The document provides guidance on starting a career in public relations. It discusses that PR involves planned communication between an organization and its publics to achieve mutual understanding. It outlines that to work in PR one needs education like a matric and PR qualification, certain skills like communication and writing, and experience which can be gained through internships or volunteer work. The document also describes typical PR duties like developing strategies, distributing press releases and engaging on social media. It emphasizes being willing to learn, knowing your audience, and refining writing skills for success in the fast-paced field of PR.

1. Your Guide to a
Successful Career in
Public Relations

2. What is
Public Relations?

3. “Public relations consists of all forms of planned
communication, outwards and inwards, between an
organisation and its publics for the purpose of achieving
specific objectives concerning mutual understanding.”
– Public Relations Management Module 1 (Oxbridge Academy)

4. “Public relations consists of all forms of planned
communication, outwards and inwards, between an
organisation and its publics for the purpose of achieving
specific objectives concerning mutual understanding.”
– Public Relations Management Module 1 (Oxbridge Academy)

5. “Everything
you do or say
is public relations.
- Unknown
”

6. Starting a Career
in PR

7. There are
3 Important Aspects
to Starting a Career in PR:

8. 1. Education
2.Skills and Characteristics
3.Experience
There are
3 Important Aspects
to Starting a Career in PR:

9. 1. Education
To work in PR, you generally need:

10. 1. Education
To work in PR, you generally need:
• Matric or an equivalent qualification
• A qualification in Public Relations

11. 1. Education
To work in PR, you generally need:
• Matric or an equivalent qualification
• A qualification in Public Relations

12. You can study PR from home
via distance learning with Oxbridge Academy.
Click on the button below to find out more:
View the PR Courses at
Oxbridge Academy

13. You can study PR from home
via distance learning with Oxbridge Academy.
Click on the button below to find out more:
View the PR Courses at
Oxbridge Academy

14. 2. Skills and Characteristics
For a successful career in PR, you need the following skills and
characteristics:

15. 2. Skills and Characteristics
For a successful career in PR, you need the following skills and
characteristics:
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem solving skills
• Creativity
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Time management skills

16. For a successful career in PR, you need the following skills and
characteristics:
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem solving skills
• Creativity
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Time management skills
2. Skills and Characteristics
• Computer skills
• Research and writing skills
• Confidence
• A proactive approach
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to work under pressure
&

17. 3. Experience

18. 3. Experience
It’s a well-known dilemma:
You need a job to gain experience, but you need experience to get a job.

19. 3. Experience
It’s a well-known dilemma:
You need a job to gain experience, but you need experience to get a job.
Luckily, in the field of PR, there are numerous options for
gaining experience, even if you’re still busy working towards
your qualifications.

20. 3. Experience
Here are some of your options:

21. 3. Experience
Here are some of your options:
• Join a student association that gives you the opportunity to take responsibility
for their communications/PR functions.
• Create a personal blog.
• Do voluntary work that involves PR, communications, marketing, or writing.
• Look for internships.
• Look for junior/entry-level positions that don’t require extensive experience.

22. 3. Experience
Here are some of your options:
• Join a student association that gives you the opportunity to take responsibility
for their communications/PR functions.
• Create a personal blog.
• Do voluntary work that involves PR, communications, marketing, or writing.
• Look for internships.
• Look for junior/entry-level positions that don’t require extensive experience.

23. The Duties of a
PR Officer

24. The duties of a PR Officer
vary from one organisation to another.

25. The duties of a PR Officer
vary from one organisation to another.
If you work for a PR agency, for example, you
may have a different role to play than a PR
Officer working in-house for a specific
organisation.

26. The duties of a PR Officer
vary from one organisation to another.
If you work for a PR agency, for example, you
may have a different role to play than a PR
Officer working in-house for a specific
organisation.

27. In general, however, PR duties may include:

28. • Developing and implementing PR strategies.
• Responding to queries from individuals and organisations.
• Analysing media coverage.
• Preparing and distributing press releases.
• Generating publicity by organising events such as press
conferences.
• Engaging with customers/clients on social media
platforms.
• Developing professional relationships with relevant
stakeholders.
In general, however, PR duties may include:

29. Career Opportunities
in PR

30. PR is a growing industry,
and offers you a diverse range of career
opportunities in the public, private, and
non-profit sectors.

