Public Relations Resume
Impress hiring managers with your ability to create PR campaigns for diverse clients. Take a look at our downloadable public relations resume samples and job-specific writing tips for ideas.
If you’d prefer a different type of resume template, we provide many on our website (all for free).
Public Relations Resume Template (Text Format)
[Your Address] [City, State] [Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number] [LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
Highly resourceful public relations strategist with 10 years of experience in both in-house and agency settings, with a track record of success in driving reputation and growth of diverse industry organizations. Instrumental in leading campaigns, measuring results across traditional media and digital channels, and protecting the company and its interests by managing relationships with public stakeholders and media outlets.
- Skilled in public and media relations, press releases & strategic messaging, corporate media & marketing collateral, internal/external communications, branding, and advertising
- Technical expertise in social media tools and Microsoft Office
- Lead the planning and execution of public and media relations strategy for the firm’s regulatory practices and general firm programming, including crisis management
- Maintain and manage relationships with relevant public stakeholders and top-tier outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Bloomberg
- Oversee cross-market efforts with business development partners and senior management to drive PR initiatives in line with the firm’s strategic and growth plans
- Drove brand visibility by pitching stories/interviews, both print and digital, resulting in 19% growth in new clients and a 10% increase in social media traffic in six months
- Devised and executed public relations campaigns for diverse industry clients, including creating marketing strategies, writing press releases and stories, and pitching ideas
- Proactively identified opportunities to add value to accounts through new/additional services, which increased new account growth by 27%
- Effectively managed 30+ company accounts and projects simultaneously, providing clients with actionable recommendations for growth
Resume Genius University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Minor: Marketing
Graduation Date: May 20XX
Hiring managers expect your resume to match your experience level. From entry-level PR positions to senior-levels, we have examples and writing tips to help you improve your chances of getting hired.
Entry-level public relations resume
Just because you lack formal work experience doesn’t mean you can’t do a great job as a public relations specialist. Show you’re the right fit for the job by highlighting your relevant skills and achievements, like this:
Entry-level public relations resume example highlights
- This candidate has highlighted their education section by placing it before their experience section and included relevant coursework to demonstrate their applicable knowledge
- The skills section emphasizes the candidate’s hard and soft skills, showing that they’re capable of performing all the duties required in their target role
Senior-level public relations resume
Use the following senior-level PR resume as a guide when writing your own resume:
Senior-level public relations resume example highlights
- The work experience section highlights the candidate’s career advancement, illustrating their development in the field
- The candidate includes their certifications with their education section to showcase their industry knowledge
The resume of Resume Genius’s PR writer
Increase your chances of securing a PR job interview by taking inspiration from the resume that helped our senior digital public relations writer, Eva Chan, land an interview:
Why Eva’s resume stood out
- Strong Work Ethic: Eva’s resume highlighted her ability to manage two jobs simultaneously, proving she’s enthusiastic and hardworking. Her bullet points showcase her capability, making it clear that she’s thriving, not just surviving. If you don’t work two jobs, consider highlighting side projects or freelance work to demonstrate your commitment and energy.
- Noteworthy Achievements: Eva’s history of securing high Domain Rating backlinks and mentions from reputable organizations, such as CNBC, Forbes, CNN, and Fortune, set her apart. If you’ve collaborated with prestigious organizations, include their names on your resume to catch the eye of hiring managers.
- Versatile Skill Set: Although Eva’s two jobs are similar, her roles differ slightly, allowing her to cross-train and enhance her skills in multiple areas. For instance, her experience in video creation at one company enables her to support the Video Department at the other, showcasing her transferable skills and adaptability.
We didn’t just review her resume; we also explored Eva’s LinkedIn profile. What impressed us was that she didn’t merely replicate her resume but used the space to present additional skills, achievements, and certifications, strengthening our desire to interview her.
Average public relations salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license, this data is pulled from the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment & Earnings report (as of 10/16/2024), featuring the top states by use.
Average public relations annual salaries by state
State | Salary / Year |
---|---|
California | $150,500 |
New York | $178,440 |
Virginia | $163,230 |
Texas | $109,970 |
Florida | $109,080 |
Pennsylvania | $116,360 |
Illinois | $127,040 |
Ohio | $124,380 |
Georgia | $131,490 |
North Carolina | $127,180 |
National Average | $121,041 |
How to become a PR specialist with no experience
Not sure how to get started on your career path as a public relations specialists? Jennifer Berson from Jenerationacademy offers her top tips in this video:
How to write a public relations resume
You may have written countless press releases, but do you know how to pitch yourself in a professional resume? Convince employers you can build positive publicity for their business with an outstanding resume, and your next PR gig isn’t too far off.
