing intern and manager for a volleyball club in Franklin, Tenn. I also served as a fall and spring intern at Parthenon PR, where I gained agency experience in media relations, social media design and scheduling, media list curation, industry research and more.

How do you keep a pulse on the national and local PR industry? 

While at Belmont, I served two terms on the executive board of PRSSA, holding roles as vice president of professional development and vice president of communications. During that time, I sharpened my skills in content creation and social media strategy and built a strong campus community through event planning and networking. PRSSA played a key role in solidifying my passion for the industry.

Through this involvement, I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Leadership Assembly in Seattle and ICON 2024 in Anaheim. These two experiences allowed me to connect with inspiring professionals, stay current on industry trends and feel more confident about stepping into the field post-graduation.

That community left a lasting impression. Since graduating, I’ve made it a priority to stay involved by attending PRSA Nashville events. It’s important to me to keep growing and building relationships with local professionals, and PRSA has been the perfect community for doing just that.

Where can people find you if you aren’t in front of your computer working? 

In my free time, I enjoy going for long walks around the city, crafting new latte recipes, thrifting and trying new restaurants. I’ve made it a habit to go for morning walks before I log on to work daily, and it’s been integral to showing up as my best self every day. 

P.S. – If you’re looking for restaurant recs, my favorites are Sunda and Pelato. And if you want a good latte, Kille Brew is always a hit!

What’s your current favorite social media trend? 

I’ve been loving how social media accounts are evolving to become more real. I think there is a time and place for polished, professional content, but at the end of the day, people want to consume content that reflects their interests and connects to their daily lives. Getting employees involved, cracking a joke here and there or not being afraid to post something more “real” has been my favorite shift on the internet. 

What do you wish more people knew about you? 

This is a fun question, and I was actually asked this during my second interview! I wish people would ask me more about my wellness journey. Growing up, I was an avid athlete, and those early hobbies helped me develop great habits. But when I got to college, it was hard to keep them up. I no longer had structured time for exercise, and the dining hall options didn’t exactly encourage healthy eating. By the end of my sophomore year, I hit a wall and realized I needed to make my health a priority.

To reset, I challenged myself to complete the 75 Hard, a wellness program with no cheat days and strict daily requirements. It pushed me to rebuild healthy habits and stay consistent. Wellness is about caring for yourself from the inside out. Read a book, drink your water, get your exercise and for goodness’ sake, put your phone down and go to sleep! I learned a lot about myself and about overall health during that time, and even three years later, I still find myself applying many of the “rules” from that challenge in my everyday life.