Everybody has to start somewhere, and this is where all of us PR people start. In order to get your dream Public Relations job, you have to be the company’s dream PR person, and we’re going to tell you how!

Your Cover Letter

The first step in your application process for your dream PR job should be your cover letter. It should be concise, specific, unique, and personal. The key is always to have a killer hook – one that makes them want to get to know you more.  This is a key skill of the job – so show you’ve got what it takes!

·      Don’t be afraid to get personal

One of the many things that makes the PR industry different than any other industry is that we are passionate about words and how they can make us feel when we read them, so always keep that in mind when applying to a PR Job. Write your biggest accomplishments and your ambitions, explain to the reader what’s so interesting about you that they’ll value you as an asset, and then go from there. Make this brief but interesting enough that they want to continue reading till the end.

·      Do Your Research

Always. Do. Your. Research. We cannot stress this enough! If you don’t know enough about the company you’re applying to, do you even want to get that job? Start with the company’s mission vision, and values and go from there! Find a way to curate your skills and your knowledge to what interests the company, and always show them what unique benefits you’re bringing to the table.

·      Experience

Focus on all of your previous experiences – not your latest job description, but your accomplishments and what you’ve learned. This should be the core of your cover letter and should be the longest. Tell them what you did and what you could do, and always remember to alter it to fit into the job you’re applying to.

Your Resume

·      Go all out!

When applying to any PR job, your resume should always showcase your personality. Remember that the market is full of people who just want to get the job without trying, so they’ll most likely have plain resumes just stacked with words. Therefore, try to experiment with some graphics instead of words in some parts of your resume, it would make your resume more attractive and would give you that push that you needed!

·      One Doesn’t Fit All!

Not all jobs you apply for are the same, certainly not in the PR industry. You should always change your resume up a bit with every job you see and add the experience that is most relevant for each job description. This way, the recruiter can see that you are interested in their agency in specific, and not just applying left and right!

These are just some of our tips to help you professionally land the perfect PR job, but never forget to work on yourself by attending training courses and seminars and work on growing your own network of connections. A PR professional without connections is like a car without any wheels – they cannot go anywhere!  😉

Layan AlJammal

PR Girl

If you’re new to the wonderful world of PR it can feel overwhelming, to begin with. You may think it’s all about the agency in question, however, there’s a few things business owners should ask themselves first of all. TishTash have put together a hit list to consider before signing that all important contract…

1. Be clear on goals and objectives

It’s important to be clear on your business or brand’s goals and objectives before hiring a PR agency. Put simply, it’s all in the brief. Of course, an experienced agency will be able to guide you but it’s crucial you are clear on the priorities and key focuses in the first instance. Ask yourself what is it that your trying to accomplish and break it down into specifics. Simply stating ‘I want to get the word out there about my brand’ is not enough.’

2. Are you ready for PR?

Ask yourself as a business if you’re ready to get the most out of PR. Are you at the right stage to begin this journey? There are no second chances when it comes to announcements and often if a brand isn’t quite ready, it shows. Remember media in any region can be unforgiving. If you’re right at the start of your brand’s journey be prepared to make a longer-term investment in PR – this will have far greater results than a piecemeal approach.

3. Align your strategy

It’s vital to remember that PR needs to be supported in order to be successful. It does not stand alone in building a brand. Align your advertising, digital and marketing strategies in synergy with PR to ensure the best overall results. This might seem a lot of leg work in the beginning, but it will pay off in the longer term and will mean the business gets the absolute best out of any investment in PR.

4. High-quality materials

An agency requires high-quality raw materials so invest in a good photographer to showcase your product or offering. The PR team you hire will be guaranteed better results if they have a solid set of images to work with. Think what you as a consumer might want to see in a magazine or when scrolling through a website. Even if the announcement the agency distribute is compelling, the team will be hard pressed to achieve worthwhile coverage without strong imagery to support.

5. Define your version of success

What are your benchmarks of success? Keep in mind that PR won’t solve every issue your business has, nor should you be expecting an instant uplift in sales. It’s important to step outside your brand bubble and set realistic goals with your chosen agency from the outset. If it’s instant results you require it may be advisable to opt for a paid for ad campaign or to put money behind digital promotion for example.