Socom Graduate Program and Award for Excellence

Socom has a strong commitment to providing opportunities for the development of Victoria’s Public Relations students and fostering young talent. This commitment is reflected through the provision of Socom’s graduate program which recognises the achievements of outstanding students in their final year of a PRIA accredited degree.

Socom will offer one supervised graduate position per year, commencing at the start of February for 12 months. Universities offering a PRIA accredited course will be able to nominate two of their top students for the Socom Award for Excellence.

A panel of consultants will interview the nominated graduates and select a candidate who will be appointed as a junior consultant at Socom. The successful graduate’s University will hold the Socom Award for Excellence for 12 months.

The graduate will be exposed to 6 months in each of Socom’s Media Relations and Government/Community Relations Units, allowing them to develop their skills in both areas.

Graduates will be exposed to consultancy life including working with clients, having a hand in developing projects from inception to execution, brainstorming, media relations, research and event organising. They will, over the 12 month period, gain valuable insight and experience in the many types of public relations activities and will have developed exceptional practical skills.

At the end of the graduate program, the graduate will have identified the areas of public relations that they would like to pursue as a career path. The graduate will be well positioned to secure a full-time role having developed a good practical skill base and confidence in applying these skills.

Application Procedure

Socom will visit accredited universities in September to present information to final year students about the Socom Award for Excellence and Graduate Program.

Faculty staff will nominate two students who they believe to be outstanding in their degree and forward their application forms and resumes directly to Socom.

Selected applicants will then undertake an interview and the Socom writing exercise.

Requirements

Applicants must be in their final year of a PRIA accredited Undergraduate course in Public Relations/Communications from Monash University, RMIT University, Deakin University or Victorian University of Technology. Applicants may only be nominated by their university faculties who will forward the applicant's details to Socom.

More information will be available from University faculties from September.