By Andrew Blum*
Your PR career is important and there a lot of ways to nurture it. Here are a few tips.
- A college degree. Some people I know in the business don’t have one, but you should have one.
- Do you need journalism experience before getting into PR? I think it helps tremendously but a PR degree and experience without journalism experience works for many people.
- Keep up with people you meet in the business – contacts and mentors are always a help as your career progresses.
- Keep your resume and bio updated. Update your references as well. And have an up-to-date social media profile.
- Attend PR events, speak at events and write articles about PR – it’s your brand so build it.
- Use recruiters when needed. Sometimes they are a necessary evil, but they can be very helpful. Read job boards.
- You can often learn from a boss or a client even when you don’t think you are. Take that nugget and park it away for future use.
- Pick a PR specialty. You can’t be an expert in all kinds of PR. Build that expertise as your career moves ahead.
- Get to know a group of key reporters and producers well by spending time with them outside the office or schmooze with them when you accompany clients to interviews. The media and your contacts are your lifeblood.
- Make sure your career includes work on a crisis. Trust me, it will come in handy some day when you least expect it.Overall, remember to use your experience, think smartly and keep up with PR, media and technology developments. Your career will be sure to follow.
*Andrew Blum is a PR consultant and media trainer and principal of AJB Communications. He has directed PR for professional services and financial services firms, NGOs, agencies and other clients. As a PR executive, and formerly as a journalist, he has been involved on both sides of the media aisle in some of the most media intensive crises of the past 25 years. Contact him at ablum@ajbcomms.com or follow him on Twitter: @ajbcomms
