One key aspiration for each person is to “upscale” in most areas of life every year. This can range from personal and professional development to financial well-being. One of the most important goals in any profession is to gain sufficient experience, capacity, and skill sets… In turn, this will increase a person’s career options, whether as an employee or freelancer.
It’s essential for a business to have a strong public image, and as a result, those wanting to work in PR are in high demand. However, being seen as an attractive and exciting career means that there is often stiff competition for PR roles, so it is vital to know some practical steps to take when starting and growing a career in PR. These are some of them:
1. Get experience: Getting experience is the best route to becoming a public relations consultant. Work experience allows you to put your skills to use, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and improve on them. As a public relations professional, your work experience serves as your portfolio, demonstrating your motivation, passion, and dedication to your craft. This can entail working for a public relations agency or it could be as easy as offering your time to assist a friend or coworker with their PR initiatives.
2. Get a degree/ certification: A degree in public relations, communication, journalism, or a related field can be beneficial when pursuing a career in public relations. It is critical for people who want to work as public relations consultants to obtain certificates in public relations or other related certifications.
Through the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), one can become certified. These certifications will allow public relations professionals to distinguish themselves from other professionals in the industry, which is especially important in today’s competitive market. This will also demonstrate a proven commitment to understanding and excelling in the PR profession. Aspiring public relations consultants can begin by acquiring a traditional bachelor’s degree or a professional certification. Additionally, certificates in digital marketing and social media are available.
3. Join professional organisations: Joining local and international professional organisations such as the African Public Relations Association (APRA), the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), etc., can be beneficial. It will allow PR consultants to network with other professionals, learn from their experiences, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends. PR professional associations also offer exclusive online resources, conferences, and professional development opportunities for people working in the PR industry.
4. Build a substantial portfolio: It is essential to build a substantial portfolio that displays your PR skills to future employers. A portfolio goes along with the experience gained and the projects worked on. Start small and work your way up.
5. Practice, practice and practice: One of the best ways to grow and advance in the PR industry is by immersing time, knowledge and skills into the practice. Through this, it becomes seamless to carry out work and produce outstanding results because capacity and resilience have been built overtime. There is no better time than now, really…
All the mentioned steps above are helpful when building a career in PR. As the popular adage goes, “Rome was not built in a day.” So, stay consistent and resilient, and in the course of time, you will become a highly sought-after professional. Overall, the most important step for any aspiring public relations consultant is to start with the basics and work your way up.
– Chinyere Oji is a PR & Communications Assistant at ID Africa
