A career in public relations is busy, fun and sometimes crazy but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

If you’re thinking of going into PR, here’s some expert (if we can call ourselves that) tips on where to start:

  • Research

Know the industry, understand what we mean by B2B, B2C and in-house! A knowledge of the industry you want to go into will assist you massively in interviews and help you realise exactly what it is you want to do.

  • News

After researching the industry, it’s important you know your current affairs. A big part of working in PR is speaking with journalists so it’s essential to know what’s in the news each day to help you write releases that are newsworthy and relevant.

  • Confidence and communication are key

Each day, you’ll be speaking with a range of people – from clients to journalists so it’s important that you are confident in speaking over the phone. Being able to communicate effectively via any medium is also an important skill when talking through ideas with clients.

  • Perfect your writing skills

From tweets to magazine features – a huge part of a PR’s job is writing.  It’s important your writing skills are top notch and you know the difference between their, they’re and there! Creating a personal blog or writing for student magazines can help you hone your writing skills and give you the freedom to write on a variety of topics.

  • Gain experience

As with any role, experience in the industry is important. Not only to learn on-the-job but also to see if it’s right for you. Most PR agencies, including ourselves. are happy to have work experience students come in to learn the ins and outs of the business. While you’re gaining experience, be sure to ask any questions you have as it’s a great chance to get insight from people that have worked in the business for years. Two of our team members, Rebekha and Anisha even got full-time jobs here from placements!

As with any career, there’s absolutely no ‘right way’ to get into PR. Everyone here at Approach has had different paths, from journalism to fashion backgrounds, we each bring our own skills to the team.

To find out more on professional development and learning new skills, read Rebekha’s, one of our account executives, blog here.

 

(Image sourced on Pixabay)