As a public relations manager, one resume challenge you might face is effectively showcasing your ability to manage crises and maintain a brand's positive image under pressure. Our guide can provide you with tailored strategies to articulate your crisis management skills and experience, helping you to stand out to potential employers.
Our public relations manager guide will help you perfect your resume by:
- Aligning the top one-third of your public relations manager resume with the role you're applying for.
- Curating your specific public relations manager experience to get the attention of recruiters.
- How to list your relevant education to impress hiring managers recruiting for the public relations manager role.
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Formatting the layout of your public relations manager resume: design, length, and more
When it comes to the format of your public relations manager resume , you've plenty of opportunities to get creative. But, as a general rule of thumb, there are four simple steps you could integrate into your resume layout.- If you have plenty of experience, you'd like to showcase, invest in the reverse-chronological resume format . This format focuses on your latest experience items and skills you've learned during your relevant (and recent) jobs.
- Don't go over the two-page limit, when creating your professional public relations manager resume. Curate within it mainly experience and skills that are relevant to the job.
- Make sure your public relations manager resume header includes all of your valid contact information. You could also opt to display your professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile.
- Submit or send out your public relations manager resume as a PDF, so you won't lose its layout and design.
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List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.
Ensure your public relations manager resume stands out with these mandatory sections:
- Header - the section recruiters look to find your contact details, portfolio, and potentially, your current role
- Summary or objective - where your achievements could meet your career goals
- Experience - showcasing you have the technical (and personal) know-how for the role
- Skills - further highlighting capabilities that matter most to the public relations manager advert and your application
- Certifications/Education - staying up-to-date with industry trends
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven track record of designing and executing successful public relations campaigns at both a local and national level.
- Strong media relations skills and a broad network of press contacts within various industries.
- Exceptional writing and content creation abilities tailored for different platforms and audiences.
- Experience with crisis communication management and the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.
- Demonstrable skills in event planning and management, including press conferences, product launches, and media briefings.
Creating your public relations manager resume experience to catch recruiters' attention
Remember that for the public relations manager role, hiring managers are looking to see how your expertise aligns with their requirements. Here's where your resume experience section can help out. Make sure you:
- Include mainly roles that are relevant to the public relations manager job you're applying for;
- Don't go too far back in your experience - recruiters will only care what you did a decade ago if it's really important for the public relations manager role;
- Each bullet you include should say what you did, followed by the skills you used and the actual end result of your efforts;
- Quantify each of your achievements with numbers and possibly the overall effect it had on the organization;
- Highlight transferrable skills - or personal skills you've attained thanks to past jobs - that could be applicable within your potential workplace. This would showcase your unique value as a professional.
Formatting the experience section of your resume doesn't have to be an over-the-top deep dive into your whole career. Follow the public relations manager resume examples below to see how industry-leading professionals are presenting their experience:
Work Experience
Senior Public Relations Manager
Edelman
06/2019-05/2024
- Successfully orchestrated the cross-platform public relations campaign for a major product launch, achieving a 40% increase in brand engagement.
- Managed crisis communication strategies for high-profile incidents, reducing negative media coverage by 30% within the first 48 hours post-incident.
- Spearheaded a corporate social responsibility initiative that improved community relations and resulted in a 25% enhancement in local brand perception.
Work Experience
Public Relations Strategy Manager
Weber Shandwick
01/2015-12/2019
- Designed and implemented an international PR strategy that expanded the company’s reach into three new European markets.
- Led a team of 10 PR specialists, providing mentorship and career development that decreased team turnover by 50% over a four-year period.
- Facilitated media training for company executives, enhancing their communication effectiveness in press interviews and public speeches.
Work Experience
Digital Public Relations Manager
Ketchum
02/2013-01/2018
- Developed a digital PR campaign that increased web traffic by 80% and consumer engagement by 50% through targeted social media outreach.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to align PR content with seasonal promotions, which boosted sales by 20% during peak shopping periods.
- Conducted comprehensive media analysis to inform strategic planning, optimizing media spending efficiency by 35%.
Work Experience
Corporate Communications Manager
Burson-Marsteller
07/2012-06/2016
- Directed the communication aspect of mergers and acquisitions, maintaining stakeholder trust and minimizing market volatility for the firm.
- Established media relationships that enhanced the company's visibility in industry-related news by 60%, projecting a stronger market presence.
- Implemented an employee advocacy program that leveraged staff networks, driving an additional 15% traffic to the company’s online PR content.
Work Experience
Brand Reputation and Communications Manager
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
09/2016-08/2021
- Revamped the internal communication protocols, improving internal satisfaction rates and reducing email churn by 25%.
- Devised and oversaw the execution of an influencer marketing program that led to a 120% ROI within the first six months.
- Engaged in effective reputation management, transforming 90% of neutral brand sentiments into positive ones through strategic communication efforts.
Work Experience
Lead Public Relations and Media Strategist
FleishmanHillard
05/2017-Ongoing
- Pioneered a data-driven PR approach that targeted niche audiences, resulting in a 45% increase in engagement within those segments.
