You have just received an excellent foundation in public relations through your education. However, in today’s competitive job marketplace you must know how to kick your entry-level PR job search up a notch. Here’s how to optimize your PR career job pursuit through social media and other online search tools.
Craigslist Using Google Advanced Search
Use Google Advanced Search to find great PR positions that may be posted within categories one would not normally expect to locate a listing. Craigslist allows you to search for specific terms related to PR, for example, “entry level public relations” “PR jobs,” and “communications.” Also, you can search within specific regions as well as narrowing your search to locate the most recent postings.
That is – those within the past 24 hours as opposed to postings that are a week or a month old. Because Craigslist is cluttered with job postings – having no filtering system that can be customized for an individual’s needs – Google Advanced Search allows you to formulate your own censoring system.
Twitter is a useful social media site to stay at the front of the pack for consideration by those PR agencies who are currently seeking out new and creative talent. In addition to Twitter Handles for PR firm human resource departments, follow PR job notifications on Twitter sites like @ComeRecommended and @SocialMediaJob or similar PR job entry-level job search hashtags such as #entryPR. Advice posts on Twitter and article links are also available to help users find an entry-level PR position.
USAJobs.gov
This site is easy to navigate for beginning PR jobs with the U.S. government and has unique features for recent graduates and veterans in addition to helpful information on current hiring trends in the PR marketplace. Also, USAJobs.gov opens a PR job seeker’s eyes into a world of PR that is typically overlooked showing PR job opportunities within specific regions and industries.
Idealist.org
This site has thousands of listings for PR jobs in the nonprofit sector. Searches can be narrowed into specific categories – internships, entry-level PR jobs, and volunteer opportunities to get your foot in the door of a great agency. Idealist.org is relatively simple to navigate, and wider searches provide listings for PR agencies in all industry categories.
Organization Websites and PRSA
Don’t forget to Google “PR firms” in your desired location and visit the career sections of their websites on a regular basis for entry-level PR job opportunities. There are some firms that help you keep abreast of the latest PR openings through feeds.
Be sure that your resume is on point, for an serious employer to take you seriously!