Your First Job In PR (Finding it and Getting It)

Finding your first job in PR can be a daunting task - employers have a lot of choice when it comes to hiring graduates, but it’s not as difficult as you might think to stand out from the crowd when applying for a graduate role.

Bear in mind that an agency can get hundreds of CVs from a single job advertisement, and even though some of these points may seem obvious, it’s amazing how many applicants don’t even do the basics right (in our experience, most of them get something wrong). Try these for size:

Tailor your communication. Never blanket email agencies, always compose your communication from scratch, The agency wants to see you’ve made the effort, so make specific reference to the job advert and research the agency in question. If you’re getting in touch on a speculative basis explain why you want to work for them. There’s usually more than enough information on agency websites to achieve this.
Be relevant. I’ve seen hundreds of cover letters/emails over the years that didn’t even mention PR, so put yourself in the position of the reader at the other end. Explain your interest/passion for the job and what is it about you specifically that they would be interested in. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking there isn’t anything interesting to say - there always is.
Go for work experience. Even if it’s just a couple of weeks unpaid, that can be incredibly valuable and improve your CV ahead of one that just lists academic experience.
Make use of all the resources available to you. There is a public relations job section on this site which currently lists hundreds of pr jobs. Also, a search for ‘jobs’ or ‘recruitment’ on UKPRagencies will give you details from lots of agencies who may be recruiting. Don’t be afraid to call PR agencies and ask for advice. Try recruitment companies as well. Don’t limit yourself to the big London agencies. It’s understandable why graduates may want to live and work in London and get a big agency name on their CV right away, but there’s more to the UK PR industry than London. There are good agencies all over the UK, and a smaller agency can often deliver more effective training.
Don’t give up. Sometimes it’s a question of being in the right place at the right time, and most agencies only recruit once or twice a year at most. And don’t forget that it’s usually only the larger agencies that have organised graduate intake schemes. So if, they ask you to keep in touch, make sure you do, but above all don’t give up if you have a few ‘thanks but no thanks’ letters - it might just be bad timing.