Getting Hired in the PR Business – My Advice
January 10, 2007 by Eric Eggertson
Filed under Marketing
If you’re just starting out, and want to land a job in public relations, get some experience doing something that involves writing, dealing with people, being creative, and getting attention for an event or a cause.
Save samples.
Become actively involved in blogs, podcasts and other new tools of the trade, even if it’s in a supporting role. Help organize a conference, get-together or online meet-up.
Make connections with PR and marketing people around the world, then announce you’re going to visit them on a world tour. Then do it. (That’s Paull Young’s world PR blogger meet-up in the photo.)
Do something to stand out from the crowd that doesn’t involve bare breasts or binge drinking.
Practice your craft at writing. Practice more. And more. Get good at proofreading and editing.
If you aren’t already a media junkie, become one. If what the media and social media are doing doesn’t interest you, reconsider your career choice.
Ask PR veterans for a short meeting to get advice in your job search. When you meet them, be poised and confident, but not cocky. Do some research about their company, and ask questions about the qualities and experience that will help you build a career, and what opportunities exist in the industry for gaining experience or getting hired.
Find a volunteer organization where a PR pro is donating their time, and find out if they need a volunteer assistant.
Join IABC, CPRS, CIPR, or another organization. Get the student rate. Go to events, and join a committee.
Pursue opportunities to meet people and learn new things.
Create a nice, tight resume, and get someone to help you lay it out if you’re design-impaired.
Learn the art of the covering letter. Emphasize the benefit to the organization of hiring you. It’s all about what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. If all you have is youthful enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, emphasize that.
Learn the art of the job interview. It’s all about what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. Remember that employers hire for attitude, so show some positive attitude. Lean forward. Don’t fidget. Make eye contact. Think on your feet, but don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know everything.
Be persistent.
If you get hired, work hard and learn as much as you can. If you find you’re in a toxic work environment, don’t slow down your job search.
And hey, good luck!
Photo of Paull Young and Erin Caldwell in Washington, D.C. courtesy Paull Young.
Tags: careers, job search, employment, pr students, resumes, communications, newbies
It’s said (in computing) that ‘the network is the computer’. I’d say in public relations that ‘the network is the business’.
Your very helpful advice quite rightly encourages young PR practioners to develop their online and offline networks – just like Paull Young.
The world of PR is definately new to me. I think I can claim that I have started to many of the things on your list already, and hope to expand on them further in the months and years to come.
Let’s hope it does translate into desired positions (as opposed to just any “job”). If not, I might just come knocking on your door.
Great post, Eric. Looking forward to the follow-up. I’ll be passing this along to my readers for sure.
Another great post, Eric. I’ll be pointing the students this way. They need to read it. Thanks.
Richard: I wish I was as good at networking as I am at advising people to network!
Omar: Nice to hear from you. I got your LinkedIn invite, but didn’t have a clue who you were.
Chris: Thanks for dropping by!
Robert: Everybody who has been a student (and who hasn’t?) should do what they can to encourage/mentor those who are just starting out.
I still remember the rejection letter I got from one person who treated me with great respect, even though I had no experience as a political researcher. That one letter gave me the confidence to keep chasing after the right job.
Eric,
Thanks for linking across to me, and I’m glad you used the photo.
Great advice here! I’ll be passing it on to people. I just hope I can get myself a job so I don’t prove you wrong ;-).
Eric-
I’m a pr student at Auburn University and newbie bloggers like us greatly appreciate helpful posts like this. Thank you!
One piece of advice grabbed my attention especially. “Ask PR veterans for a short meeting to get advice in your job search.” What would be the proper etiquette for a request like this?