Most people have a preconceived idea that the public relations industry is easy and laid-back, when it’s actually one of the most fast-paced environments. In reality, PR positions are getting more and more competitive. If you are interested in getting your foot in the door of the world of public relations, here’s some advice to get you started:
Perfect Your Writing
Practice honing your writing skills so that you are able to concisely and quickly get your point across. Creating pitches, press releases, articles, etc. can be difficult, so it is crucial that you are able to do them in a fast fashion. It is also very important that your writing style is able to adapt for different audiences and through different mediums.
Self-Promote
Many public relations firms will look at how you represent yourself so they can understand how you would represent their clients. Maintain a confident and bold presence to make people aware of who you are and what you can do for them. It is critical that you network on- and off-line to widen your prospects of future contacts.
Keep An Eye On Your Socials
Job recruiters will definitely be checking your social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to make sure that you present yourself well in reality and virtually. Anyone has the ability to search your name on the internet, so make sure that there aren’t any questionable posts that may affect your job-standing.
Be Aware of Media
The public relations industry is all about keeping up with current news. You do not want to be unprepared for a writing assignment that has to do with a certain new trend you’ve never heard of before. Social media and online news outlets make staying “current” that much easier. Turn on AppleNews notifications and follow a ton of news/magazine accounts on Instagram or Facebook.
Do Your Homework
Research your prospective employer(s) and know their clients. It is critical that you are aware of what kind of PR a specific firm does. Some people might not know that public relations companies can have clients that range all the way from a local real estate firm, to a new beauty spa that specializes in microcurrent facials, to an app that matches users to doctors by location. Make sure you know about the particular services each PR firm offers so you can connect them to yourself and your unique skills.
Get Creative!
Media outlets receive the same emails from various brands, and most of the time, your specific pitch will get overlooked. To prevent that from happening, take extra time to personalize your message. For example, mention an article you’ve already read by the writer you’re sending a pitch to. Offer to send a product in addition, just in case they want to try it out before writing on it. Do whatever you can to catch their attention as they go through the thousands of emails they get each day!
For more ideas about PR itself, click here.
