Educational Requirements
Whether you are looking for PR jobs in the UK or PR jobs in LA, you are going to need a similar educational background. First, you need to go to a university that offers an undergraduate degree in public relations. The good news is that this is very common, especially among schools that have a strong business focus. Completing this type of degree program is essential because it will introduce you to the fundamentals of the field. After all, there is more to public relations than being able to write an effective press release or prepare a media kit.
Additionally, you should cultivate as much communications experience as possible. Although much of your job will involve writing, you may also need to give speeches or even make presentations.
Experience Requirements
Both PR jobs in London and PR jobs in Washington are going to have similar experience requirements. Depending on the level of the position you are searching for, you can be expected to need at least one year of experience. Most positions will require that you have agency experience — because working in an agency has different requirements and responsibilities than working in a freelance capacity or for a single company.
If you are wondering how to get that first year of experience, the answer is to start off at the lowest part of the PR ladder. You may end up being an assistant, for example. Another way — and one of the most common — is to complete an internship in an agency during your last year at a university. Many students end up turning their internship into a full-fledged entry-level job, provided they work hard enough. Others use the experience to gain connections which can help them land that fist year of experience.
Other Desired Skills
Both Florida PR jobs and London PR jobs are going to require some of the same skills, but they will require different skills as well. Some of these will depend entirely on the specifics of the job. For example, if you are going to be working for an Internet-based company then you will probably need to demonstrate experience working with digital media. You may also need to demonstrate your experience creating websites and working with different types of software.
If you are going to be working for a specific company, you may need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the industry in which it operates. Some employers will look for a background in psychology, too. That’s because understanding how people think is essential to creating public relations approaches that will impact them effectively. You need to know what makes people tick in order to change their perceptions.
Finding the Best Jobs
Whether you want to find domestic or international PR jobs, you are going to find the easiest method is looking on the Internet. Although you may be able to find different agencies or companies that might be hiring by performing simple searches, this can be tedious and can leave out plenty of valuable leads.
Instead, find a job search website that is dedicated to the public relations field. Some of these sites will include both domestic and international public relations positions. That means you will be able to more easily search for the job you want by location. Remember that most PR jobs are going to be found in major metropolitan areas, so be ready to relocate, even if you are looking for a domestic job and are not interested in finding something international.
Besides looking at different locations, you can also limit your search to other factors at most of these sites. In some cases, you will be able to save the criteria to make future searches easier and to have new job postings emailed to you that meet your criteria.
By looking online at these jobs, you will be able to leisurely explore what is available and apply for the ones you qualify for. This can also be a good way of helping you see what additional requirements you are going to need in order to expand your job search potential. Many people do not know they are under-qualified until they start searching seriously, and by then it can be too late.
When searching online, you should also have a resume ready to email or to upload in order to apply for available positions. That way you can beat the rush and get your application noticed quickly.
