When I first became involved with the blogging PR Tigers at Auburn, it was happenstance - but it did fit into my overall philosophy of working with future practitioners to help push forward the industry as a whole. And, I have met some wonderful students and PR practitioners because of my stance on mentoring, and my blogging. So much so, that I do put my contact information on my blog, including email and all various IM services.

About once a week, I will receive an email or IM from a student from around the world, let alone the US, asking for help or advice. Most of the time, I have no problem shooting off a quick email, or IM or even taking a call to help out students. And, when a dialogue builds, that is also fine, because that is part of the blogosphere - offline conversations that continue what was started online, in a public forum.

Why? Because it is all of our responsibilities to be a mentor. Really. Yes, I believe that and wish (hope?) more people do as well.

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You can thank me for this post much later. Right now, you’ll probably resent me for it.

The truth is nothing lasts forever. Employees change jobs, and consultants lose clients. So here’s some advice to help you navigate your route ‘forward’ through your public relations career.

The first tip is not to get stuck in your first job. Leave before 18 months and you don’t look committed; stay much beyond three years and you look unambitious. Of course there are exceptions to this, but I’ve known highly successful people in their 40s who have rigorously changed positions every two years - always to something grander and better rewarded. (Cynics will say that two years gives them long enough to shake things up, but not long enough for them ever to get found out.)

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