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PR Executive

PR Executive

PR (Public Relations) Executives help organisations build and maintain relationships with the people they need to reach. They find stories, write media releases and other content, pitch ideas to journalists and help clients communicate clearly with the public. Their work can promote a brand, build its reputation and help protect it when challenges arise.

 

PR can also include experiential work, creating events or experiences that give people a way to interact with a client, brand or product. Relationships are a big part of the job, so PR professionals spend time building connections with journalists, creators and others across the media. PR Executives often work alongside other PR specialists and Experiential Producers.

Great skills to have as a PR Executive

A love of language and clear communication.
A love of storytelling.
Confidence networking, negotiating and building relationships.
Strong organisational skills.
Creative, strategic, and critical thinking.
An enjoyment of research and an ability to simplify complex information.

See what it's like...

Joseph Polamalu

Account Manager at Mango Communications

Eating salad on beanbags

"No two days are ever the same!"

Pathway to becoming a PR Executive

Because communication is central to PR, many professionals have studied communications, English, history or another subject that develops research, critical thinking and persuasive writing. Tertiary study can be helpful, but it is not the only way into the industry.

Relationships and connections are a big part of PR, including at the beginning of your career. Look for opportunities to meet people in the industry, learn about different agencies and build experience through your studies, internships, voluntary work or personal projects.

Graduates ready to start full-time work can register their interest in the Comms Council Graduate Talent Hub, which supports entry-level PR opportunities. You can also apply directly for entry-level PR roles, highlighting your communication, organisation and relationship-building skills in your cover letter and CV.

Career progression

People may progress from PR Executive to Senior PR Executive or Account Manager, followed by roles such as Account Director and Head of PR. Titles and responsibilities vary between agencies.

 

There are no fixed timelines for progression. It depends on your performance, the skills you develop, the effectiveness of your work and the opportunities available within your agency.

What might I be able to earn?

The following provides an indication of the sort of earnings you could achieve during your career.

 

We’ve selected a range of roles and provided indicative earning potential. Titles and levels of responsibility can vary depending on the size of the agency, the nature of its accounts, its location and how it defines each role, so these figures are indicative only.