Introduction
The first year in PR can be a whirlwind of new experiences and skills to learn. You will have the opportunity to learn so many different skills as aspects of what makes a great PR pro, but it's important that you stay organized and manage your time effectively. You also must be patient with yourself and your training process—there are no shortcuts when it comes to learning how to write press releases or manage multiple projects at once!
Find a mentor
I'm not going to lie, it's hard to find a mentor in PR. But when you do, you'll be so grateful!
Mentors are so important for success in any industry and there are many reasons why you should look for one:
They can help you reach your career goals faster and more efficiently. I would've never made it through my first year without my mentor because she has helped me with networking (which is key), managing time and stress and most importantly taught me how to become a better writer.
Mentors will help make sure that your work isn't going unnoticed by your boss or colleagues. They often know people at other companies who might benefit from hearing about your work as well!
Say yes to everything
The best way to learn is by doing, so say yes to everything. Yes, even if you don't think it's relevant or that you have time. Say yes to the social media training, say yes to helping with press releases and pitching stories. You will learn a lot from everything you do, even if it's not directly related to your job.
Your boss will know that she can rely on you because she knows that whatever task comes up, you'll be able to handle it and get it done. This will also help her understand what kind of work/life balance works for her team members as well as how much free time they actually want/need in order to feel productive.*
You'll get exposure outside of your immediate circle at the company—you'll make connections within other departments and learn more about how things are run at different levels within the organization (including yours). You'll also get a better understanding of how PR fits into the bigger picture at this particular company; this knowledge helps when communicating internally about PR efforts or when pitching ideas for new campaigns.*
You may find yourself wanting more responsibility after being given some tasks; now chances are good that those requests will be met because people see how hardworking and reliable you are!
Ask lots of questions.
You are going to learn a lot in your first year in PR. Ask lots of questions, and make sure you’re asking the right people. You should ask your boss, colleagues, mentors and peers as well as anyone else who will answer honestly with an open mind to learning more about what they do.
If there are people that you meet at networking events or industry events who have been around for a while ask them if they could spare some time to talk with you over lunch or coffee. People love talking about themselves so this is one of those times when it’s okay to give yourself permission to suck up a little bit!
Be collaborative.
Being collaborative is a great way to learn and build your network. Not only will you be surrounded by a group of people who are passionate about what they do, but you'll also have more opportunities to do what you love. As a result, it will help you grow professionally and personally, too!
Be on time.
Being on time is an important part of the job, and it can be especially tricky if you’re new to PR. However, with a little planning ahead, being on time shouldn’t be too difficult.
Here are some tips for making sure that you arrive on time:
Don't leave your house until it's time to go (and don't go anywhere else)
If possible, get there early and park somewhere nearby so that you don't have far to walk when it is time for the meeting or event
Be patient with yourself and your training process.
The first year of your career is a challenging and exciting time, but it's also an important one. You'll be learning a lot while you're working with clients, pitching stories and planning events. It's important to remember that the most essential element of this process is patience—with yourself and with the process itself.
You may make mistakes along the way, whether they're due to inexperience or simply because you didn't anticipate all of the steps involved in executing a PR strategy on time. It's okay! Mistakes are normal; getting frustrated will only hamper your ability to learn from them and grow as an individual.
You have everything you need at this point: enthusiasm about public relations; hard-won knowledge about how certain aspects work together; quality training from those who came before you; encouragement from mentors who want nothing more than for us all succeed in our careers...and plenty of patience!
Learn how to write press releases.
A press release is the official announcement of a newsworthy event. It should be written in a way that grabs the attention of journalists, who will use it to create new articles about your product or service. The purpose of this article is to teach you some basics about writing effective press releases, so that you can do so confidently and effectively when the time comes.
I’ll start by talking about why you need to write one at all—and why I think it's important for PR professionals who are just starting out in their careers (like myself!). Then we'll talk about some helpful tips on how to go about creating one, as well as examples from some successful businesses who have done it before us so that we don't have too much trouble finding our footing once we get started!
Know when to ask for help.
You’re not alone, and there are plenty of people who want to help you succeed. You just need to know when you need help and ask for it in a way that is respectful and not demeaning.
You should feel comfortable asking for assistance from anyone at your company including mentors, senior colleagues and even your boss. If they don't have time because they are too busy with their own work then suggest another colleague who may be able to assist instead (but make sure you check first!).
Be willing to ask the same person multiple times if necessary; this will show them that you value their advice and expertise which makes them more likely to go out of their way when they can fit it into their schedule.
Learn how to manage multiple projects at once.
Multi-tasking is a skill that every PR professional needs to master. While it may be difficult at first, you will soon find that once you get the hang of it, multi-tasking becomes second nature.
If you've been following our blog series about how to survive your first year in PR, then by now you know that managing multiple projects at once is an essential part of your job (and something we talked about in post number two). In this post, we are going to go into more detail on how exactly this can be done effectively.
First things first: The key thing here is organization! You need a solid system for organizing all of your tasks so they don't become overwhelming or lose their meaning. This could mean using spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (or even just pen and paper), but whatever works best for you should be fine as long as it helps keep everything straight in your head! It's also helpful if the system makes sense so that when new tasks come up later down the road—which they totally will—you won't forget what needs doing next because there'll already be some sorta order established between them all beforehand instead of just throwing spaghetti at walls until something sticks onto one side or another."
You will have the opportunity to learn so many different skills.
You'll sharpen your copywriting, pitching, and negotiating skills. You'll learn how to pitch media outlets, handle client accounts, organize events, and much more. There's plenty of room for growth in this field; there are no limits!
Conclusion
We’re excited for you, and we hope that this post has given you some confidence in your ability to make it through the first year of your career. As we mentioned earlier, PR is a great industry for people who like to learn new things. It’s also an industry where there is plenty of opportunity for beginners to get involved right away—but only if they take initiative, take risks, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes!
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