How to start a career in PR

by Romana Shah

​​I started at Flame PR earlier this year and have had a real taste of what it means to work in PR from pitching to journalists to drafting content for clients. In the short time that I have been working at Flame I have gathered some useful tips for anyone wanting to tap into the communications industry:

What’s in the news?
As I work for a Financial and Tech PR agency, I need to make sure I am on top of all the current affairs within the Financial and Tech industry. This is not limited to print, but also encompasses online and broadcast. So make sure you read, watch and listen for news stories. A future employer will not only expect but will be impressed if you are able to show your understanding of the current issues, trend and stories in their industry. 

Always Embrace the art of storytelling
Get creative with your language choice as PR isn’t just about churning out what you read but how you can use these news pegs to create opportunities for clients. At Flame PR we ensure our clients are commenting on what is on the news agenda, to not only raise their profile but increase their credibility in the sectors that they operate in. 
Develop your writing skills by creating a blog which provides commentary on news stories, the PR industry, analysis of good/bad PR campaigns etc. Potential employers want to hear your opinion on these things and a blog is a great prompt to keep you on top of what is going on. We live in a world where visual content is just as important as written. No-one wants to see reels and reels of writing, so diversify your communication skills by using images, videos, audio to tell your story in various ways. 

Be online and connected
Make sure you have an online presence because how else can you raise the awareness of clients if you do not have the necessary tools to put you in front of the news agenda. Twitter is increasingly being used for breaking news stories, so it is a great tool to engage with journalists on stories they have written about. Send a tweet commenting on a particular story, as journalists are flattered by PRs who understand their sweet spots. A potential employer will expect you to be aware of the different ways of consuming media and social is an important channel which should not be overlooked.  

Be you
The PR industry is a people business, so you need to be able to use your personality as an asset to build relationships and connect with people, particularly journalists. So join networking events to expand your contact list and familiarise yourself with the key influencers in your industry. 
At Flame PR there is a real sense of teamwork and collaboration which allows us all to join our heads together to come up with ideas which is in the interest of our clients. I have noticed relationship building within the team is a big part of PR which I enjoy, where the social aspect of our working life is just as important as the hard work we do. 
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What type of PR?
You can PR just about anything. There is an endless of list of the types of PR you can do: consumer, fashion, entertainment, financial, technology, corporate, health etc. Choose an area which suits you. The best piece of advice I received was, “you spend most hours of the day working, so make sure it is something you enjoy”. I was drawn to the fast paced lifestyle of PR because every day is different and I get to work with different clients and test out different news angles, stories and approaches. I love how my job allows me to explore areas like AI, automation and robotics etc. which I think is pretty cool!
Show commitment and with the above tips you will be able to get your foot in the door and show you are the right person for the job!

Interested in working at Flame PR?