Where To Start When You’re Starting Out In PR

Where To Start

What Makes Me Qualified, What Makes You Qualified, And How This Can Be A Lot Of Fun

What make me qualified? I am still a relative beginner in the public relations industry. I have been in the business for almost two years and love it as much as the first day I started. I’ve learned a lot since starting and I hope to be able to share what I’ve learned with anyone who is interested. I wanted to create a lens so that people with questions can find one source for those answers. Since I’m still fairly new to this, I would LOVE for some feedback!
What makes you qualified? This business is not for everybody. It’s takes a great deal of patience, the capability for creative criticism, and a definite people person. Everyday in PR, you are dealing with clients, customers, sales persons, media, and analysts, just to name a few. It’s a challenge on a lot of days and if there is ever a PR crisis, you must know how to act.
How this can be a lot of fun. Everyday I come to work excited, I love my job! It’s a continual learning experience with every new client you meet, press release you put out, and person you talk to. This job and industry is constantly changing and rarely is one day exactly like the next. You get to do new things constantly and you never know where you can be taken.

How To Land That First PR Job

To start out, check out some websites on public relations or pick up a book about it. Learn what all the job would entail.
In college? Talk with professors in the communications program who know about PR. Or simply take a class on it. Not in college? Ask your company you currently work for if they have a PR department. Ask them what PR is like. Or find a PR firm in your area and ask them questions.
Become very familiar with the Associated Press style of writing. All press releases are based upon this.
Look at getting an internship. In or out of college, this step can be very beneficial in discovering if this might be a career for you. Look at businesses in your area, especially PR firms. If you’re in college, look at interning for the PR department for your college. This was the best decision I ever made.
Look for jobs in your area. In can never hurt to start looking for that new career!