11 Public Relations Resume Examples for 2024

A good resume is crucial for a career in public relations. This article has proven resume examples. You will also find strategic advice from experts. Learn how to present your skills and experience. This will help you get noticed by hiring managers. Understand what to include, what to avoid, and how to structure your resume. This information will be useful whether you are new or have years of experience.

  Compiled and approved by Diana Price
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best public relations resumes...

  • Show Impact With Numbers: The best resumes show impact using numbers. Metrics like media exposure, social media growth, event attendance, and press coverage are common. This shows your value clearly.

  • List Relevant Skills From The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are SEO, press release writing, media relations, crisis management, and brand management. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Show You Can Work With Media: Public relations jobs value media interaction. Use phrases like secured interviews, managed media contacts, and organized press events to show your experience.

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Education section location

If you recently graduated or completed significant education, put your education at the top of your resume. Employers should see why you might have gaps in your work history. This is crucial for public relations roles where recent studies in media, communications, or a related field can make a difference.

If you have been in the workforce for some time, list your work experience before your education. This allows employers to quickly see your professional background first.

Showcase media relationships

In public relations, connections with media professionals are crucial. Highlight any relationships or collaborations you have had with journalists, editors, or media outlets. Mention specific projects where these relationships benefited your client or employer.

Include metrics where possible, such as the number of media placements or audience reach of your campaigns. This shows your effectiveness in building and leveraging media relationships.

Ideal resume length

For those with less than 10 years of experience in public relations, you should aim to present your skills and accomplishments effectively on one page. This shows you can communicate key points without unnecessary detail.

Senior-level professionals with a wealth of relevant experiences could extend to a two-page resume. Here, you must prioritize content that demonstrates your impact on previous organizations, such as successful campaigns or crisis management examples. Keep the most compelling information on the first page, as hiring managers typically scan this area rapidly.

Highlight crisis management

Crisis management skills are highly valued in public relations. If you have handled any crises or significant issues for clients or employers, make sure to include these experiences.

Provide specific examples and outline the steps you took to manage the situation. Emphasize the outcomes, such as mitigating negative publicity or restoring the client’s reputation.

Bypass resume screeners

When you apply for public relations roles, your resume may first be read by a computer program known as an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). To make sure your resume gets seen by a person, you need to format it in a way that the ATS can read easily.

Here are some key points to consider:

  • Use standard section titles like 'work experience' and 'education.' This helps the ATS recognize and sort your information correctly.
  • Include keywords that match the public relations job you want. Look for terms in the job description like 'media relations' or 'press releases' and use them in your resume.

Make your resume fit

To get noticed, you need a resume that speaks to the job you want. Think about what public relations work requires and show how you've done that in past jobs. Use words from the job ad and focus on results you've achieved.

  • Point out how you've managed a crisis by stating, Successfully navigated a product recall, preserving the brand's integrity and customer trust.
  • Showcase your skills in crafting messages by including, Developed a targeted outreach campaign that increased media coverage by 50% within six months.
  • If you're new to public relations, link your skills from other work with phrases like, Leveraged strong written communication skills gained from teaching to develop engaging press releases.

Highlight relevant PR skills

When crafting your resume for public relations roles, showcase specific skills that demonstrate your proficiency in the field. Here are some key abilities you should consider highlighting:

  • Press release writing
  • Media relations
  • Crisis communication
  • Speech writing
  • Public speaking
  • SEO
  • Social media management
  • Event planning
  • Brand management
  • Content creation

Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This helps with tracking systems (ATS) that employers use to find candidates with the right skills. Not all skills may apply to you, choose those that match your experience and the job you want. For example, if you aim to specialize in digital public relations, focus on skills like SEO and social media management. If you are more interested in traditional media, emphasize press release writing and media relations.

Remember, a good resume shows you can do the job. So, mention specific tools or platforms you have used, like Hootsuite for social media or Google Analytics for tracking campaign success. If you have worked on well-known campaigns or with notable clients, mention these experiences as they can set you apart from other applicants.

Highlight leadership and growth

When you apply for roles in public relations, it's key to show how you've grown or led in past jobs. Here are ways to do this:

  • List any titles that show you moved up, like 'Senior Communications Specialist' after being a 'Communications Assistant'.
  • Use bullet points to describe leadership roles, such as leading a campaign team or managing a project that boosted your company's image.

Think about times when you took charge or helped others work better. Even if you weren't a manager, you might have:

  • Planned and ran events that got good media attention.
  • Worked with a team to make a plan that got results, like more people knowing about your product or service.

Quantify your impact

Using numbers to show your success is key. Think about the times you've helped a campaign or a project. How did it do? To give a strong example, you can say you increased social media engagement or brought in more media coverage. Here's how:

  • Count how many press releases you wrote and how many leads they generated. For example, 'Wrote 30 press releases that resulted in 150 media stories.'
  • Measure the reach of your social media campaigns. Say something like, 'Grew Twitter followers by 20% in 6 months.'

You might not have exact numbers for everything. That's okay. Think about your projects and estimate. Did an event you promote get more people than before? By how much? Did your crisis communication plan reduce the number of negative stories? Try to give numbers for these changes. Remember, even a small number can show you've made a good difference.

Show leadership and growth

When crafting your resume for a role in public relations, it's crucial to highlight any signs of leadership or career advancement. This shows you're ready for more responsibility and can lead a team.

Consider the following ways you might have shown leadership:

  • Leading a campaign that resulted in increased brand visibility or positive media coverage.
  • Managing a team or project, showing skills in guiding and coordinating others.

For displaying promotions, think about:

  • Any job title changes that show an upward trajectory, such as moving from a 'junior' to a 'senior' role within the public relations field.
  • Increased responsibilities over time, like being trusted to handle key accounts or major events.
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