New job seekers and experienced professionals can benefit from examples of informative and well-written resumes relevant to the competitive field of public relations. There may be some considerable differences between jobs that fall under the broad category of public relations. Some positions have more in common with communications, while others lean more toward marketing. Our collection of public relations resume samples can provide guidance for entry-level applicants and inspire senior candidates who want to land top positions in any related field.Whether you are applying for a communications specialist job, a senior-level communications/marketing role, or a position managing the social media accounts or web presence of a company or organization, you should emphasize relevant qualifications in your submission based on the job description and the nature of the role. Customizing your document for the position you are seeking could result in a more successful job search.
Public Relations Resume Samples
Marketing Communications Manager Resume Sample
Marketing communications managers may have extensive experience in either marketing or communications. This senior role combines the insights and methods of both of these fields. A marketing communications manager may lead advertising campaigns, issue public statements, or launch promotions. As candidates for these positions have likely worked in a field related to public relations before, they should emphasize their most relevant skills in their professional documents.
For:
- Experienced professionals with prior experience in communications or marketing interested in managing the development of promotions.
Public Relations Skills To Include:
- Managing promotional campaigns
- Slogans and messaging
- Market research
- Coordinating focus groups
- Media buys and web advertising
More Information: See our marketing communications manager resume sample to learn more.
Corporate Communications Specialist Resume Sample
Companies and public relations firms retain corporate communications specialists to come up with the least controversial and most persuasive ways to represent official positions and respond to inquiries involving a company or firm’s clients. Public relations resume samples for corporate communications positions may emphasize work in specific industries or on certain campaigns or initiatives in addition to a general PR background.
For:
- Job seekers are interested in representing companies. Most corporate communications specialists are likely to have worked their way up in public relations agencies.
Public Relations Skills To Include:
- Crisis and image management
- Internal and external consulting
- Formulating messages and positions
- Familiarity with industry standards
- Writing press releases and statements
More Information: Find out more about what to include in your submission from our corporate communications specialist resume sample.
Communications Director Resume Sample
Communications directors are senior public relations professionals who work for agencies, associations, or companies. Depending on the employer, a communications director may manage internal communications or public outreach programs. Directors of communications may oversee marketing or public relations teams dedicated to creating and launching promotional or informational campaigns. You may find public relations resume samples relevant to communications positions useful when applying for a director role.
For:
- Experienced job seekers in public relations interested in assuming leadership roles.
Public Relations Skills To Include:
- Experienced spokesperson
- Public outreach
- Brand messaging
- Team leadership
- Networking
More Information: Refer to our communications director resume sample to learn more about applying for this type of position.
Communications Specialist Resume Sample
Communications specialists help businesses and organizations manage various facets of their public appearance. Depending on the type or branch of communications for which an employer requires a specialist, these positions may involve developing and managing image campaigns or vetting media and public appearances and statements. Applicants should focus on addressing the specific needs requested by an employer.
For:
- Jobseekers with some relevant experience in communications seeking a specialist role at an agency or company or a position providing consulting services.
Public Relations Skills To Include:
- Corporate image management
- Conflict mediation
- Writing press releases
- Arranging media and public appearances
- Verbal and written communication
More Information: See how to assemble a resume for a communications specialist position in our communications specialist resume sample.
Social Media Specialist Resume Sample
A social media specialist is a public relations professional who primarily works on popular social media networks. These jobs involve making posts and interacting with other users and businesses on behalf of your employer. Social media specialists generate, schedule, and publish content intended to build relationships. They also focus on representing the attitudes, outlooks, and values of businesses or organizations to the public online. Some public relations resume samples feature details that could be helpful when applying to positions in this field.
For:
- Public relations professionals on any level are interested in representing companies or organizations on social media networks.
Public Relations Skills To Include:
- Planning promotions and sponsored content
- Public outreach
- Corporate relations
- Time-management
- Organization
More Information: Find out more from our social media specialist resume sample.
FAQ
What sections should I include in my public relations resume?
A public relations resume should include all the standard sections. Start with your full name and contact information, followed by a summary or objective statement and lists of skills, work experience, degrees, and relevant professional training. Look over our public relations resume samples to see these sections in context.Most resume writers organize the experience and education sections in reverse chronological order. This means describing your current or most recent position or accomplishments first, followed by previous positions or credentials.
How do I write a summary statement for a public relations resume?
A summary statement allows you to emphasize major qualifications near the top of a resume. Consider the major requirements for a position as stated in a job description and point out parts of your resume that meet or exceed these expectations. The most common format is a series of short and precise phrases that do not need to be complete sentences.Limit the number of major points in a summary statement to three to keep this section short and succinct. Avoid summarizing your entire resume or bringing up qualifications unrelated to the position you are seeking.
What should go in the experience section of my public relations resume?
