This document was prepared to answer questions from Students of Public Relations in Osun State Polytechnic at the virtual PR Campus Summit organized by Nigerian Women In Public Relations (NWIPR) on May 22, 2021.
3. OBTAIN A DEGREE
Obtain a university or polytechnic
degree. Fast track professional
certification such as NIPR. This
will indicate your professional
competence and give you an edge
to pitch for businesses.
GET EXPERIENCE
Start up with internship or
voluntary roles from your school
days and onward to graduate
trainee in PR agencies. This will
help in horning your skills in the
profession.
BUILD CONTACTS
Build a network of PR
practitioners and journalists
across media channels. This way
you get to engage in industry
trends/conversations.
GET A MENTOR
The place of mentorship and
coaching cannot not be neglected.
You need to plant yourself in the
footprints of senior colleagues or
practitioners to sharpen your skills.
SELF DEVELOPMENT
Your certificate alone will not do
it. You need to constantly train,
retrain, learn new skills in the
profession.
BE A GREAT WRITER
PR is writing. You must know
how to develop content to suite
different subject matters or
occasions. Promote your career
by writing articles for
publications.
IMPROVE YOUR PROFILE
Be deliberate about your
professional profile on social media
– LinkedIn in particular.
DARE FOR JOB OPENINGS
Seek for opportunities in
corporate organizations to join
the communications team. Do
not box yourself in a comfort
zone.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. A public relations professional must uphold the principles of truth and accountability, which are vital to building
trust and credibility with all stakeholders. - Gerard F Corbett, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Public Relations
Society of America (PRSA)
