If you want to become a PR account director, here are ten tips to help you achieve your goal:
- Your first step toward getting a PR account director job is first to get into the public relations field, usually through an entry-level position. To work in public relations you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited university, majoring in communications or a related area.
- In order to qualify to work as a PR director, you will probably need to further your studies and complete a master’s degree. This role also requires business and organizational skills so it could be very helpful to minor in business or a related field while undertaking your first degree. It will also help you to take writing and public speaking classes if they are available, since a PR account director must be competent in both of these areas.
- Another important thing you can do to help yourself enter the public relations field and get on a career pathway to an account director position is to intern during college vacations. Undertake internships with public relations firms which have solid client bases and good reputations. Seek internship opportunities which will provide genuine experience. This can improve employment prospects when you graduate. You cannot obtain a PR director position without working your way up through the ranks in a public relations firm.
- Do not assume your learning is finished when you complete your degree. You will need to continue to improve your writing and speaking abilities because these are huge aspects of PR jobs. Not only will you be required to write press releases, you will also be expected to talk to the media. A good PR account director has to write professionally and persuasively to very often tight deadlines. If you are aiming for this role, you need to become competent in these areas.
- Be prepared to stay the course and work in the industry for between five to seven years before looking for a PR director position. Some professionals have found it helpful to work in a public relations firm for a few years before pursuing post graduate studies in public relations. This can often be done while still working and will give you a competitive edge when applying for account director positions.
- Only consider jobs in PR which promise promotion within the company. You will be best placed to achieve your career objectives if you work for a company with a lot of upward mobility. It can be very discouraging to work for firms that advertise management positions outside the company and do not provide promotion opportunities to their own employees. However, you will need to pay attention to the various job openings in your company.
- You can receive information about PR jobs via email from online job sites. You can also subscribe to PR job lists via specialist Web sites and sometimes from professional PR organizations. Access to up-to-date jobs in PR can make your job search easier and more effective than trying to source jobs yourself. The more helpful and better the list, the more likely you are to have to subscribe. This can mean paying a monthly fee for the information. However, these services usually include other resources and tools to help you and the public relations role you are seeking.
- Online job sites are another good way to locate jobs in PR. You can browse specialist public relations job sites and the larger, generalist sites. Most of these websites allow you to apply online which helps to streamline your job search and increase the number of jobs you can apply for in a particular time period. You can search the large sites by category, location, and salary. Most of these job sites also offer an email-alert service which sends you information on suitable jobs as they become available.
- The Web sites of professional public relations associations can also provide excellent information on job vacancies. Their PR jobs lists often provide excellent employment opportunities.
- One of the most important things you can do to move ahead in the PR field is to network in your current position. Build relationships with people and make contacts with others in the industry. Join professional associations as well as community organizations. You never know where a job offer can come from. It pays to develop positive professional and personal relationships with colleagues in the industry.