Each entry in the experience section should provide a few details about a job and your accomplishments while filling a role. Even if you have never worked in public relations before, you can still showcase relevant abilities developed in previous jobs.Provide a job title for each position, along with the name and location of your employer. Include a few details in each entry to help your resume stand out. Look for ways to show how you fulfilled or went beyond the requirements for each position. Refer to our public relations resume samples to see examples of experience sections.
What should my education section look like in a public relations resume?
The education section of your resume should include any degrees that employers expect applicants to hold as well as professional training that has resulted in certifications or credentials. Some public relations positions require that applicants hold a bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field.List your degree, including major and minor areas of study, the institution you attended, and your graduation date. If you have graduated from college or hold higher degrees, there is no reason to list your high school diploma.
How can I separate my public relations resume from other candidates’ resumes?
There are a number of ways to make your resume stand out from those of other applicants, even applicants with similar backgrounds. Make sure the skills you list indicate that you have read and thought about the requirements and priorities of the position you are seeking, as shown in our public relations resume samples.You should also show convincing proof of your knack for public relations in your work history section. Try to provide clear examples of successful initiatives accompanied by accurate metrics to distinguish yourself as a candidate with a proven track record.
How to write a Public Relations Resume
Public relations is a very popular career choice for many, and those working in this area will need to know how to compete with the rest by writing a convincing public relations resume. As a general guide, the sample public relations resume structure below can be used. Public relations resume samples available on the Internet may offer good suggestions of the types of information to include, but this is thought to provide the most comprehensive outline. This structure is recommended for your public relations resume:
Contact Details
All resumes should include your full name, telephone numbers, email address, and other contact details at the top. Students detail both home address and address at university.
Objective
Public relations resume for less experienced candidates ideally start with an objective. Objectives are one concise sentence that provides a goal for your resume and must be targeted at the job. This public relations resume sample suggests you develop this sort of objective, in your own words: Public relations professional with journalism qualification and the ability to create messages to attract a target audience seeking a position of increased responsibility.
Profile
Applicants with more experience can include a profile instead of an objective at this point in their public relations resume. Profiles are a few short sentences that draw attention to key experiences and skills. Sample public relations may have profiles like this: Creative and enthusiastic public relations professional with proven ability to develop PR messages that attract attention. Strategic thinker with extensive client-facing experience who can tailor a campaign to deliver high results to clients. Public relations expert with extensive experience in the media industry and creating press releases that are newsworthy. Flexible public relations manager who brings an innovative approach to challenging public relations issues. The profile above in this sample public relations resume shows how keywords and keyword phrases can be included in your profile to increase the odds of being found in a job website search. Here sample phrases might be “public relations manager” or “client-facing experience.” Keywords are covered further below. Additionally, your profile commands the most important spot on your public relations resume, where your potential employers will look first. Use action verbs in your sentences for greater effect, and pay special attention to this key area.
Main Achievements
Those public relations professionals with a few years of experience may want to include a main achievements section in their public relations resume right after the profile. Concentrate on just putting in five really, very impressive achievements that are quantifiable. This may also be another place to work in keywords and phrases. Our sample public relations resume suggests that you do it something like this:
- Initiated a groundbreaking PR campaign for TV company which secured 20% additional public interest compared against earlier efforts.
Public relations Education Your education section should be detailed out in reverse chronological order. Useful degrees for public relations jobs include communications, journalism, English, or possibly language degrees, depending on the job. Also include: subject/s studied, educational institutes attended and their location, dates of graduation, any professional qualifications awarded. Public Relations Work Experience Public relations work experience must also be detailed in reverse chronological order. Hiring managers in the public relations area will want to be informed about your achievements and successes with your public relations campaigns. Listing responsibilities only just won’t wash in such a competitive environment. Our sample public relations resume includes bullet points that are put together like this:
- Instigated public relations campaign for a non-profit on a shoestring budget which generated $50,000 in fundraising for the company.
Or
- Managed PR account for an international client, securing press coverage in more than five countries on the release of their latest product.
Or for less senior public relations resumes:
- Developed a unique idea for a press release, which led to major press coverage of a small event at the university.
The bullet points must use action verbs to best emphasize your achievements. Here, we’ve used “Instigated,” “Managed,” and “Developed.”
Activities
Recent graduates applying for public relations positions may include any relevant information on activities taken part in at university. If these are in the fields of PR, communications, or journalism, so much the better. Senior public relations professionals can mention affiliations with professional organizations or work carried out voluntarily for charities and such. Bullets should be powerful and use action verbs.
Keywords
Your public relations resume needs to have keywords included that will be searched by hiring managers when looking for suitable candidates to interview for jobs. A good sample public relations resume will include all of the keywords and phrases that an employer has included in the job advertisement. These are the phrases and keywords that employers will search for on job websites. As an overview, the above should give you plenty of information about how sample public relations resumes should be structured for success. If still at school, your university may also be able to provide you with sample public relations resumes to look over for ideas. From this page, you can find sample resumes to get you started.