Not sure what to do with your history degree?
You’ve come to the right place! If you know that you don’t want to work in a role related to History such as becoming a History teacher, or pursue your studies in History further, read on! In this post, we will share a success story of how we helped an Oxford History graduate get a job at a leading PR agency. We will also share some tips if you feel that a career in PR might be a good fit for you.
How We Helped Sarah to Transition from a History Graduate to an Account Executive at a Leading PR Agency
Sarah, a BA History graduate had been working as a private tutor, helping students with their studies in History, English and Spanish before coming to us here at Graduate Coach seeking help to land a good graduate job.
At the time, her confidence had taken a hit after missing out on a training contract at a law firm, despite having obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law and having legal work experience.
After much soul-searching and evaluating Sarah’s skills and interests, we helped her to conclude that a role in Online Reputation Management would be a good fit and suit her intellect, and strong work ethic.
To boost Sarah’s employability in this field, we enrolled her in our Digital Internship, where we upskilled her in various areas of Digital Marketing including SEO, Social Media Marketing and Digital Analytics.
Throughout the programme, Sarah gained practical experience and completed hands-on tasks such as writing and publishing search engine-optimised blog posts. Additionally, she completed a series of industry-recognised certifications, demonstrating her fundamental digital knowledge.
After a few months in this role, we gave Sarah the opportunity to gain experience as a Public Relations Manager, where one of her key responsibilities included creating a PR strategy and writing press releases. She thrived in this role, which gave her several achievements to showcase on her CV.
With these amazing experiences on her CV and some expert interview coaching, Sarah swiftly landed a job at one of the UK’s leading PR and communication agencies. As an Assistant Account Executive, and was promoted just 4 months into her new role! Today she is thriving as a Consultant at a global advisory firm.
Tips to help you to land a graduate role in PR
PR involves influencing public perceptions of a company. As a graduate seeking a role in PR, you’ll typically see roles being advertised in-house, or with agencies. You may also wish to consider doing a PR graduate scheme, that will give you the opportunity to rotate across different departments whilst developing the required skills to excel in the industry.
Here are some top tips if you are a graduate who is hoping to land a top graduate job at a public relations company.
1: Know your Why – What Draws You to a Career in PR?
Graduate recruiters and hiring managers at PR firms are looking for graduates who genuinely wish to pursue a career in PR.
Think carefully about what draws you to a career in PR and research the industry carefully to gain a deep understanding of what you’ll be required to do on a daily basis. Being truly passionate and sure about your decision to start your graduate career in PR will show in your CV and interviews and will subsequently help you to stand out from the crowd.
2: Demonstrate your Skills
It is crucial that you demonstrate the following skills on your CV:
- Strong communication skills: Effective communication is essential for a career in PR. Seek opportunities to develop and refine your written and verbal communication skills. Take every opportunity to practise persuasive writing, active listening and public speaking.
- Research: This is another key skill that is essential for a career in PR. You will have developed this skill during your time at university, so continue to refine this skill and remember to always engage with credible sources when conducting your research.
- Media relations, event planning and crisis management: many of these skills you will learn on the job and receive training for. However, if you have already gained some experience in these areas, be sure to show them off on your CV. For example, if you were a member of a student society at university, you may have developed some event management skills.
3: Build a Portfolio of your Work
Before applying to PR firms for graduate roles, complete some projects that will help you to build up a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills and interest in the field.
You can do this by completing some freelance jobs or volunteering in positions that allow you to write press releases, blog posts and create social media content. A solid portfolio will significantly help you to stand out from the crowd and give hiring managers an understanding of the value you can bring to the company.
4: Network
It’s a good idea to ensure that you use your social media profiles wisely to create a strong online personal brand and to network and connect with industry leaders. Not only will this help you to build up your network and appear professional, but it will also help you to develop your social media and branding skills which will be required in your role.
5: Stay up to date with Industry Trends
PR professionals must be well-versed in current events, industry trends, and cultural/ societal changes. Stay updated with current affairs by reading industry articles, watching the news and reading posts by thought leaders in the industry.
Being able to share your thoughts on current topics in the field during an interview will help you to come across as an individual who is articulate, aware of what is happening in the industry and most importantly, interested in a career in PR.
How Graduate Coach Can Help You.
Here at Graduate Coach, we have helped over 5000+ graduates get good graduate jobs and thrive in their careers. We offer 1-2-1 career coaching and interview coaching that equips students, graduates and international graduates who wish to find jobs in the UK with a set of lifelong skills that will help them to navigate the transition from university to the workplace confidently.
If you’d like some help, send us a copy of your CV via our contact form.
Conclusion
Your History degree can lead to a diverse range of career opportunities, including in PR, as demonstrated by Sarah’s success story.
Working with our graduate coaches, Sarah was able to evaluate her skills and interests and determine that a career in Online Reputation Management was a good career path for her. With further guidance and support, we helped Sarah to gain practical experiences that she used to build her impressive portfolio. Subsequently, she secured a position with one of the UK’s leading PR agencies.
Are you a graduate looking to break into the PR industry? Follow in Sarah’s footsteps by getting in contact with Graduate Coach.
Featured image by Werner Pfennig from Pexels
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