How To Write a Public Relations Resume
Your public relations (PR) resume should showcase your ability to manage PR campaigns and handle various facets of communication, from strategy development to successful execution. Clients or employers must be able to trust you can help maintain their positive image and reputation. In this guide, we’ll offer expert insights and practical advice to help you craft a detailed resume that spotlights your most impactful achievements.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Write a brief summary of your public relations qualifications
When crafting your profile, consider it a sales pitch for your professional services. It’s your first opportunity to draw readers in right from the start. Begin by stating your job title and the number of years you’ve spent in PR. Then, focus on presenting your unique selling points – those key strengths, accomplishments, and specializations that set you apart and align with the job posting.
For example, if you excel in crisis management, write about your ability to maintain composure and swiftly resolve high-stress situations. Or, suppose you were honored for preserving your client’s reputation — consider mentioning it in your profile.
Senior-Level Profile Example:
Forward-looking public relations specialist with nearly a decade of experience. Skilled at maintaining positive media relations and public communications. Provide honest yet respectful input on corporate image considerations. Develop campaigns that publicize organizations’ efforts in a positive, tactful manner.
Entry-Level Profile Example:
Entry-level PR professional with strong recent academic and internship experience. Demonstrated success in helping plan, publicize, and coordinate popular events for a large-scale organization. Experienced and confident public speaker.
2. Create a powerful list of your public relations experience
You can create an effective professional experience section by focusing on your achievements, not just listing job responsibilities. Potential employers are eager to see how you’ve contributed to the brands or clients you’ve worked with and how you could add to their success. A powerful way to show this is by using relevant metrics and data. For example, you could give numbers to show how many media mentions your clients secured or the number of leads you generated through your PR efforts.
Emphasize your proficiency in cultivating and nurturing meaningful relationships within the PR industry. Networking is vital in this field, opening doors to opportunities, collaborations, and industry insights.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example:
Public Relations Specialist, Charleston Squirrels Baseball Team, Charleston, SC | October 2017 to present
- Arrange pre- and post-game media for players and coaches, scheduling around 300 sessions per six-month season
- Coordinate one-on-one interviews and accompany players and coaches when appropriate
- Respond to over 100 media and fan inquiries per week
Highlight:
- Oversaw philanthropic fundraising events that generated $3 million for team’s chosen charitable causes to date
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example:
Public Relations Intern, Michigan Aerotech, Lansing, MI | January 2022 to June 2022
- Wrote weekly reports on the company’s public image for PR staff and executives
- Proofread executives’ presentations and edited speeches, offering input when appropriate
- Quickly responded to over 15 media and public inquiries per week
- Revamped the company’s social media accounts, increasing positive engagement by 80%
3. List any education and certifications relevant to public relations
Hiring managers often prioritize actual working experience over formal education. However, your academic background and credentials give insight into your knowledge level and commitment to the field. After listing relevant degrees or diplomas, include any certifications you’ve earned as a PR specialist.
For example, including the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) can demonstrate a high level of commitment to ethical PR practices. It can validate your understanding of key principles, including ethics, research, and crisis communication. Credentials like this don’t guarantee a call back for an interview, but they can help set you apart.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Relations
- Michigan State College, Lansing, MI | 2022
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] – [Completion Year]
Example
- APR, Universal Accreditation Board – 2021
4. Make a list of your public relations-related skills and proficiencies
As you write your resume, remember more and more companies rely on an applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan resumes and identify specific keywords and phrases that match the job posting. The best way to get your resume through the system and on the hiring manager’s desk is to incorporate keywords throughout your document. Your skills list, resume profile, and professional experience section are the best places to do this. Study the list below to get familiar with words you may come across in your job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Budget management | Campaign development |
| Complex problem-solving | Cross-functional collaboration |
| Digital and social media marketing | Event planning and organizing |
| Market research | Media analysis |
| Press release writing and distribution | Public speaking and presentations |
| Relationship management | Reputation management |
| Scheduling and timescale management | Storytelling |
| Strategic planning | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | |
5. Highlight your ability to communicate
Effective communication lies at the heart of PR, encompassing the ability to convey messages clearly, engage audiences, and maintain positive interactions. Discuss your knack for establishing and maintaining relationships with journalists, influencers, or media outlets. You may also emphasize your skill in handling sensitive or challenging situations verbally and in writing.
Expand on your communication mastery in your profile, professional experience section, and skills list. For instance, say you’ve successfully managed crisis communication during a product recall. You would then highlight how your clear and empathetic communication helped maintain customer trust and minimize brand damage.
How To Pick the Best Public Relations Resume Template
In your search for the right template, remember that while visual appeal is important, content takes precedence. Choose a template that will direct attention to your accomplishments, expertise, and relevant skills. Opt for a clean, professional design that’s easy to navigate. Readers should be able to skim your resume and easily find everything they need to know.
Public Relations Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Rebekah Little
(561) 000-1111 | [email protected] | 123 Some Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Profile
Public Relations Representative with 3 years of experience in digital and social media marketing. Passionate about helping build and maintain distinctive brand identities. Draw on strong knowledge of CRO, SEO, social networking, and major marketing channels. Committed to gaining and sharing new marketing insights.
Key Skills
- Digital & Social Media Marketing
- Public Speaking & Presentations
- Social Analytics Tools
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Writing, Editing & Proofreading
Professional Experience
Public Relations Assistant, Bakers Press, West Palm Beach, FL | June 2020 to Present
- Coordinate all aspects of social media strategy including competitor research, platform selection, benchmarking, and targeted content publishing
- Continually capture and analyze social metrics, insights, and best practices to optimize company pages
- Create syndication schedules and editorial calendars
Digital Marketing Intern, Ace Communications Resources, West Palm Beach, FL | October 2019 to May 2020
- Wrote company blog posts based on research of industry news and trends
- Revamped and uploaded existing content for better SEO
- Collaborated with various teams to develop dynamic marketing content
- Helped create company’s editorial calendar and marketing collateral
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Relations, Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL | 2020
Frequently Asked Questions: Public Relations Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for public relations resumes?-
We understand it can be hard to come up with the right words as you create your resume. That's why we've compiled a list of action verbs to help you overcome any hurdles in your writing. These verbs enhance the quality of your document and give you a much larger vocabulary to work with. Use some of the words below in your PR resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Advise | Analyze |
| Campaign | Collaborate |
| Create | Develop |
| Evaluate | Explain |
| Form | Identify |
| Liaise | Mitigate |
| Monitor | Present |
| Recommend | Represent |
| Research | Resolve |
| Schedule | Write |
How do you align your resume with a public relations job posting?-
Employment for PR specialists is projected to grow by 8% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average across all occupations. Organizations will increasingly focus on community outreach and customer relations to manage their reputation and visibility, given the rapid spread of news via the Internet. Social media's prevalence will also create opportunities for PR specialists to engage with consumers and the public, requiring their expertise in effective social media use.
While these growth predictions are promising, your resume must align with the job requirements of the role you're applying for, especially if you want to land a particular position.
For example, suppose a communications firm is looking for a social media strategist. In that situation, underscore your proficiency in social media analytics, content strategy, and influencer engagement to establish your expertise in modern PR practices.
What is the best public relations resume format?-
Most PR professionals should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section, and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format, as do most other resumes on Resume Builder.)
By fusing these two features, a combination resume offers the best of both worlds. The experience section lets you overview your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you showcase your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. The resulting resume is straightforward, yet strategic. It gives hiring managers the clearest possible view of your experience and relevant strengths, so they can decide to call you for an interview.
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