Public Relations CV Example: 25+ Samples and Writing Tips

Listen—

It’s not enough for your public relations CV to earn the recruiter’s trust.

It must persuade them that hiring you is the only right course of action.

How to do that?

Do some good PR, and craft a compelling narrative.

It all starts with making a CV to remember.

This guide will show you:

• Best public relations CV examples that get jobs.
• How to ace your public relations job description on a CV.
• How to write CVs for public relations that get the interview.
• Expert tips and samples to boost your chances of landing public relations jobs.

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• Social Media Manager CV
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Public Relations CV—Sample

1. Choose the Best Public Relations CV Format

On average, a recruiter spends 7 seconds scanning a public relations CV.

In other words—

Someone’s glimpse will play a vital role in your future career.

With so much at stake, your PR CV format must deliver. At a glance.

• Choose the reverse-chronological CV format. It gives prominence to the experience and key achievements on your PR CV.
• Use simple and readable CV fonts. The range between 10 and 14pt is the best. Write simple headings. Avoid clutter and use white space to your advantage.
• Stick to a single page CV unless you have the experience of Meredith O'Sullivan
• Start your public relations CV with an objective or summary. Add the experience and education sections below.
• Create a separate key skills section.Mention your membership in professional associations. Add a section on interests and knowledge of foreign languages.

Expert Hint: It’s best to export your media or fashion PR CV to a PDF file. It will remain readable to the ATS, and its formatting will stay untouched.

2. Start with a Public Relations CV Objective That Turns Heads

How to start your PR CV?

With a message that sticks.

Use this formula to make a “sticky” PR CV objective or CV summary:

1. An adjective

2. Job title

3. Years of experience

4. What you can offer and how it will help

5. Your biggest achievement

Let’s put the formula into practise.

CV Summary Example for Public Relations

Motivated and solution-oriented (1) public relations specialist (2) with 2+ years of experience. (3) Eager to join Ralph Lauren to assist in shaping the brand’s strong image and developing the PR strategy. (4) In previous roles secured editorial product placements in 20+ high-fashion magazines. (5)

Experienced public relations specialist who’d like to join your company. Looking for new opportunities to keep developing PR skills and competencies.

The most striking difference between the two examples above?

The bad example is entirely about what the candidate wants, not what they can offer. The good one, on the other hand, is like a perfect lift pitch.

What If You’ve Got No Experience?

An entry-level CV for public relations must also start with a bang.

If your professional experience is limited, start with a public relations CV objective, rather than a summary.

A PR CV objective concentrates much more on your achievements than experience.

Fresh graduates can bring up their education, and internship.

Entry-Level Public Relations CV—Objective

Motivated and solution-oriented public relations specialist with a BA in Public Relations from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism (GPA 3.9). Eager to join Ralph Lauren to help build the brand’s strong image. 4-month experience as a PR intern at a major high-fashion brand. 

A fresh graduate with a BA in Public Relations. Wants to join your company as a PR specialist.

Remember:

PR professionals, of all people, mustn’t mess their intros up.

Expert Hint: Revisit your public relations CV objective or summary once you've reached the end. Or even write it last. Go through your CV and cherry pick the bits you’d really like to highlight.

3. Write the Perfect Public Relations CV Skills and Job Description Sections

The bad news:

Not even the craftiest intro has the power to salvage a lacklustre story.

If your public relations CV job description underdelivers, this will be the end of the journey.

But—

You know that choice of words can work wonders.

So, craft the best job description for your PR CV.

This is what you need to do:

1. Read the job posting closely.

2. Fish out the public relations specialist duties and skills the employer desires.

3. Describe your public relations experience using phrases from the ad.

Public Relations Specialist Job Description for CV—Example

• Managed sample requests for editorial opportunities in the US.
• Developed key relationships with national and regional womenswear and menswear contacts.
• Acted as brand representative at seasonal press days to interact with key attending editors.
• Prepared and distributed press releases.
• Liaised with corporate communications team for events and product launches.
• Oversaw seasonal freelancer support for sample requests, day to day sample trafficking and reporting.

