PR stands for public relations, which can be a very hard industry to penetrate, especially if you haven’t got a degree in it or any previous experience. However, just because it’s hard to get into the industry, that doesn’t mean that it’s not achievable. With a little bit of hard work, some motivation, and commitment, you will be able to make a name for yourself in PR.
If you want to get into PR, then there are a few things that you should know first. This post will tell you what they are, in addition to presenting an easy guide for becoming a PR professional:
Accreditations
In order to become a PR professional, you will need to take some kind of course in public relations. The best qualification that you can get is a Public Relations Manager certification which will stand out on a resume. The reason that you need to get some kind of accreditation in public relations is so that employers know you are experienced and have studied the industry. Additionally, a certificate will give you more or less all of the training that you will need to work in public relations in a professional capacity.
Work Experience
Work experience is also very good, but unless you are young, it will be hard for you to find. This is because work experience is something that’s usually offered to teenagers who are leaving school or going into college. With that said, if you know people in public relations firms, they might be willing to let you come in and see how the organization works. If this is something that you are interested in, then you can reach out to any people that you know in the industry and ask for their help. Work experience looks great on a job application, especially when combined with a certificate.
Reasoning
Why do you want to get into public relations? You need to be able to answer this, otherwise, you aren’t going to make it very far as a PR professional. This is likely a question that will come up again and again in interviews. Beyond interviews, it’s good to know the answer to the question for yourself. If you just want to get into an industry that pays well, then think of a more creative answer for job interviews, so that you can impress employers.
Media Savvy
In order to become a successful PR professional, you will need to understand how the media works, and what current trends in it are. The best way to do this is to watch various news channels, read magazines and public journals, and have social media. Twitter is a PR professional’s greatest tool. You should also learn how to use various social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Knowing how to use all of these platforms will make it easier for you when you are inevitably asked to complete a task on them.
Specific Job
Public relations is a big industry, with lots of different jobs and roles. What area of public relations do you want to work in? It’s a good idea to sit down and work this out so that you can approach the industry with more clarity. You could work with large businesses, social media companies, or even with the government. Public relations is the maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or individual. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that nearly all large businesses have PR professionals working for them. There are lots of different industries that you can work in as a PR professional.
Communication
Communication is a very important skill to have if you want to make a name for yourself in PR. If you aren’t able to effectively communicate, then you won’t achieve much success. PR is all about communication. If you struggle to communicate and foster social bonds, then it’s a good idea to take a quick course in it. More often than not, people that can’t communicate struggle with confidence. A good way to overcome a lack of confidence is to take courses in improving it, as well as intentionally put yourself in social situations where you have to interact with other people.
Analytical Skills
In addition to being a good communicator, you will also need to be a good analyzer. If you can’t analyze situations, people, and data, then you won’t be a successful PR professional. Analytical skills are fundamental. You can also take a course on becoming more analytical, although truthfully, it’s usually a trait that people are born with. It can be hard to learn to be more analytical, although it is theoretically possible. Companies will be looking for analytical individuals when they are hiring, so you will probably be tested on your analytical skills during the application process.
Networking
If you want to become a successful PR professional, then you will need to have links in various industries; the best way to achieve this is to network. Thanks to social media and business tools like LinkedIn, networking has never been easier. Add strangers who work in PR, introduce yourself, and add them to your network. Make sure that when you introduce yourself that you are polite and explain to them why you are reaching out to them (you want to get into PR and want to meet new people). Business professionals will appreciate this and may even give you useful advice.
Apply Widely
Lastly, when it comes to applying for jobs, apply widely. You also need to make sure that you don’t set your sights too high. If you are new to the industry, then applying for managerial roles is a bad idea, for example. Make sure that you only apply for jobs that are within your reach. If you try to go too high, then you will waste your time. If you do have previous experience, however, then by all means pursue more senior jobs.
Getting into the PR industry can be hard, especially if you are coming in from another industry and don’t have previous experience, but it is possible. If you want to make a name for yourself in it, then follow this post’s advice. The PR industry is always in search of new talent. If you think that you have what it takes, then take a course and start applying for jobs.
