How to Get a Job in PR
Individuals employed in public relations (PR) are tasked with representing and promoting businesses and organizations positively to key stakeholders as well as the general public. This requires excellent communication skills as well as the ability to network. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the field of PR employed approximately 275,000 people who on average earned $51,000 per year. You can become one of the individuals employed in this field by learning how to get a job in PR.
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Instructions
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Gain experience. Find an internship with a PR department in a company or business in your community, or with a PR firm to gain experience working in the field. Take courses in public relations at colleges to gain important skills such as how to write press releases or pitch story ideas to editors at newspapers and magazines. Volunteer your PR services and knowledge to local nonprofit organizations that often don't have the resources to hire a PR person. Promote their organization and mission while using the experience to help you land a PR job.
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Network. Attend professional business luncheons, meetings and conferences in your community to network with other business professionals. Inform them about your interest in the PR field as well as your experience. Ask if they are aware of any openings in their company. Networking often gives you an edge over paper applications and it also gives you access to jobs that are open but not advertised. Consider joining the local chapter of Public Relations Society of America (PR) to network with other PR professionals and stay current with the field while looking for a job.
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Apply for open positions. Write a resume that highlights your skills and experience relating to the PR field. Put together a portfolio of your work including items you've written or created as well as newspaper and magazine stories landed through your pitches. Browse job advertisements in PR on major career websites as well as those specific to the PR industry such as the PRSA website or PR Week.
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Freelance. Serve as your own boss by completing freelance PR work for businesses and companies in your community. Target small business owners who need the services of a PR person but don't have the resources to employ someone full-time. Pitch the skills and experience you can provide as well as why it's beneficial to their organization. Sign a contract with them for a specific time period and amount of work. Use this experience to help secure a PR job or start your own PR company.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit business colleagues preparing for business meeting image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com
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