Make Your Mark: Building a PR Portfolio That Speaks for You

Written by Lauren Kane

Breaking into the world of public relations can feel frightening, especially when employers

expect you to have hands-on experience. The key to standing out? Building a portfolio that

speaks for YOU. Here is how to showcase your skills, creativity, and results as a college student diving into the PR world.

Start With Your Best Work

Even if you are a student with no hands-on PR experience, you likely have projects completed in class that you can showcase. A few strong examples that display your abilities are effective in allowing employers to see your style of work. It could be anything from a class assignment that involved a press release to a PRSSA event you helped promote. Anything is better than nothing!

Show REAL Results

Employers love to see measurable results. Whenever it is possible, highlight the results of your project. Did your social media campaign increase engagement? By how much? Did your press release get picked up by a media outlet? Did your PRSSA event attendance exceed expectations? The list goes on.

Include A Variety

Showing a variety of different types of work, such as social media graphics, campaign plans,

press releases, and media kits, allows the employer to get to know your skills and how you can contribute. Including a variety shows them your range of strengths and skills. Employers often want to hire someone who is flexible and can manage multiple projects. I learned this firsthand during my previous winter break PR internship.

Keep It Organized & Update Regularly

As you continue to grow in your career and complete new internships or projects, add them to your portfolio! Organize your jobs/internships in chronological order and provide as much detail as possible, including the time period, your role, objectives, and accomplishments.

Final Tips

- Include your contact information for the employer and a link to your LinkedIn profile.

- Edit your portfolio slightly for each internship/job you apply to, as this will show them

that you took the time to research their company/background. Canva is my favorite

because I can go back and make edits as needed.

- Always feel free to ask professors, PR professionals, or PRSSA members for honest

feedback on your portfolio! Another set of eyes never hurts!