Book Review: How To Get A Job In PR

How to Get a Job in PR

Sarah Stimson

CreateSpace, 2013, 216 pages

How do you really get a job in PR? Academics, practitioners and students all have different perspectives, and there is no right answer. We spend three-four years at University, gaining invaluable experience in essay writing; presenting; working in teams and – for us studying at Leeds Business School – a healthy portfolio at the end of it.

As a cohort we’re respected as one of the university’s most hard-working and driven group of students… surely we should walk straight into our dream job!? Unfortunately that’s not the case; when we graduate, most of us are more than likely going to be thrown into the growing pool of graduates, fighting for our dream job.

As you probably know, the PR industry is renowned for being one of the toughest industries to crack and break in to, and gaining a degree is no longer enough to help you stand out.

That’s where ‘How to Get a Job in PR’ will help job hunters in abundance. The author, Sarah Stimson, who has an impressive background of more than ten years in PR recruitment and training experience, has channelled her insight and expertise into a long-overdue guide to the PR industry.

Addressing all questions and queries – some I’d expect all entry PRs to ask and some that would never cross your mind – ‘How to Get a Job in PR’ is a comprehensive guide to finding (and actually keeping) the PR job you’ve been dreaming of. It covers everything you need to know, from making your CV as effective as it can be, to best representing yourself throughout the application and interview process.

Not only that, but Sarah initiates her book going right back to the very basics – what PR is; what activities are included in different PR sectors and disciplines; agency VS in-house; work experience VS internships. These sections are particularly beneficial for first year PR students, but I also learned a great deal from it too. There is a lot of ambiguity surrounding particular PR topics – this book rectifies that and sheds light on the facts in a practical, no-nonsense manner.

Furthermore, understanding how to write the perfect cover letter and utilise social media in the job hunt and application process is of paramount importance too. According to Sarah, she has seen hundreds of poorly-written, non-targeted CVs and cover letters that are dismissed straight away:

“Did you know that, when a recruiter receives a CV, it is likely that they will spend no more than thirty seconds looking at it before they decide if they will call you for an interview? First impressions count.”

 “PR employers are so focussed on strong writing skills and attention to detail that any mistake in your application will not be looked upon kindly. They will assume that if you can’t send a perfect [cover] letter or CV, you can’t write a perfect press release either.”

It’s as simple as that.

The PR industry changes quickly and Sarah recognises that this job hunt is not a normal one. Providing inspiration for quirky job applications, this book offers a good mixture of advice for conventional and experiential job applications – accommodating to all types of individuals and agencies in the modern age.

'How to Get a Job in PR' guides you at every stage; from applying to your job, through the interviewing process (including what to wear, what questions to ask and what weaknesses are ok to share), to work etiquette, asking for a promotion, crossing to a new sector, and learning how to deal with difficult situations such as problematic colleagues or resigning from your job. I’d expect anyone who buys this book will see it as a career-long investment.

Almost all 37 chapters are concluded with a list of advisory quotes from PR practitioners, spanning CEO-level to Account Executive. This really gives the book kudos and reiterates Sarah’s advice through the use of anecdotes and personalised tips.

I would really recommend everyone interested in having a career in PR purchasing this practical and detailed careers guide. It’s a very easy and enjoyable read – I actually read it twice in a week! The more I read it the more I think it’s a brilliant book. Sarah has helped the next generation of PR practitioners and their prospective employers a huge amount by writing it.

This post was written by Bryony Czujko, a final year PR with Marketing student and Course Representative. Bryony conducted her placement year with sister PR agencies, Umpf and The Right Agency, and has worked with various PR agencies in Leeds throughout her degree, in addition to freelancing.

@brypieee