Traditional PR skills like top notch writing and media relations will never fade, and perhaps they're more important than ever in today's fractured media market. But, additional skills are important in your toolbox as well, like social media content creation and curation, analytics, SEO and programming skills to create and analyze digital content.
Core Public Relations Skills
Public relations specialists must be able to juggle multiple clients and projects, are all considered important and expected to be completed yesterday. Mastering deadlines prioritizing tasks is a must. Organization is a must as well-keeping both your work and that of your bosses on task to meet deadlines.
Efficiency: Faster, better, cheaper is the name of the game. The means being quicker at acquiring and analyzing research, determining the data that matters, synthesizing the information required, and achieving insights that allow you to make more efficient and effective decisions.
Work happens in real time and on a global scale with social media. Acting not only with speed, but with a cohesive strategy that's relevant to your target market is more critical than ever as your PR business scales.
Thinking Bold: This is a time in PR and marketing communications when disruption and experimentation rule. Publicist have to be bold and creative to capture attention in a splintering market. Companies don't care about your agency's pedigree or star company list. They want people who can who create and execute cutting edge, market-changing ideas that grab attention and disrupt the marketplace.
Here's a comprehensive list of public relations skills for resumes, cover letters, job applications and interviews. Required skills will vary based on the job for which you're applying, so also review our list of skills listed by job and type of skill.
Personal Attributes
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- Initiative
- Interaction
- Organization
- Reliability
- Self Direction
- Team Player
- Timeliness
Account/Brand Management
- Account Management
- Analysis
- Brand Communications
- Brand Knowledge
- Brand Marketing
- Branding
- Budgeting
- Task Management
- Client Relations
- Client Service
- Drafting Pitches
- Establish Relationships
- Event Planning
- Tracking
- Trends
- Troubleshooting
- Generate New Business
- News Releases
- Newsletters
- Pitches
- Planning
- Relationship Building
- Relationship Management
- Research
- Strategy Development
- Strategic Thinking
Communication Skills
Social Media Skills
- Social Channels
- Social Interaction
- Social Media Analysis
- Social Media Releases (SMRs)
- Posting
- Blogging
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Digital Marketing
- Engagement
- Google+
Computer Skills
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- Adobe Acrobat
- Photoshop, Quark
- InDesign
- InCopy
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