How to Excel in Your First PR Position

After landing my first role as a Communications Coordinator at AMPR, here are my key tips for setting yourself up for success early in your career. 

Dress for Success

Making a good first impression is important. Whilst PR isn’t exactly corporate, and once you get the lay of the land you can adapt to the dress code, I suggest dressing professional smart casual when you start your new role.  A blazer is a great way to sharpen up a pair of jeans or even a tailored pant to get dressed for success. 

A positive, can-do attitude

Taking a step into the office on the first day is nerve-wracking, but my advice is to approach each task with a positive attitude and willingness to learn. You’re new, so you’re not expected to know how to do things immediately, just absorb any feedback that’s given to you, as there is always something to learn.   

A big part of the agency is the culture, you become a family. So come to work with smile and get to know your team! 

Watch the news

This one might sound like a given, but in an industry that relies on news, trends and current events, it is crucial to be up to date and keep an eye on what’s happening.  

This could be watching the news while eating your morning breakfast, listening to the radio while on your way to work, or scrolling through the news if you’re sitting on the train.  

This will not only help you stay informed about the industry, but also prepare you for team and client meetings by demonstrating your knowledge of the latest headlines and developments in your field. 

Tools to stay organised

A day in the life of PR is never the same and often you’ll experience a few curve balls that can throw your day out.  

As a result, it’s important to stay on top of tasks and deadlines. A few tips include communicating and asking for help, writing out your tasks and working with your manager to prioritise (and ticking each task off when you’ve completed it!) 

Some light reading, watching and listening

Much like keeping up with the news, it’s important to know the various journalists and writers across print, online and broadcast publications as you’ll be pitching to them!  

Each journalist has their own style, tone of voice, and way they like to be communicated with, so it’s crucial to keep this in mind and ensure you’re only pitching relevant content for their platforms.  

Calling out that you’ve read, watched, or listened to their work and understand their content will help you build the relationship and hopefully get the piece of coverage over the line.  

Build relationships

PR is all about networking and building relationships. Once you meet someone in the industry, you will know them forever. The best thing to do is get out there and introduce yourself! Reach out and organise meetings with people you find interesting. You never know how your paths will cross in future!  

Attention to detail

Spelling, punctuation, grammar, formatting – these little things all matter. When writing pitches and press releases, it’s easy to look past these things. So, take a step back from your computer and do another task before jumping back into it, ask a colleague to read over with fresh eyes, and read it aloud to yourself,   

 Working in a PR agency is fast-paced, and you are always learning, so with some hard work, dedication, and passion for what you do, you will fly through your first role! 

‘To succeed, work hard, never give up and above all, cherish a magnificent obsession.’—Walt Disney