5 top tips for getting into PR

Calling all graduates, welcome to our 5 top tips for getting into PR.
We are receiving more and more CV’s at the moment, mostly from students about to graduate this summer. Some of them are very promising and unfortunately some are simply dire. Have a look at our top tips for getting into the PR industry:

1. Communication: One of the key skills for PR is the ability to communicate well. Both written and verbal communication is a vital part of the job. Check, double check and triple check your CV and covering letter for typing errors, spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.

2. Research: when you apply for a job, or send off a CV, make sure you have researched the company. Tailor your covering letter to the company, show that you know what they do, and address all letters to the relevant person.


3. Work experience: in brief, get some. Having a PR degree is simply not enough-(although it isn’t necessary to have one-it may help). Apply for work experience or work shadowing in a variety of PR areas, event management, marketing departments, in house, agency... If you have to, do it unpaid. Having some experience will give you a valuable insight into the real PR world. On work experience, be keen and willing and get stuck in, not only will you learn a lot about the industry, but you could end up with valuable press cuttings to add to your university portfolio. If nothing else, make contact with a PR practitioner and seek some advice and information.

4. Portfolio: gather a portfolio of work you have done and had published. It is a great tool to have at an interview, rather than merely answering questions, you can demonstrate the work you’re capable of. It can also change the dynamics of an interview, rather than the normal Q&A session, you can talk through it and pre-empt the questions. This can also be tailored to the job you are applying for, e.g. if it is for a charity, try to use fundraising examples if you have them.


5. Showing off: This is one of the most common problems we find with CV’s. Don’t try to use impressive sentences if they don’t make sense! Get somebody else to read through it before you send it off, trying to use language which is far too sophisticated will only backfire. Also keep sentences brief and to the point. If you can say what you need to in a 25 word sentence, don’t try to fill it out to 50 words with over-elaborate descriptions, cliches and well, frankly, lies. Be honest, and be yourself.

We are by no means experts in this field, nor do we assume to have all the answers. We have based these points on our experience in both applying for jobs and receiving job applications, and hopefully by using them you won’t fall at the first hurdle, and will achieve your PR goals.

Mother of the Year...what the...?!

I read today in the newspaper that Katie Price AKA Jordan won a mother of the year award. Now I have a lot of admiration for her, I reckon she is a lot more on the ball than people give her credit, especially looking after Harvey. So congratulations to you…

However, what takes away all the good work is that she really wasn’t facing any strong opposition. Others on the short list included, Heather “I am a gold digging, police time wasting, fur coat wearing, clinging on to the fact I’m the ex-wife of a Beatle” Mills, Kate “I was caught taking cocaine but I’m still paid millions of pounds and am allowed my own clothes range whilst dating a drug addicted, untalented singer who is a criminal, how on earth am I allowed custody of my child” Moss, and Jade “please DO NOT get me started on this one!!” Goody.

Who in their right mind would nominate these three as mothers of the year…shame on you!

Ruth

BRING ON THE BAN!!

Now I am normally a cynic when it comes to national days, come on-do we honestly need them for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g? But national no smoking day makes a lot of sense. With the upcoming smoking ban, smokers must surely need to have a re-think of their habits.

I for one can’t wait until July 1st-I can go out, enjoy a drink or two, or maybe even three without going home with my clothes, hair, and handbag smelling of stale smoke. The lowered chances of getting lung, mouth or throat cancer are also a bonus. I have a real problem with the comments which I hear time and time again, “it’s my choice to smoke”, “it isn’t anybody else’s business”, and “it’s my human rights to smoke! ”…excuse me, if you are smoking on the table next to me, waving your death stick in my face it does become my business, my health and my washing load! What about our human rights to breathe fresh clean air?!
Rather than just whinge about this, I have decided upon a new policy, every time somebody says to me “it’s my choice” and lights up their deadly poison, I shall poke them in the eye…It’s my choice smokers, so look out!

Ruth

ITV PR Challenge

There's a PR challenge ahead for ITV after the recent voting scandal. PR Week this week (09.03.07) revealed that the in-house communications team at ITV is embarking on a campaign to re-build public confidence in the voting systems.

I must admit, I have taken part in the odd X-Factor vote and always wondered if I was actually making a difference, or if the programme was already mapped out as part of Simon Cowell's master plan....

I certainly won't miss ITV's The Mint 'Name something that's white' The answer? Not clouds... not Tipp-Ex...but the shirt Brian Dowling was wearing last Thursday. Obvious really. (Okay, so maybe that wasn't actually the answer but you get my point.)

I think the team at ITV has a real challenge on its hands, there were a lot of people who wouldn't vote anyway because of the premium charges and now they stand to loose a lot more votes after this.

They have acted swiftly so far though, commissioning a full review of their services with a plan to fully publish all the results. They have to be commended for not hiding from their mistakes but working hard to face up to them, sort them out and regain people's trust.

Good luck ITV!

Helen

More Charges!!!

Why is it that working people seem to get attacked from every angle? I’ve read in the newspaper today that Britain’s main banks are preparing to introduce charges on some current accounts. I wonder which Mr Big Shot millionaire dreamt that one up. I really don’t know why I and every one else who can actually be bothered to contribute to society actually attempt to save money. We may as well just throw it all down the drain! What infuriates me even more about this is the fact that only yesterday all we heard about was a new initiative to get the long term unemployed back into work. The scheme, which includes jobseekers, receiving a free outfit and haircut for potential interviews, will of course all be courtesy of the tax payer. The truth of the matter is, people who work have to scrimp and save for everything they have, whereas those who don’t get everything given to them on a plate. From this point of view, with something or somebody waiting around every corner ready to squeeze every penny they can out of us, there is little wonder why so many seem reluctant to get a job.

Emma

Holme Pierrepont

I spent the weekend watching the National white water rafting selection event this weekend down at Holme Pierrepont.
Teams competed against each other-and the elements- to qualify for the world championships later this year. Despite the unpleasant weather I had a great weekend.

For those who haven’t visited Holme Pierrepont, I urge you to put it on your summer to do list. There is plenty to see, and if you dare, do. Rafting, waterskiing, sailing, rowing and canoeing are often the order of the day, however if you merely want to go for a Sunday outing, there are footpaths alongside the white water rapids as well as paths along the banks of the Trent so you can see what goes on
There is plenty of wildlife for those who enjoy a spot of ornithology, and plenty of free parking.

So pop along for family friendly outing.

Ruth