31. PR is a growing industry,
and offers you a diverse range of career
opportunities in the public, private, and
non-profit sectors.
“The public relations industry experienced
significant growth during the last decade”
- Orinna Weaver, Radius, 2014

32. PR is a growing industry,
and offers you a diverse range of career
opportunities in the public, private, and
non-profit sectors.
“The public relations industry experienced
significant growth during the last decade”
- Orinna Weaver, Radius, 2014

33. Job titles you could look out for include:

34. • Communications Officer
• Community Manager
• Media and Communications Co-ordinator
• PR Account Manager
• PR and Social Media Practitioner
• PR Consultant
• PR Officer
• PR Specialist
• Press Secretary
Job titles you could look out for include:

35. The PR
Working Environment

36. Working in PR means:

37. • Working long and irregular hours.
Working in PR means:

38. • Working long and irregular hours.
Working in PR means:
Including evenings and weekends

39. • Working long and irregular hours.
• Working in a fast-changing and flexible field.
Working in PR means:
Including evenings and weekends

40. • Working long and irregular hours.
• Working in a fast-changing and flexible field.
Including evenings and weekends
You need to be adaptable to
change and willing to learn
Working in PR means:

41. • Working long and irregular hours.
• Working in a fast-changing and flexible field.
• Working closely with different types of people.
Including evenings and weekends
You need to be adaptable to
change and willing to learn
Working in PR means:

42. • Working long and irregular hours.
• Working in a fast-changing and flexible field.
• Working closely with different types of people.
Including evenings and weekends
You need to be comfortable
communicating across cultural barriers
You need to be adaptable to
change and willing to learn
Working in PR means:

43. • Working long and irregular hours.
• Working in a fast-changing and flexible field.
• Working closely with different types of people.
• Working under pressure.
Including evenings and weekends
You need to be comfortable
communicating across cultural barriers
You need to be adaptable to
change and willing to learn
Working in PR means:

44. • Working long and irregular hours.
• Working in a fast-changing and flexible field.
• Working closely with different types of people.
• Working under pressure.
Including evenings and weekends
You need to be comfortable
communicating across cultural barriers
You need to be adaptable to
change and willing to learn
You must be able to stay calm and
professional in stressful situations
Working in PR means:

45. Tips for Success
in PR

46. Be willing to keep
learning
1

47. Know your audience
Be willing to keep
learning
2

48. Know your
audience
Stay up to date with
new technology
Be willing to keep
learning
3

49. Know your
audience
Stay up to date with
new technology
Be willing to keep
learning
3

50. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
4

51. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
5

52. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
5

53. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Keep up to date with
current affairs
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
6

54. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
Keep up to date
with current affairs
Build professional
networks
7

55. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
Keep up to date
with current affairs
Build professional
networks
7

56. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
Keep up to date
with current affairs
Make sure your
personal social
media profiles are
flawless
Build professional
networks
8

57. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
Keep up to date
with current affairs
Make sure your
personal social
media profiles are
flawless
Build professional
networks
8

58. Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
Keep up to date
with current affairs
Build professional
networks
9
Make sure your
personal social
media profiles
are flawless
Accept that you are
going to make
mistakes and be
willing to learn from
them.

59. Make sure your
personal social
media profiles
are flawless
Know your
audience
Be willing to keep
learning
Stay up to date
with new
technology
Refine your writing
skills
Decide early
whether you would
prefer to work in an
agency or in-house
Keep up to date
with current affairs
Accept that you are
going to make
mistakes and be
willing to learn from
them.
Build professional
networks
9

60. Ready to Start
Your PR Career?

61. Take the first step and
study a PR Course
with Oxbridge Academy
Click here to view the list of PR Courses

62. Take the first step and
study a PR Course
with Oxbridge Academy
Click here to view the list of PR Courses