How to land your first PR job and climb the ladder

Top tips from industry experts on landing your first PR job and progressing up the career ladder

The start of any career can be fraught with challenges, and the PR and marketing space is no different. From condensing your academic and professional experience into a short CV, to preparing for interviews and knowing how to win over your potential future boss, there is a lot you need to think through. Not to mention the competition. It can be hard to know how to stand out from the crowd. 

Lucky for you, we hosted a panel event where two global PR pros and one PR recruitment expert shared all their top tips to help you figure out what you should and shouldn’t do to get your foot in the door and start climbing the ladder. (Find more tips from the event on Twitter using the hashtag #firstPRjob) 

Read on for all the highlights on how to land your first PR job from our expert panellists: Mark Pinsent, European MD at The Hoffman Agency; Stephen Waddington, Chief Engagement Officer at Ketchum and Visiting Professor of Practice in Public Relations at Newcastle University; and Hanson Search CEO Alice Weightman.

Do a social media audit on yourself

Before you even think about applying for that job, google yourself. Do all your social media profiles pop up? If so, that’s how easy it will be for a prospective employer to find you. Which is a good thing! You want to be easily found and heard in PR, but for the right reasons.

Keep in mind that the way you portray yourself on social media will influence a hiring manager’s view of you and whether they think you are a good fit for their business.

Fewer than half of the registered attendees for this event submitted a LinkedIn profile. If you have a CV, then you should have a LinkedIn profile. Get it sorted. But finding a job isn’t simply about writing a good CV or LinkedIn profile. You must also use social for networking and making your mark. Share things that you’re passionate about. Market yourself. This will help you build an invaluable network.

Top tips for using social media to land your first PR job:

• Follow people in the industry
• Listen to what experts are saying
• Participate in discussions
• Curate & create
• Connect

Got an interview? Prepare, prepare, prepare

Once you get an interview, don’t think ‘job done’! There is so much preparation that you should do in order to make the best impression and come out with a job offer.

Most importantly, do your research. Find out everything that you can about the company, their clients, the person/people that you’re meeting. This knowledge will help you throughout the interview – answering questions, asking questions, and making small talk. Maybe the company recently did some work that you were really impressed by. Or maybe you went to the same university as one of your interviewers. Showing your interest and engaging on relatable topics will help make you more likeable.