Applying for your first PR job can be daunting, especially with so much competition for each position.
Here is the insider’s guide to getting onto the career ladder – and climbing it fast.

Which area?
It is of great importance that you get to know the rules of the game before you apply for a job within PR.

Blindly following the trails of online job advertisements will leave you running with the herd and is a waste of your time.

Identify your strengths and apply this knowledge when selecting which type of PR you would like to do – and look to proposition potential employers directly. Make sure you read both sector press and relevant PR publications to stay up to date on advancements within the discipline.

Work experience
Aim to secure a paid internship – many will be starting in September. Competition can be fierce so be inventive.

Contact specific people from departments at the organisations you would most like to work at – they may not have any positions open, but it can be a chance to ask them what they look for in potential candidates.

If you are entering an interview and haven’t had any previous experience of working within a PR role outside paid work experience, do not fret.

Try to demonstrate relevant skillsets in your free time, such as blogging to display your writing style and commitment, and sharing your online portfolio of work via social media.

Network
When it comes to PR, there is no greater demonstration of your skills than the way you conduct yourself.

Make sure you are at all the right industry seminars and events – and even simply just that you are on LinkedIn. But do not believe that merely building a large portfolio of one-time connections is enough for you