• Responsible for samples and editorials
• Responsible for contacts with clients
• Responsible for press releases and press days
• Responsible for company events

This is how it works:

All PR CVs will be scanned by the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) before a hiring manager lays their eyes on any of them.

The first step it is toget past this stage.

Here’s the secret:

ATSs look for keywords for a public relations CV.

All these CV words appear in the job posting. In the example above, the highlighted sections are based on PR CV keywords from a job ad.

This is exactly why the choice of words matters so much.

In essence, the good and bad examples communicate the same thing. But the bad example will leave both the ATS and the recruiter unimpressed.

Speaking of which—

How to impress the recruiter?

Use action verbs, such as managed, developed, prepared, liaised, or oversaw. They communicate much more than the vague responsible for formula.

Quantify your PR duties by adding numbers and percentages.

Contrary to popular belief, PR is measurable. In fact, the entire industry is moving towards data-driven PR. So, demonstrate you’re a forward thinker, and come up with numbers where you can.

Single out one or two key achievements and put them in a separate subsection on your public relations CV.

Public Relations CV Examples—Key Achievements

And—

Don’t forget to put the right public relations skills on your CV.

What public relations skills to put on CV?

You will find most of the time the desired PR CV skills in the job posting.

If you have them, put them on your CV. And use the list below as a source of inspiration.

Public Relations CV—Skills

Public Relations Skills

• Written and oral communication
• Media outreach/relations
• Copywriting (websites, blogs, press releases, etc.)
  Drafting pitches
• Editing
• Presentation skills
• Public speaking (incl. speech writing)
• Crisis management
• Brand management
• Online research skills

Social Media Skills

• Digital marketing
• Social media analytics
• Social media press releases
• Engagement marketing
• Influencing
• CMS platforms
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Google+
• Twitter

Soft Skills

• Networking
• Negotiating
• Multi-tasking
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Organisation
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership

Expert Hint: ATSs are not super-smart, so don’t paraphrase too much. And don’t put too many things on your CV. Only list the skills you’re really good at. You’ll avoid falling victim to the presenter’s paradox.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.

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4. Turn Boring Education Into a Reason to Hire You

Education matters.

Especially when your experience isn’t exactly that of Ivy Lee’s.

Make the most of your CV education section, and—

Let the recruiter know about the coursework you took. Add info on your extracurricular activities, and don’t forget to show off your GPA if it’s north of 3.5.

Simple as that.

Entry-Level Public Relations CV Sample—Education

2016
USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, LA
Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations
GPA: 3.9

Relevant coursework:

• Effective Writing for Strategic Public Relations
• Social, Legal, and Ethical Foundations of Public Relations
• Business and Economic Foundations of Public Relations

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
PR

Expert Hint: If you’re a seasoned pro you don’t have to list more than the school name, graduation date, and degree on your public relations CV.

5. Light Up Your Public Relations CV With These Extra Sections

What do the best PR campaigns and PR CVs have in common?

A personal connexion.

So—

Show your best side by adding information on your interests on your CV,  knowledge of foreign languages, and membership in professional associations.

Marketing and Public Relations CV Sample—Associations

• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)—Member
• Toastmasters International—Accredited Speaker

Fashion PR CV Sample—Interests

• Fashion photography
• Modernist painting

Public Relations Manager CV Sample—Languages

• French (Bilingual)
• Italian (Advanced)

Expert Hint: You can easily double your chances of landing an interview by writing a cover letter. More than 50% of the recruiters expect your job application to include one.

Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

To write the best public relations CV:

• Choose the best PR CV template. An entry-level public relations CV experience section doesn’t need as much room as a public relations director CV.
• Make your public relations CV look great. Use white space to your advantage. Avoid clutter by only focusing on relevant experience.
• Answer a specific job offer. Remember your marketing job description and skills must target a specific job ad.
• Make the most of your education. Especially when preparing a marketing intern CV or an entry-level marketing CV.
• Pepper it with extras. Prove you’re a well-rounded candidate. List your certifications, interests, and membership in professional associations.

Questions on how to write the best public relations CV? Want to share advice on how to prepare a CV for public relations jobs (fashion PR CV or marketing and public relations CV)? We’d love to hear from you. Leave your comment below.

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