Kick-start your career in Journalism or PR

Knowing which career you’re interested in is fantastic. Knowing which career you want before you’ve even left school is better. For all the ambitious young writers out there with a flair for creative copywriting, a blog they can’t wait to promote, a nose for a great story and the ability to make useful contacts, you’re probably already set on a job in Journalism or PR.

However, both sectors are fiercely competitive, and it takes more than a degree in English Literature to impress prospective employers. If you’re looking for ways to get yourself noticed, the following tips will make sure that you’re head and shoulders above the competition.

• Get writing. I’d recommend starting your own blog, and finding other people that youenjoy reading to help you start honing your own writing style. Make sure you put your blog on your CV; employers looking for someone creative and able to write engaging content will want to see examples of your work.
• Research your degree carefully. These days, a degree, even in English, isn’t enough; think about which sector you want to work in, and do your homework. There are degrees available for print, radio and broadcast journalism. Ideally, degrees that are NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) accredited will make sure that editors who receive your CV will consider you; a degree without an NCTJ accreditation is effectively worthless, even if the degree title has ‘Journalism’ in it.
• Put your career first. Even if your chosen university is a six-hour flight from home, and you’re worried you’ll miss your friends and family, go for it. A career in journalism will often mean time away from home in unfamiliar locations; you’d better get used to it. Plus, never feel guilty about the effort and time you invest into your career. You’ll be working until you’re in your sixties - make sure it’s doing something you enjoy!
• Consider work experience. Many people are choosing to forego degrees in order to leave school at 16, and start on the lowest rung of the ladder. Being an office intern can teach you invaluable practical skills that you’d never get from a degree, and show employers that you’re serious about a life in your chosen discipline. Research your local news and PR agencies and try to arrange a meeting with the Head of News or Head of PR - don’t be afraid of looking too keen, employers want to see that you’ve got passion for their business.
• If you’re studying, stay local. If your university or college has a magazine, write for them - this will look great when you start applying for jobs, as employers will see that you’ve been working throughout your degree. The same applies to college radio stations and fanzines. Research any local magazines or newspapers, and approach them asking for weekend work experience or the opportunity to submit a story. Editors that are pushed for time and lacking content may well appreciate your input.
• Keep your ear to the ground. You never know when you’ll come across a story that your local news agency will run. Don’t be afraid of contacting journalists with stories you come across, and don’t be disheartened if they choose to discard them. Always remember to be polite, though – and never hassle journalists. They’re busy people, and won’t appreciate being phoned every hour.
• Always keep up to date with local and world events; a subscription to online and offline news sources, such as The Times website, will stand you in good stead. Journalists and PR Consultants are expected to be in-tune with the events unfolding around them; an interviewing employer will not be impressed if you can’t answer questions about current stories.
• Never be afraid of making a contact. If you find a journalist whose work consistently impresses you, and keeps you interested, drop them a line to ask them how they developed their skills and how they started their career. The chances are they’ll be pretty flattered, and will be happy to give you advice.
• Know your discipline. A career in PR is similar to one in journalism; there’s plenty of research and writing involved, as you’ll be working with clients to make sure they receive positive coverage across newspapers, TV and radio. The relationship between PR consultants and journalists is often portrayed as being somewhat negative, but in reality, both parties have something to offer the other. PR consultants use local and international research and news stories to promote their clients, and often have a few key journalists they will send press releases to, and keep in regular contact with.
• Don’t expect any PR or journalism role to consist of just writing news stories; make sure you’re multi-skilled. You may be expected to tackle email marketing (this generally comes under the heading of e-zines and online newsletters), as well as writing for offline publications, such as company magazines and monthly reports. You may also be expected to run social media accounts, develop editorial strategies, run planning meetings, host seminars, make your own press contacts and use picture and video editing equipment. Make sure your Microsoft Office skills are up to date, and if possible, teach yourself the basics of Photoshop and Quark.
• Although there are many successful journalists and PR consultants out there making huge amounts of money, it’s important you realise that it can take a long, long time to get there. Prepare yourself for minimal pay, long hours, everyday challenges – but heaps of job satisfaction.