#JMGQuaranteam: Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews
During the beginning of this month, the team and I had the idea to host a “meet and greet” webinar to get to know our followers more and to answer some of your questions. We had so much fun with our first one and it was SO amazing to see all of your faces that the JMG team decided that during the time that everyone is stuck inside, having more webinars would be a great opportunity to not only answer all of your PR related questions, but it would be a nice way for us all to get some more human interaction these days.
We’ve decided to give each webinar a theme with the second webinar’s theme being ‘resumes and interviews.’ We received so many questions that we weren’t able to address all of them during the webinar, so I decided to write a blog post dedicated to answering the questions the team and I didn’t have time to get to.
For those who missed out on both sessions, don’t worry! We will have plenty more in the future as I’m very excited to meet the rest of you.
How can I get started in PR, and what’s the best way to network in PR?
I suggest applying for PR specific internships, whether it’s at a boutique or full-size firm, and trying different things so that you can expand your network. Once you graduate, you should already have a few contacts in several places and you can touch base with them to see if they have job offerings for recent graduates.
What kind of sample work is best to submit for an internship, job, etc when applying? and How should I track and present my professional accomplishments and placements?
We received both of these questions, and we think writing samples are the best to submit as, well as any work that you can turn into visuals. Meaning, try to screenshot the work you’ve done whether at school or at your prior internship. If you did work on a business account’s social media, then show how many followers have increased since your time there, and even the engaging content you’ve created. You can then create a portfolio, which will display the work you’ve accomplished.
What is the best advice for a recent graduate struggling to get a job specifically in their field?
Definitely apply for internships as a lot of firms tend to hire within. If these firms already know your work, then it is more likely they will want to hire you once a position opens up at the company. Internships are valuable regardless if you’re getting paid or not.
How do I write a proper cover letter for jobs in PR?
This is a great topic that we can further dive into in a future blog post. For now, I found a great step-by-step guide on writing a cover letter. It also includes the dos and don’ts of what to include in your letter.
What is one thing that sticks out on a resume that your company looks for in a potential employee?
It’s actually the cover letter that sticks out to me the most. If a candidate is able to get creative with their cover letter, such as including how their personal interests align with the company’s, then that’s what makes them unique to me. The cover letter is really where you can shine and show your personality, as well as your eagerness for the position. Cover letters tend to be the most understated part of the application process, and I urge you to use that as a way to show you excitement and reasoning for why you should work for the company. It can also be a perfect writing sample for the employer.
What is a skill/quality you wish you saw more often in candidates?
We love seeing their eagerness to work at JMG! We want candidates who share the same vision and inspiration as us and when they share their excitement for being a part of JMG specifically, then we naturally want them to be a part of the team.
How should PR professionals organize their resumes?
Organizing your resume usually isn’t specific to the industry, so I would suggest providing your accomplishments from your latest position and organizing each experience chronologically.
What makes a PR professional most inclined to talk to someone new coming into the field?
If someone is able to create a personal connection with us, such as following us on Instagram and liking/commenting on our content, then that makes them stand out from other candidates. It really shows they went that extra step in jump starting a relationship with the company.
Do you have any advice for someone fresh out of college trying to join the beauty PR industry?
Follow beauty-specific PR firms, as well as their employees on LinkedIn and Instagram. The more you try to become a part of something, the more you will be a part of it. Social media is usually the best way to connect with people who are within the field you want to be in.
How should you best market your extracurriculars if you have little to no professional PR experience?
Try to relate your work back to communications. By defining your work in the communications field, you can set yourself up for success in the world of PR. Both of those industries go hand-in-hand with each other, so try to find a connection and bridge that gap between the two.
What are some key terms to use in a resume for a PR position?
We actually wrote a post about some of the most popular key terms PR professionals use. You can definitely add a few words into your resume, but just be sure not to use too much jargon because it could look a bit overzealous. By sprinkling in just a few key words, it can add more substance and depth to your resume.
What is something you would have done differently or wish you would have known during your college experience to get you ready for the public relations world?
To be quite honest, I don’t think I’d do anything differently. Everyone looks at their background differently, and for me, I’ve never looked back and said ‘I wish I did this‘ or ‘I wish I did that,’ because it wouldn’t have led me to where I am today. I always put effort into everything I did, and it showed when I got my first very job two weeks after college and during a recession!
How do you put PAR statements on your resume if you don’t necessarily have that measurable evaluation?
Even though you’re new in the field, no one will expect you to have the experience you would normally have until you’ve completed at 1-2 years in the workforce. It’s understandable that you may not have that experience as a post-graduate to place on your resume. But if you do have any sort of measurable outcome under your belt, it would be best to mention that during your interview! Usually, these questions about measures tend to come in the form of “what would you do in this situation?” Employers tend to ask these questions in a more theoretical manner.
Thank you again to everyone who made it last time. For those of you who couldn’t, we hope to see you next time!
Xo – Jenna
