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| Getting work experience | Work experience opportunities | How CIPR helps |
| Switching careers | Making applications | |
Getting work experience
Public relations in the UK is thriving, offering a wide range of job opportunities. As PR is also one of the top career choices for graduates, however, employment is highly competitive. Getting work experience can therefore be a vital first step on the PR career ladder: it demonstrates to potential employers that you are truly interested in the industry and also gives you a good insight into what public relations really involves.
Keep up to date by reading trade press: CIPR student members get PRWeek and PR Business for free
Use the CIPR Member Directory in the Member Area of the website
Check out the work placement finder in PR Student
Contact your local CIPR regional group to find out what events are being held. Networking is a great way to make yourself visible
Decide if you wish to be paid or if you would be prepared to work on a voluntary or ‘expenses only’ basis.
Try to get work experience in any ‘communications’ orientated organisation – PR consultancy, design company, advertising agency or marketing department. Any relevant experience, whether it be temporary, vacation, paid or unpaid is useful and can be added to your CV.
Ask to visit a consultancy or in-house department for an informative chat - if you can offer your time free of charge you could ask to work shadow someone.
Offer to do temporary or vacation work.
Apply for voluntary work experience with charities.
Top tips:
- Buying press and PR directories can be expensive, so check with your local library or university careers service to see if they hold copies
- Draw up a target list of consultancies or in-house departments that match your interests and requirements
- Find key contacts for a company by searching for their website – look under the media, press or journalists section
- Find a list of graduate trainee programmes and charity work placements on this website
- Visit PR JobShop to see what companies are recruiting
There’s more PR careers information for CIPR members in PR Student in the Member Area, including a detailed guide to finding public relations work experience opportunities.