- Orchestrated the communication for high-priority corporate events, hosting over 200 members of the media and achieving significant coverage in top-tier outlets.
- Implemented a cutting-edge social listening tool to gain insights on brand sentiment, ultimately refining message targeting and doubling positive social mentions.
Work Experience
PR and Communications Policy Manager
Ogilvy PR
03/2011-02/2014
- Created and enforced guidelines for brand voice that were adopted across the organization, leading to a more cohesive and effective communication strategy.
- Negotiated partnerships with major media outlets, securing consistent coverage that boosted brand awareness by over 70%.
- Leveraged multimedia content creation to diversify PR approaches, tripling its viewership and creating an additional channel for stakeholder engagement.
Work Experience
Strategic Public Relations Manager
Porter Novelli
11/2009-10/2013
- Initiated a groundbreaking PR campaign for sustainability practices, which earned three industry awards for innovation and impact.
- Transformed the company's public relations outreach by integrating analytics, tailoring campaigns that yielded a 65% improvement in press coverage.
- Developed a comprehensive risk assessment protocol for PR activities, significantly mitigating potential exposure and protecting brand reputation.
Work Experience
Integrated Marketing and Communications Manager
Cohn & Wolfe
08/2014-07/2018
- Oversaw the integration of public relations and content marketing, producing a unified voice across all platforms and increasing user engagement by 55%.
- Pilot-tested and rolled out an employee-generated content initiative that amplified reach by 200% through authentic, relatable narrative.
- Managed a product recall crisis, limiting media fallout and protecting brand loyalty through proactive and transparent communication workflows.
Work Experience
Public Relations and Government Affairs Manager
Golin
04/2019-03/2024
- Liaised with government officials and regulatory bodies to shape communication strategies in line with evolving policies, maintaining 100% compliance.
- Coordinated an industry-wide PR initiative that positioned the company as a thought leader, resulting in a 35% upsurge in speaking engagements.
- Crafted an analytics framework to measure campaign effectiveness more precisely, doubling accuracy in predicting consumer behavior and trends.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the percentage increase in media coverage your campaigns generated to demonstrate your ability to amplify brand presence.
- List the number of successful press releases and media pitches you've crafted to highlight your communication skills.
- Mention the exact figures of social media growth, like follower count increase, to show your social media strategy effectiveness.
- Specify the number of industry events you've organized or managed to exhibit your event planning capabilities.
- Quantify the reduction in negative PR incidents under your management to illustrate your crisis management expertise.
- Detail the increase in internal stakeholder satisfaction scores to underscore your ability to manage relationships effectively.
- Document the budget savings achieved through strategic vendor negotiations and cost-effective campaign planning.
- Report the measurable improvements in employee engagement and internal communication metrics you have influenced.
Action verbs for your public relations manager resume
Instead of simply mentioning your tasks, share what you have done in your previous positions by using action verbs. For example, instead of saying “Client communication”, go for “Communicated with X number of clients weekly”. Use these power words and make your application shine!
What if you don't have any experience?
There are two very common scenarios about candidates with less experience. They are either:
- Fresh out of college in search of a public relations manager role
- Transferring over from a completely different field
Both of these types of candidates still have a shot at landing their first job in the industry.
All they need to do about the experience section of their public relations manager resume is:
- Consider their strengths - would the outcomes of their previous roles or niche skill sets impress recruiters? Feature those towards the top of your resume
- Exclude any and all irrelevant experience items - remember that at the end of the day, you're telling a story that aims to align with the ideal candidate for the public relations manager job
- Win recruiters over with personality - perhaps your ambition, dreams, and diligence would make you the perfect fit for the public relations manager role. Dedicate resume space to detail your personality traits by showcasing how they've helped you succeed in past roles
- Tailor your experience to specific job requirements - ensure your public relations manager resume answers the advert in the best way possible.
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Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.
Bringing your public relations manager hard skills and soft skills to the forefront of recruiters' attention
Hard skills are used to define the technological (and software) capacities you have in the industry. Technical skills are easily defined via your certification and expertise.
Soft skills have more to do with your at-work personality and how you prosper within new environments. People skills can be obtained thanks to your whole life experience and are thus a bit more difficult to define.
Why do recruiters care about both types of skills?
Hard skills have more to do with job alignment and the time your new potential employers would have to invest in training you.
Soft skills hint at how well you'd adapt to your new environment, company culture, and task organization.
Fine-tune your resume to reflect on your skills capacities and talents:
- Avoid listing basic requirements (e.g. "Excel"), instead substitute with the specifics of the technology (e.g. "Excel Macros").
- Feature your workplace values and ethics as soft skills to hint at what matters most to you in a new environment.
- Build a separate skills section for your language capabilities, only if it makes sense to the role you're applying for.
- The best way to balance public relations manager hard and soft skills is by building a strengths or achievements section, where you define your outcomes via both types of skills.
There are plenty of skills that could make the cut on your resume.
