Graduation is around the corner, and you may have already started looking at careers. But finding a job straight out of university can be an overwhelming experience, to say the least!
If you’re keen to get a job in the world of digital PR, then there are several ways you can stand out from the crowd, and be the person that the employer really wants.
I caught up with members of our PR team to share their first-hand experience and to provide tips that will help you land your dream job:
Take part in internships
If you have no experience in PR, be sure to contact different agencies and ask for work experience. Most agencies will appreciate the extra pair of hands. This is highly valuable and gives you the experience needed to apply for a career in digital pr.
Understand the difference between traditional and digital
They are both very different. Then, work out which option is better suited to you.
Have your favourite PR campaigns ready
When interviewing, always come prepared with some examples of PR campaigns you liked, this tells the employer that you know the industry well.
Have an active interest in the news and current affairs
It’s important to be aware of what’s happening in the news and what’s trending. Digital PR is an industry that’s always evolving, and to develop campaigns for clients we need to be aware of what’s been talked about in the media.
Have some SEO knowledge
SEO and the role it plays in this side of PR can help you massively. There are plenty of free courses out there. For instance, introduce yourself to the world of SEO and link building with Moz’s one-hour guide to SEO, which offers some great beginner videos.
Make a social account for PR
Make a separate Twitter account for digital PR, this shows that you engage with people within the industry. A lot of companies will search for you on Twitter and LinkedIn, so this is a great way to show that you are engaged with the industry.
Show excitement for the industry
Being really eager to learn and having a passion for this field is crucial.
Network
Connect with as many relevant people as you can on LinkedIn, and don’t be scared to reach out and ask for a referral. Most of the time people do it because it’s a core part of networking and they get paid if you get hired; it’s a win-win!
Volunteer your skills
Look into volunteering your skills to charities and NGOs when searching for a job. This helps you to practice your skills and build on skills in different areas, such as social, campaign planning and marketing. This is all while helping out a cause that you care about. Have a look at Do IT or Reach Volunteering
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
If you’re wondering if PR is for you then reach out to various people that work in digital PR, ask questions and do your research!
Top Digital PR Twitter accounts to follow
For inspiration and PR knowledge, these Twitter accounts are excellent:
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- @DigitalPREx – This account is a must-follow for anyone in the digital PR industry. The account shares great digital PR campaigns for inspiration. My top tip? Look at who else is following this account, and give them a follow because the best people in the industry will probably be featured on this list.
- @techseowomen – If you’re looking to connect with more women in the industry, then this is a great support network set up for women in Tech SEO. This company also runs some really great events if you’re interested.
- @theweeklypr – The Weekly PR is a newsletter that shares some of the best PR campaigns every week.
- @markcporter – Mark runs Content Curated, a newsletter that highlights some of the best campaigns and creative stunts every month. So, make sure you sign up!
- @famouscampaigns – This showcases some of the very best campaigns that are going viral right now.
- @puddingviz – The pudding is a data visualisation source that’s filled with detailed infographics, which is bound to get you thinking outside the box.
- @digitalpr_tips – Shares a new digital PR tip every midday.
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Favourite moments of working in PR
We asked the team what their favourite moments of working in PR were…
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- “Going down to London on a business pitch, a great day out and I got some great work done!” – Jack Birtwistle, Digital PR Executive
- “I worked on Canine Cottages’ Doggy Devotion campaign, which has gone on to win numerous awards, and it’s one of my proudest moments.” – Beth Turner, Senior Digital PR Strategist
- “Working on the GoodMove ‘sending keys to space’ campaign. It was a lot of work but so rewarding to see it payoff.” – Beth Turner, Senior Digital PR Strategist
- “I got to meet Mary Berry and have afternoon tea with her, for an event we ran for a client. That was pretty cool.” – Amy Gallimore, Digital PR Strategist
- “Getting top journalists from huge national titles across Europe saying that our campaigns are “fire”! And you know what, they are!” – Dalia Filippi, International PR Manager
- “The mentoring opportunities I’ve had so far are clearly up there. I love to learn, and learning from talented people in the industry from different departments is invaluable.” – Eirini Theodoridou, Digital PR Strategist
- “I love that no two days are the same, and with the variety of clients that you work on, you have the freedom to be super creative across multiple industries.” – Megan Packer, Creative Strategist
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Hopefully, these tips will help you land your dream job in digital PR. If you want to find out more about working at c3, please feel free to message me on LinkedIn, or head over to our careers page.
