Skip the Rookie Phase. Become a successful PR professional usingthese three PR tips from PR experts.

By Joe Velasquez

Now that you are in the final stages of graduating or have already graduated college, you finally landed that dream public relations job. Entering the public relations industry can be very challenging for newcomers, especially for recent college graduates. Newly full-time workers tend to act like if it were their first day in college. They are most likely to be silent, often tend to stand around and wait to be directed, and usually observe movements or analyze their surroundings. Overall, these behaviors will not make you a successful PR professional and most importantly, they do not impress the bosses. You are just in luck because I have gathered three PR tips from different PR experts that will not only make you skip the rookie phase but will position you to become successful and an expert in no time. Have a look.

1. Raise your Hand
Scott Farrell, President, Golin. Global Corporate Communications 
“You notice that your manager is coming in early and working late several days in a row. You hear that a team in your agency office has a major new business pitch coming up. Or that another team has just landed a huge new account. Finally, a group of colleagues are working feverishly on a crisis assignment for a client. What do you do? Raise your hand! In other words, ask those people what you can do to help. In situations like these, people are usually “heads down” and focusing on the work. One of the last things on their collective minds is looking for the ‘new person’ to lend a hand. But when you raise your hand and offer to help, my experience is that they will find some way for you to get involved. Monitor media coverage. Track social conversations. Conduct desk research. Write a project summary report. Whatever their request, your answer should be, ‘Yes, I’ll take care of that.’ Even if the assignment is a bit daunting, don’t let them see you sweat. Confidently say, ‘Yes,’ and then quickly leave the room and plot out your plan to get the work done. Deliver the work and bask in the praise. And then next time, don’t be surprised when they come looking for you.”

2. Develop a P.R. Crisis Communications Plan for your Clients.
Ken Jacobs, CEO & Creative Director, Group181 a Strategic Marketing and Advertising Agency
“If your client is a high-net worth individual, or they [are] a company with an annual revenue over $20 million, [a Crisis Communications Plan should be] worked up and ready to be deployed at any moment’s notice. Needless to say, you just have to look at the daily news to see we live in a ‘target-rich’ environment on C-Level individuals.”

As you enter into your new position in public relations, you must take this PR tip into consideration. What I personally pictured from this PR tip was that as an entry level worker, you need to be progressive. On your free time, if your PR team and client have already decided on a crisis plan, do not let that stop you from expanding on that plan, because as we all know a crisis can come from different angles. Overall, do not limit yourself to just creating new crises plans. Create new marketing ideas. Pitch stories. Use your education in public relations and implement it into the workplace. Show that you know what is expected and surprise your boss when he or she requests a project that you have already developed.

3. PR is a Challenging Industry. Take Care of Yourself.
Jenny Bertolette, VP of Communications for Meals on Wheels America
“PR pros who’ve been through the ringer of a crisis know how the long days, ringing phones and dinging inbox can take its toll. As much as you do to take care of your brand, you have to take care of yourself too in order to excel in the job.
Remember to eat. When you do, eat the healthiest, most nourishing food you can get your hands on. Drink so much water that you’re forced to get up from your desk a few times. Your brain won’t work if your body is struggling.”

In conclusion, I hope these three PR tips are valuable to you as you enter your new public relations job. You have been guided to express your interest and devotion, to get involved in projects, to show your value by thinking and going outside of the box, and finally, to take care of yourself no differently than the brand or client you represent. These three PR tips are essential to becoming a successful PR professional, so I encourage you to take advantage and use these tips in your new public relations job.