Despite the relatively small number of graduate jobs available in PR, it seems that a very large number of graduates are prepared to work in the industry. In fact, according prospects.ac.uk - Careers UK graduates official website - a recent survey showed that there were only 35,000 people working in PR in the UK, which means that there is a huge amount of competition among graduates that jobs are available PR. But if you're desperate to find a job after leaving PR university, how do you ensure that you get a foot in the industry before any of your peers?
Firstly, it is important to make the most of your time at university. It may appear while you are a student, but you'll never have another opportunity to use your free time - and those long holidays - for more effective when you're still in school. If you can afford to take an unpaid internship for a week or two, make the most of it, many PR agencies are willing to provide students with unpaid internships during the summer or periods of Easter. Even if you are coming to make cups of tea and photocopying all day, you can learn about how PR works - and if you do your job diligently, the agency is more likely to offer you a job when you graduate.
In addition, your experiences of PR should not stop during the school year. If a company is organizing a big event or a charity event to raise awareness, get involved in the PR side of things, just because you're promoting an event organized student, this does not mean that your experience is less valid. Many companies with a large recruitment drive also looking for students in their brand ambassadors on campus and landing one of these jobs will not only help you develop useful skills PR-related, it is also likely you pay a small salary.
When you're in your last year and you start thinking about applying for PR jobs graduates, make sure you think about this industry, you want to work in. The main decision to make is whether you "J 'd like to work in a PR consultancy or in a particular company. Recent studies suggest that more students and graduates find employment in consultancy, and following this trend could mean that you will work on a wider variety of accounts.
In addition, if you are granted an interview with a company or a PR agency, make sure you know the basics of what your future work entails. This should be indicated in the job description of your application, and if it is not, you should be able to get one of the company in question fairly easily. Most PR jobs ask you to immerse yourself in program planning, media relations, writing and editing press releases, design and production and may even require you to regularly participate in special events. Confidence in your skills and your ability to do the job, and a background of experience, will create a strong combination of factors including potential employers are sure to view with desire!
Adam Singleton is a freelance journalist in Scotland Online. His hobbies include hiking and tavelling.