7 Tips for New PR Professionals

Finding a career in the field of public relations can be daunting, to say the least. Where do you start? What are you qualified for? And what the heck are you supposed to do once you apply?Luckily there are some tips, tools and techniques you can use to be prepared for applying, interviewing and eventually accepting your dream job in public relations. Here is some advice from Julie Brown, Director of Media Relations at the University of Oregon, that I would like to pass on to the world of upcoming, past and future PR graduates, with some of my own insight thrown in for good measure. 

1. Check Craigslist, Monster.com, Jobdango.com, etc. for job postings. If you see something you are interested in, apply online. This is how a lot of PR professionals, including Julie, find their careers.
2. Beef up that resume. Don’t lie. But, exaggerate and emphasize what you have done to prove you are worthy of a position. An impressive resume is what gets you an interview. So, if the only past work experience you have is waitressing, then explain how waitressing improved your time management skills, ability to cooperatively work with others, handle stressful situations and gave you excellent customer relations skills. 
3. So you got the interview? What do you do now? Dress for success. You should have researched the company by now, so you should know if they wear suits to the office everyday or if they all ride in on skateboards wearing jeans. (Don’t show up to the interview with your skateboard, wearing jeans) but dress appropriately for the company’s environment.
4. Bring an impressive portfolio. It’s not the quantity in a portfolio, but the quality. If you are really proud of one news release, one media list and one feature article you have written, include only those three samples. According to Julie Brown, a lot of the time an interviewer won’t even ask for your portfolio. “If you are really proud of your work and want to show it off, then speak up,” she says. “The more enthusiastic you are about your portfolio and more eager you are to show it off, the more impressed an employer will be.” 
5. Don’t only be excited about what’s in your portfolio, know it like the back of your hand. “What I noticed most in interviewing for entry-level PR positions, is when someone obviously didn’t have anything prepared,” says Julie. Practice for the interview, multiple times, before the interview. Know what you want to say and be convincing. If you believe in you, they will too.
6. Follow up. There is a fine line between being eager and excited about working with a company and showing it, and bugging them. According to Julie, if you apply for a position and haven’t heard back within a few weeks, don’t hesitate to re-send your application once a month. Often times, agencies don’t cycle through old applications, especially the entry-level ones, at all. So, keep sending your application to assure it will always be on the top of the pile. If you interviewed with the company and haven’t heard back within the time they told you they would “let you know,” a polite phone call wouldn’t hurt, just to remind them that you are interested.
7. Don’t be discouraged. Remember, a lot of people graduate with public relations degrees and you will find a job. It may take some time, but if you keep perfecting your resume and practicing your skills you should land a position in no time at all. 

These seven tips from a PR professional to future PR professionals should help make you a hot commodity in the PR job market. Once you utilize these tips and tools and land that dream PR job of yours check out the blog, Client Service Insights by Leo Bottary of Hill & Knowlton, to find eight tips for newly minted PR professionals, that will advise you on what to do once you have the job.