MSU PR Grad, Zafira Lubis’s PR Path Paves Way to General Motors Corporate Comms
By: Ava Culver
After graduating with a degree in public relations in spring 2025, Zafira Lubis knew one thing for certain: she wanted a career that blended creativity, communication and the world of social media. Only a few months later, she landed a job that would lead her to do exactly that. Lubis works as a social media customer care representative at General Motors – a valuable first step in her long-term career goals.
In her role, Lubis responds to customer concerns across social platforms and channels. Her department handles everything from helping customers locate features on their vehicles to the more serious concerns. Although she wasn’t originally seeking out a customer-facing role, she quickly realized how it aligns with her PR degree.
“Making customer interactions on a daily basis through social media channels is a big part of public relations,” said Lubis.” I truly value that experience that I’m getting in right now”
Before joining GM’s team, Lubis was drawn to the hands-on creative side of communications like photography, videography and content creation. She said she hopes to move up and grow into areas within the company where she can apply her creative skills. She said she believes her current role offers a strong foundation, especially as she continues to learn about GM as a brand and vehicles.
Landing a corporate job post-graduation was not an easy task. Lubis was candid about the challenges most graduates face in today’s job market.
“When I was applying to jobs, I used a lot of my internship experience in the past to make myself stand out,” she said. “I have these qualities and these diverse skill sets that I don’t believe any other candidate could have.”
Lubis said her internship and thorough research during the application and interview processes helped her secure her role at GM. Lubis fulfilled her internship requirement doing university communications and marketing at MSU Today here. She also encourages current students to lean into the opportunities that the Department of AD+PR provides, as well as relationships with professors and alumni.
“I think the ADPR program is really nice, just because there’s not that many students within the major itself, the professors really get to know the students Individually,” she said.
Being a new graduate entering the workforce can be a struggle and a tough change. Lubis admits that transitioning from a bustling college campus to working from home does not come without its challenges. It was initially an adjustment, but she highlights the importance of having balance in your routine.
Despite the challenges she has faced in her transition, Lubis says she remains excited for the future. Whether she reaches GM’s creative team, explores entrepreneurship or joins a start-up one day, she says she is ready to embrace the mindset of transition and change.
“I am taking my time and learning as much as I can,” she said.
