Top tips from a recent graduate: how to land your dream PR job

It’s no secret that getting your foot in the door in the fiercely competitive world of public relations can be tough. While it may appear glamorous and glitzy at a glance, this industry is notoriously challenging, fast-paced and tight-knit. Trust me, as a recent graduate, I totally get that it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why I’ve rounded up the ultimate list of top tips and inside knowledge, designed to help you kick start your career and set you up for success.  

Notepad at the ready? Here are a Communications Coordinator’s top tips to land your dream role in PR

“Don’t wish for it, work for it.”

1. Intern, intern, intern!

• I hate to say it, but simply having a degree in media or communications won’t cut it when it comes to landing your dream PR role.   
• Don’t get me wrong, studying hard is important, but it’s those real-world skills and hands-on experience that will set you apart from the crowd.  
• The best way to gain valuable experience and build a killer CV is through completing internships and work experience – the more you can do, the better!  
•  A great way to start is by undertaking an internship program at an agency you’d love to work for. Lots of agencies, including AMPR, run internship programs designed for students to get a glimpse into what your day-to-day as a PR professional involves.  
•  Outside of internships, there are plenty of other ways to build experience. Whether it’s assisting with content creation and social media for a local cafe, or volunteering at fashion week, you never know where it might take you! 

2. Connections are key

• In PR, relationships are invaluable and broadening your network of contacts is vital to success. One of the best ways to put yourself in front of the right people is to attend industry events such as panels and networking evenings.  
• Another tip is to harness the power of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an excellent way to connect with mentors – don’t be afraid to reach out to people and ask to catch up for a coffee and pick their brains for career advice. As a student, I would spend hours perusing the profiles of people I looked up to in the industry to see how they started out and eventually landed their dream roles.  

3. Be in the know

• To work in media, you need to live and breathe media.  
• This means keeping your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the news and staying up to date with all things social. The media landscape is constantly shifting and rapidly evolving, and being able to demonstrate your knowledge and genuine interest in the industry will stand you in good stead when competing for any PR or comms role. If you’re genuinely interested in the news cycle, this should come naturally.  
• One of the best pieces of advice I have received is don’t wish for it, work for it. If you’re proactive, passionate, and willing to put in the work, chances are you’ll end up where you want to be.