Finding a job is often more about who you know than what you know. In a field as competitive as PR, it’s essential to make networking connections if you want to stand out from the crowd. Here are five ways you can use LinkedIn to help you land that coveted PR position:
Complete your profile
If you want recruiters and PR professionals to notice you, then your profile needs to leave a lasting impression. Make sure you have a strong headline that highlights either your current role or how you will add value to a future position. It’s also important to make sure that your profile is complete: Upload a recent picture of yourself, include all relevant work history and education, add your top skills and write a short summary about yourself that showcases your strengths in the workplace, as well as your career goals for the future.
Make yourself easy to find
Recruiters on LinkedIn often use keywords to find potential candidates for job openings. Want recruiters to come to you? Then start adding relevant PR keywords to your LinkedIn headline, summary, job descriptions and skills. Need help researching what keywords to use? Take a look at what other PR professionals in the industry are using on their LinkedIn profiles. A few I recommend: public relations, media relations, blogging, press releases and social media.
Target your dream companies
Once your profile is complete, identify where you would like to work. Make a list of your dream PR agencies or companies to work for and follow them all on LinkedIn. This is an easy way to stay up-to-date on their job openings and company news. It’s also helpful to reach out to recruiters and PR professionals who work at these companies. Invite them to connect on LinkedIn and if they accept, introduce yourself! Express your interest in a career in PR and ask if they know of any job openings. Even if the answer is no, you never know when a job may open up down the line, so be sure to stay in touch with any connections you make!
Reach out to your college’s alumni
If you aren’t having any luck connecting with recruiters or PR professionals at your target companies, try reaching out to your college’s alumni network. LinkedIn has a great feature where you can search for alumni based on where they live, where they work and what they do. Once you’ve found a few alumni you’d like to reach out to, shoot them a message and see if they have any advice on how to break into the PR industry. You’d be surprised at how many people are willing to help out a fellow alum!
Join relevant LinkedIn groups
There are many PR groups represented on LinkedIn, such as PRSA, the PR Club and CIPR, among others. Join these groups to connect with PR professionals and participate in existing conversations online, or start your own by sharing an interesting industry article. LinkedIn groups can also be useful in finding out about networking events or job openings in your area.
Are you a recent grad looking to break into the Boston PR agency scene? Be sure to check out these PR networking tips and follow Walker Sands on LinkedIn!