That's why we've compiled for you some of the most wanted skills by recruiters, so make sure to include the technologies and soft skills that make the most sense to you (and the company you're applying for):
Top skills for your public relations manager resume:
HARD SKILLS
Media Relations
Press Release Writing
Strategic Communication Planning
Social Media Management
Crisis Communication
Brand Management
Event Planning
Content Creation
SEO & Analytics
Speech Writing
SOFT SKILLS
Interpersonal Communication
Problem Solving
Leadership
Adaptability
Creativity
Teamwork
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Empathy
Negotiation
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List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
Maximizing your public relations manager resume: education and certification sections
To effectively showcase your industry knowledge in your public relations manager resume, it's important to properly list your education and certifications.
For the education section, ensure you include:
- Higher education degrees pertinent to the industry or those at a postgraduate level;
- The start and end dates of your education, along with the name of the institution you graduated from;
- Your GPA and relevant coursework, but only if they are impressive and applicable to the role.
Additionally, create a separate certifications section to spotlight your most notable recognitions. Another excellent place to feature a leading industry certificate is in your resume header, right after your name.
Below is a list of key industry certifications that are often sought after by recruiters
The top 5 certifications for your public relations manager resume:
- Accredited in Public Relations (APR) - Universal Accreditation Board
- Certificate in Principles of Public Relations - Universal Accreditation Board
- Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) - Global Communication Certification Council
- Communication Management Professional (CMP) - Global Communication Certification Council
- Public Relations Specialist (PRS) - Public Relations Society of America
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Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.
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Your public relations manager resume top one third: choosing between a resume summary or an objective
The top third of your resume is crucial, as recruiters might focus only on this section rather than reading the entire document. Therefore, it's important to carefully decide whether to include a resume summary or an objective.
- The resume summary encapsulates your most significant experiences, key achievements, and skills in the field. Ideal for candidates with substantial relevant experience, the summary previews what recruiters will find in the rest of your resume.
- The resume objective outlines your professional aspirations. It describes your career goals for the coming years and how you envision your role evolving in the prospective company. The resume objective is suitable if you have less professional experience and wish to emphasize various soft skills such as motivation, vision, and planning.
Explore some of the best examples of resume summaries and objectives from real-life professional resumes in the industry.
Resume summaries for a public relations manager job
- With over 10 years of experience, a veteran Public Relations Manager highly skilled in crisis management and media relations within the technology sector. Proven track record of orchestrating successful PR campaigns that boosted brand visibility for major tech firms, culminating in a 30% increase in media coverage.
- Former Marketing Executive with 8 years in brand management pivoting to a Public Relations Manager role, bringing extensive expertise in strategic communications and a flair for establishing solid media connections. Notable success in a campaign that resulted in a national award for innovative product marketing strategies.
- Seasoned Journalist with 15 years of storytelling experience set to transition into public relations. Leverages a deep understanding of the media landscape and a strong network of media contacts to excel in strategic communication, having previously spearheaded a high-profile investigative series that garnered national acclaim.
- Dedicated Public Relations Manager with 12 years of experience specializing in the hospitality industry. Masterful at elevating brand reputation and crafting compelling narratives, reflected in creating a PR campaign that led to a 40% surge in hotel bookings for a luxury hotel chain during the off-season.
- Seeking to apply a fresh perspective and dynamic communication skills in a Public Relations Manager capacity, armed with an MBA in Marketing and a passion for crafting stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Aiming to leverage academic knowledge and internship experience to produce impactful PR strategies.
- Enthusiastic candidate ready to embark on a career as a Public Relations Manager with keen interest in technology and sustainable practices. Eager to utilize a B.A. in Communications and leadership experience from running university fundraising campaigns to foster positive public images and manage stakeholder relationships.
Taking your public relations manager resume to the next level with these four additional resume sections
Your public relations manager resume can feature a variety of skills (both hard and soft) in diverse sections. Choose those that align best with the job requirements and reflect your suitability for the company culture.
Consider these four additional resume sections recommended by our experts:
- Languages - State any languages you are proficient in and your level of proficiency. This demonstrates your commitment to communication and potential for international growth.
- Projects - Highlight up to three significant projects you've completed outside of work, showcasing skill development. Include a link to your project portfolio in the public relations manager resume header, if applicable.
- My Time - How you allocate your time outside work can indicate your organizational skills and cultural fit within the company.
- Volunteering - Detail causes you're passionate about, roles you've held, and achievements in volunteering. Such experiences likely have honed a range of soft skills crucial for your dream job.
Key takeaways
- Your resume layout plays an important role in presenting your key information in a systematic, strategic manner;
- Use all key resume sections (summary or objective; experience; skills; education and certification) to ensure you’ve shown to recruiters just how your expertise aligns with the role and why you're the best candidate;
- Be specific about listing a particular skill or responsibility you've had by detailing how this has helped the role or organization grow;
- Your personality should shine through your resume via the interests or hobbies, and strengths or accomplishments skills sections;
- Certifications go to provide further accreditation to your technical capabilities, so make sure you've included them within your resume.
