Mumbai: If you’re here, you either love what ‘Samantha Jones’ from ‘Sex and the City’ did, or you want to know what exactly Public Relations is and how to embark on your journey. A career in Public Relations is dynamic, ever-changing, and never dull or monotonous. As far as careers go, it is considered one of the most prestigious and well-paying ones. However, that doesn’t mean that working in PR is a never-ending party. A day in the life of a beginner PR professional mostly includes writing press releases, managing media interviews, attending industry events, and networking with potential clients.
If you want to kickstart your journey in PR, here are some tips and tricks that helped me!
1 Apply Extensively: Applying to jobs is never enough, especially in PR, as it is a competitive field. Tailor your resume according to the job description, don’t limit yourself to one or two ‘dream companies’. Consider applying to different PR firms and positions that align with your skills and interests. You might just discover an unexpected opportunity that leads to a fulfilling career path.
2 Network, Network, Network: Attend industry events, identify PR agencies and companies, follow their social media accounts (especially on LinkedIn), engage with their content, and reach out to PR professionals/hiring managers of these agencies and companies. Subtly express your interest in working for them, showcasing how you can contribute to the company's growing success and why you think you would be a suitable candidate or how you stand out from the rest.
3 Work on your communication skills: At its core, the PR industry is all about communication. While you might believe you have amazing communication skills, there’s always room for improvement. Whether it's refining your pitching techniques for a compelling story, effectively conveying the importance of seizing opportunities to clients, or perfecting your writing skills for press releases, authored articles, or listicles, there’s always more to learn.
4 Stay up-to-date on industry trends: In the fast-paced world of PR and communications, staying in the loop is key. Sign up for newsletters from top publications and stay up-to-date on industry trends. Grasp every piece of information you get, as no amount of information is ever enough!
5 Develop and MAINTAIN media relations: While maintaining media relations is not the sole essence of PR, it sure is a brownie point you wouldn’t want to miss. It's all about staying in regular touch with journalists, editors, and influencers to ensure credibility and trust are maintained throughout. By keeping these relationships strong, you not only get your message out there accurately but also stay ahead of the game. It's the secret sauce to making sure your brand shines a little brighter in the media spotlight.
If you’re someone who loves to be on their toes, juggle deadlines like a pro, stay up-to-date on trends, and know what's happening around the globe before your friends do, loves to talk and meet new people, knows how to craft stories that are impossible to miss, PR is definitely for you! Apart from these skills, it is a cherry on top if you have an extroverted personality, as you’ll be communicating with various people throughout your average workday. And last but not least, you will also need to be a quick thinker who can handle yourself in high-pressure situations or crises. All of this might sound like a lot, but those in the industry love what they do.
The author of this article is Drisshti Asknani.
