Whether you’re managing media coverage for a nonprofit or running internal communications for a major corporation, your public relations resume should tell your compelling story. PR professionals are masters of messaging, so your resume needs to reflect the same polish, purpose, and impact you bring to client work.
Lead with your accomplishments, demonstrate your media expertise, and show hiring managers how you’ve helped shape public perception, manage reputational risk, or generate positive press. Whether you’re applying to a boutique agency or an enterprise brand, focus on crafting a document that feels as curated as your best campaign.
Key takeaways:
- Emphasize specializations: Highlight your focus — media relations, corporate comms, crisis management, or content strategy — in the resume summary to showcase your expertise immediately.
- Detail quantifiable achievements: Use specific results like media placements, social engagement metrics, or brand growth to demonstrate the value you’ve added.
- Use keywords for ATS: Align your resume with the job description using relevant skills like media monitoring, stakeholder communication, and brand strategy to increase visibility in applicant tracking systems.
Most Popular Public Relations Resumes
Creative Public Relations Resume Example
Why this creative public relations resume is strong:
This resume stands out with a strong summary, creativity-focused skills, and measurable results from campaigns. Its structure highlights progression in the field and a clear connection between tasks and outcomes. Learn how to strengthen your resume summary with impactful storytelling by reviewing this guide.
Director of Public Relations Resume Example
Why this director of public relations resume is strong:
This resume highlights senior leadership in PR, offering concrete metrics and executive collaboration. It shows how experience aligns with business growth. To connect high-level strategy to career achievements, see this article on resume objectives.
Entry-Level Public Relations Resume Example
Why this entry-level public relations resume is strong:
This resume showcases initiative and relevant academic experience, making it perfect for new grads. It emphasizes enthusiasm and key early contributions. Read how to write your resume without full-time experience.
Fashion Public Relations Resume Example
Why this fashion public relations resume is strong:
This resume emphasizes niche experience in the fashion industry. It provides examples of brand collaborations and press wins. See how to align your resume with niche industries in this job title examples guide.
Marketing and Public Relations Resume Example
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
Customize your resume to each PR role by reflecting the language of the job posting. If the role emphasizes internal communications, highlight related campaigns or cross-functional collaboration experience. For agency roles, show how you’ve juggled multiple client accounts or worked on tight deadlines.
Public Relations Assistant Resume Example
Why this public relations assistant resume is strong:
This resume shows progression from intern to full-time staff and highlights critical support skills. Learn more about presenting early-stage experience in this article on how to write your first job resume.
Public Relations Chair Resume Example
Why this public relations chair resume is strong:
This resume demonstrates leadership in student PR roles and shows how volunteer positions can build career-relevant skills. Discover how to feature extracurricular involvement in this guide on what hobbies to put on a resume.
Public Relations Coordinator Resume Example
Why this public relations coordinator resume is strong:
This resume outlines growth from internship to coordinator and emphasizes skills in handling multiple clients. Get more ideas on crafting agency-friendly resumes in this piece on professional resume examples.
Public Relations Director Resume Example
Why this public relations director resume is strong:
This resume reflects deep leadership, national scope, and mission-driven focus. It shows how PR directors shape brand reputation at scale. Learn how to showcase leadership like this in your own work using tips from the article on resume action words.
Public Relations Executive Resume Example
Why this public relations executive resume is strong:
This resume captures high-level leadership and international experience. It highlights measurable strategic impact and shows career progression. Explore how to write strong headlines like this one in this article on headline examples for your resume.
Media Relations Specialist Resume Example
Why this media relations resume is strong:
This resume demonstrates niche specialization in journalist outreach and real success in getting coverage. See how to highlight your media experience with this guide on resume job descriptions.
Public Information Officer Resume Example
Why this public information officer resume is strong:
This resume combines clarity, public impact, and experience managing communication in sensitive contexts. For more on tailoring resumes to government jobs, check out this article on how to update your resume.
Communications Specialist Resume Example
Why this communications specialist resume is strong:
This resume clearly shows how writing and strategy go hand-in-hand. The experience supports storytelling that aligns with values. Learn how to better structure your resume for this type of role with advice from this article on best resume formats.
Corporate Communications Manager Resume Example
Why this corporate communications resume is strong:
This resume shows expertise in people-centered messaging and emphasizes cross-departmental influence. Find out how to reflect leadership support in your resume with this guide to core competencies.
Press Secretary Resume Example
Why this press secretary resume is strong:
This resume captures speed, accuracy, and media command—all vital in political PR roles. See more tips for fast-paced job resumes in this resource on resume keywords.
Nonprofit Communications Director Resume Example
Why this nonprofit PR resume is strong:
This resume highlights leadership, mission clarity, and measurable fundraising impact. Discover how to connect resume results to goals with advice on how to list accomplishments.
Brand Communications Manager Resume Example
Why this brand communications resume is strong:
This resume shows mastery in brand tone and ties creative work to measurable results. Learn more about resume sections that tell your story in this guide on how a resume should look for a college student.
Community Relations Specialist Resume Example
Why this community relations resume is strong:
This resume stands out by linking PR to direct community impact. See how to feature local engagement and outreach using tips in this guide on how to list volunteer experience on a resume.
Digital PR Manager Resume Example
Why this digital PR resume is strong:
This resume blends PR with SEO strategy and web metrics. For more digital resume tips, see this article on computer skills for a resume.
Crisis Communications Consultant Resume Example
Why this crisis communications resume is strong:
This resume demonstrates calm under pressure and specialized knowledge of high-risk situations. Show niche skills like these using tips from this article on transferable skills.
