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Canadian Careers - Public Relations Articles
Making Yourself Attractive to Potential PR Employers
By Maryse Cardin
One of the most frequent questions asked by my students just before hitting the job market is what will make them attractive to potential employers in the field of PR.
Of all the factors that make a candidate stand out, experience and showing a very strong desire to have a career in public relations are key. Employers want someone who has shown enough ambition to acquire experience even before getting their first real PR job. They are looking for a person who can hit the ground running as much as can be expected even in an entry-level position.
When I review resumes for entry-level positions at our agency, I look for signs of public relations experience whether it was paid or not. Those with experience make it to the top of the pile for further review.
So I tell my students to go out there and get experience. So many organizations need publicity and do not have the budget to hire a practitioner or agency. Volunteer to write a newsletter for a non-profit group, plan a campaign for a friend with a small business, help organize a community event, generate some media coverage for a young designer, artist, or new neighbourhood eatery.
You can also find an unpaid internship position during the summer, after school or as many days a week as you can dedicate to an organization. Join your local public relations association and volunteer for one of their committees.
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Maryse Cardin is the co-owner of Turtle & Hare Creative, an award winning boutique public relations agency. (www.turtleandharecreative.com) She has worked on campaigns in North America, South America, and Asia for a multitude of clients including News Corporation, the Hain Celestial Group, Toyota and the Nagano Olympic Committee. She teaches public relations at Langara College. Maryse is presently writing a book on women in public relations and the skills it takes to excel in the industry.
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