Use these four tips to write a public relations resume that generates buzz for all the right reasons:
1. Open with a strong public relations resume summary
Your PR resume needs to set you apart from other job applicants if you want to get hired.
Write a compelling resume summary that showcases your skills and experience and proves you’re capable of writing persuasively.
Here’s a great example of an effective public relations resume summary:
Highly resourceful public relations strategist with 10 years of experience in both in-house and agency settings, with a track record of success in driving reputation and growth of diverse industry organizations. Instrumental in leading campaigns, measuring results across traditional media and digital channels, and protecting the company and its interests by managing relationships with public stakeholders and media outlets.
In this example, the applicant provides a brief snapshot of their skills and experience as a public relations strategist, while simultaneously highlighting their track record of success.
Very concisely, they emphasize essential PR skills and list their key strengths in the field, such as campaign development, performance analysis, and media relations.
2. Showcase all your public relations skills
A job-winning public relations resume highlights your experience supporting PR campaigns, as well as your many hard and soft PR skills.
To show employers you meet their job requirements, list key PR skills in your resume skills section to make it easier for them to assess your qualifications. When elaborating on your work experience, emphasize job-specific skills in each bullet point to position yourself as their ideal candidate.
Here are some important hard skills to include in your public relations resume:
- Market research
- Media outreach (e.g., Pitchfork, Muck Rack, Cision)
- Brand management
- Business storytelling
- Digital marketing (e.g., Google Analytics)
- Analyzing trends (e.g., Google Trends)
- Media relations
- Budgeting (e.g., QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel)
- Event planning
- Writing press releases
- Copywriting
- Content Management Systems (CMS) (e.g., WordPress)
- Website development
- Crisis management
- Graphic design (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Sketch)
When it comes to creating favorable press, a great publicist will use a range of soft skills to manage a brand’s image or navigate a PR crisis.
Here are some key PR soft skills that employers look for:
- People skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Collaboration
- Networking
- Adaptability
- Leadership skills
- Decision-making
- Time management skills
- Organizational skills
- Stress tolerance
- Multitasking skills
- Communication skills
- Prioritization
- Negotiation
- Customer service skills
- Project management skills
How are a few highlighted examples of how to incorporate PR skills into your resume bullet points:
- Devised public relations campaigns for diverse industry clients, including creating marketing strategies, writing press releases and stories, and pitching ideas
- Drove brand awareness and growth for Totally Media’s launch of their app ExClaim! through targeted media campaigns, strategic partnerships, and social media engagement, resulting in 22,000+ downloads in the first week
- Conducted client needs assessments, market research, and personalized consultations, increasing new account growth by 27%
- Navigated a major data breach crisis for Totally Media by implementing transparent communication strategies, organizing a press conference, and partnering with cybersecurity firms, resulting in restored customer trust and minimized reputational damage
3. Customize your public relations resume to the job post
To avoid being overlooked, carefully read the job post and write a targeted resume to ensure it meets the employer’s needs and catches the attention of busy hiring managers
Research the company you’re applying to so you can get a sense of their PR goals, along with what skills they’d value most. Then modify your resume to show how your skills and experience match their job description.
Unsure how to position yourself as an employer’s ideal candidate? Here are a few ways to customize your public relations resume:
- Focus on including relevant job information only. For instance, tutoring experience may not contribute to a PR application as the transferable skills are not applicable.
- Include PR-related resume keywords, such as campaign development, press releases, press kits, relationship management, media relations, and crisis communications.
- Use strong action verbs that strengthen your resume and show hiring managers how effective you are. “Devised,” “executed,” “drove,” and “navigated” are all good examples.
4. Use a professional and clean resume layout
A well-organized and visually appealing resume can make a significant impact on how potential employers perceive you. Here are some tips for achieving a professional and clean layout:
- Use a template: Starting with a simple resume template will help you save time designing and formatting your resume while making sure it looks professional
- Choose a simple, modern font: Use an easy-to-read font and keep the font size between 10 and 12 points for the body text
- Use bullet points: This makes your work experience section easy to read so employers can see all your accomplishments
- Make your formatting consistent: This includes font sizes, spacing, and alignment
- Don’t crowd your page: Adequate margins and spacing between sections make your resume easier to read
- Select professional colors: Keeping them minimal and professional can add a touch of personality without overwhelming the reader
- Proofread: Show you pay attention to detail and make sure your resume has no typos or grammatical errors
When done with your public relations resume, make sure you write a cover letter to further highlight your writing prowess.
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