Principal Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
How To Write a Public Relations Resume Example
Using a professional resume template helps present your background in a clean, compelling format. Your public relations resume should include the following sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
1. Share your contact information
Include your full name, phone number, email, city and state, and links to your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio. Ensure all links are up to date so hiring managers can easily reach out.
Example:
YOUR NAME
[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | City, ST | LinkedIn | Portfolio
2. Write a compelling profile summarizing your public relations qualifications
Your profile should summarize the core of what you offer as a public relations professional. Start by listing your job title, years of experience, and a few focus areas, such as crisis comms, internal comms, or event promotion. Next, highlight a few key career wins or brand impacts you’ve helped create.
Senior-level profile example
Public relations manager with over 10 years of experience leading media relations, reputation management, and brand strategy for national nonprofits and tech startups. Known for securing press placements in top-tier outlets and developing high-impact messaging across channels.
Entry-level profile example
Public relations assistant with two years of experience supporting agency campaigns through media list development, pitch writing, and event coordination. Skilled in social media content planning and monitoring press coverage to support brand awareness initiatives.
3. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
Hiring managers want to see your impact. Instead of listing tasks, showcase what you achieved in past roles. Mention the number of media outlets secured, percentage increase in engagement, or size of the campaigns you managed.
Senior-level professional experience example
Senior public relations specialist, Horizon Media Group, Chicago, IL | March 2015 to present
- Develop and execute integrated communication strategies for Fortune 500 clients, resulting in an average 30% increase in brand media visibility
- Cultivate relationships with over 200 media contacts, securing national coverage in Forbes, CNN, and NPR
- Oversee crisis communication protocols and act as lead media spokesperson during high-profile reputation events
Entry-level professional experience example
PR intern, GreenWave Agency, Austin, TX | June 2022 to May 2023
- Created media lists and drafted pitches that led to six local news placements for small business clients
- Monitored media mentions and prepared daily news roundups for internal distribution
- Assisted with event logistics for client product launches, managing guest lists and press check-ins
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
Use numbers and outcomes to bring your resume to life. For example:
Do:
- “Increased social media engagement by 45% through targeted content calendar and influencer outreach strategy.”
Don’t:
- “Managed social media strategy.”
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
Customize your resume to each PR role by reflecting the language of the job posting. If the role emphasizes internal communications, highlight related campaigns or cross-functional collaboration experience. For agency roles, show how you’ve juggled multiple client accounts or worked on tight deadlines.
What if you don’t have experience?
If you’re new to public relations, focus on transferable skills. Highlight experience from internships, student media, marketing projects, or volunteer roles. Any involvement in writing, editing, event planning, or public speaking is relevant. Demonstrate your passion and aptitude by listing relevant coursework, certifications, and notable achievements, such as student-run campaigns or PRSSA membership.
4. Include relevant education and certifications
Most PR professionals hold a degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or marketing. Additional certifications, especially in crisis comms, social media strategy, or Google Analytics, can help set you apart.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name and Major]
[School Name] | [City, ST]
Example:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Relations
Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name] | [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Date]
Example:
Certificate in Crisis Communication | Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) | March 2023
Google Analytics Certification | Google | June 2022
5. List pertinent key skills
The key skills section showcases the tools and techniques you bring to the table. These should reflect both your hard and soft skills, like media software and campaign strategy, while mirroring what’s in the job listing.
| Key skills: | |
|---|---|
| Brand messaging | Campaign planning |
| Content writing | Corporate communications |
| Crisis communication | Event planning |
| Influencer outreach | Internal communications |
| Media list development | Media monitoring |
| Media relations | Pitch writing |
| Press release writing | Reputation management |
| Social media strategy | Stakeholder communication |
| Storytelling | Strategic communications |
| Targeted outreach | Writing and editing |
Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs
Using strong, active verbs helps illustrate your leadership and execution. Start each bullet point with a verb that reflects what you did and what you achieved.
| Common public relations action verbs: | |
|---|---|
| Advised | Analyzed |
| Built | Collaborated |
| Created | Delivered |
| Drafted | Executed |
| Managed | Monitored |
| Presented | Promoted |
| Secured | Spearheaded |
| Wrote | |
How To Pick the Best Public Relations Resume Template
Choose a template that allows your storytelling to shine. Keep the layout clean and content-forward. PR is a communications-focused field, so avoid flashy design elements that could make your resume feel more style than substance. Prioritize structure, clarity, and space to showcase quantifiable achievements.
Frequently Asked Questions: Public Relations Resume Examples and Advice
Public relations roles vary widely - one job may focus on external media, another on employee engagement. That's why tailoring your resume to the job description is essential. Use the language from the posting to highlight your match in skills and experience.
For example, if a job emphasizes "crisis communications," include past work handling reputational issues, drafting holding statements, or managing internal responses. Use tools like the Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Relations Specialists page to understand industry trends and tailor your resume accordingly.
The reverse chronological format is ideal for public relations professionals. It highlights your most recent and relevant accomplishments at the top. This format is easy for hiring managers to scan and is most compatible with ATS. Avoid functional formats, as they tend to downplay your career timeline, which is crucial in PR, where experience often equates to credibility.
include a cover letter with your resume
In PR, your writing is your strongest tool — and your cover letter is a writing sample. Don’t skip it. Craft a compelling letter that mirrors the tone and voice of the company you’re applying to. Highlight why their mission resonates with you and how your experience will amplify their message.
Need help? Check out our professional resume examples and resume objective examples to stay aligned with job goals.
Check Out Related Examples
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