Preparing for a job in public relations can be tough and there are many skills that you need in order to be successful in this field. Looking through various jobs and their requirements I noticed that there were 5 skills or traits that they all were looking for. In no specific order, they are:
EDUCATION
I found that many of the best jobs require a college degree. Some jobs are more specific and prefer you to have a certain degree like this one for Fuddruckers.
Having a college degree is valued because lets face it, that’s how the world is. All jokes aside, in college you develop a great foundation for all the knowledge and skills that you will need to pick up along the way.
EXPERIENCE
Many high profile and great paying jobs require you to have a certain amount of experience. They want to know that you have a successful track record in public relations and can get the job done.
WRITING
I once heard from someone working in public relations that “if you can write, you can find work.” This is a skill that seems to be essential to any job in public relations. This job for MTV Networks requires you to not just be comfortable with writing, but to be an expert at it. Coming up with a great idea is one thing, but you also need to be able to articulate it.
SOCIAL SKILLS
It is important to learn to work with others as a team. Also, you need to be able to communicate your thoughts and ideas to your teammates. This has been a requirement in every job posting I have looked at (in different words, but the same message).
This skill is also very important when dealing with your company’s client and/or target audience. If you reread the requirements for the MTV Network job it actually lists that the applicant be articulate. The ability to hold a real conversation is a skill that some people think would be easy but it is something we could all work on.
BACKGROUND IN MUSIC
This one is obviously more specialized compared to the other skills. I personally have an interest in music and look for opportunities in this field. This entertainment relations position for Gibson is a great example.
When choosing a company to work for, at times their target audience is narrow. This is why some businesses prefer you to have a special set of skills. You have to really know about the product in order to sell it.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
This coming from me, a student is one thing, but here is a video made by Michigan State University’s branch of PRSSA. It is an interview of Danielle Weller (someone working in PR) giving some good advice to all of us. She reinforces many of the skills and traits I believe are needed to be successful.
[...] set of skills needed in order to succeed in PR. Some of these skills are listed in my previous post All We Need is. Because the PRSSA recommends that practitioners should have at least 5 years of experience, it [...]
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