It’s that time of year again when the Lingo PR office is inundated with fresh faced graduates looking to secure a position within the industry.
For some of you though, it isn’t going to be all good news. PR is a highly competitive industry and if you don’t put your very best foot forward when seeking out opportunities, you won’t survive the recruitment process.
So if you want to work in public relations, here are my top tips for getting your foot in the door.
Be confident. Public relations is essentially the art of communication. If you are whispering down the phone when inquiring about a position, you won’t make the cut. Clear, confident writing and verbal skills are essential for this game so make sure you have a strong and technically correct application.
I understand phoning a potential employer can be nerve wracking so if you think you will go to water making the call – make your approach via email or Linked In instead.
Why you? In the past month, I have received over 20 applications from prospective job seekers. If you want me to remember your application, you will need to stand out from the crowd. My tip is to have a concise resume (no more than 2 pages) that is visually appealing and creative – not a standard template. Tell me in your email why you are different and what benefit you will offer me as your employer.
Make an effort. I can’t tell you how annoyed I get to see an email addressed to “Dear Owner.” I employ people with a bit of spunk and attention to detail. My name and details are readily available via our website so it doesn’t reflect well if you can’t be bothered to review the site and enter in my correct details. Take the time to research the company you wish to work for and explain how you could help or enhance their team. Put a little work into your application!
Spelling mistakes? Your application won’t be considered.
Work experience? You bet. It’s a great reflection of your willingness to learn and dedication to gaining industry skills if you have engaged in some sort of work experience or volunteering. If your resume is a little light on in this department, definitely consider engaging in a work experience program to improve your attractiveness to employers.
My final piece of advice for graduate job seekers is to always respect the boundaries of who you are trying to sell yourself to. I recently had a job seeker phone me after hours with a voice mail of “Hi Amanda, please call me urgently”. I of course interrupted our family dinner to return the call and wasn’t too impressed to find out it was a cold call for a job application.
If you know why you are a stand out, communicate this well and put a little effort into your application. Remember to be patient – chances are you won’t land your dream job overnight but with a little clever thinking and effort, you will be well on your way!
In the meantime, if you want to know what your future life as a PR Pro will entail, I’m sure you’ll have a giggle at this post from PR Daily.
