PR Strategy

Term from Public Relations industry explained for recruiters

A PR Strategy is a planned approach to managing an organization's public image and communications. It's like a roadmap that guides how a company tells its story to the public, handles media relations, and builds its reputation. This includes planning what messages to share, which channels to use (like social media or press releases), and how to handle both positive announcements and potential crisis situations. Think of it as the master plan for how an organization wants to be seen by the public and how it will achieve that goal.

Examples in Resumes

Developed and implemented PR Strategy that increased media coverage by 150%

Led the company's PR Strategic Plan during major product launch

Created crisis management Public Relations Strategy for Fortune 500 client

Executed Communications Strategy resulting in positive media placement in top-tier publications

Typical job title: "PR Strategists"

Also try searching for:

Public Relations Manager Communications Strategist PR Director Strategic Communications Manager Media Relations Manager Corporate Communications Manager PR Consultant

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: Can you describe a time when you had to revise a PR strategy due to unexpected circumstances?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that show leadership in crisis management, ability to pivot quickly, and success in maintaining positive outcomes despite challenges. They should mention stakeholder management and team coordination.

Q: How do you measure the success of a PR strategy?

Expected Answer: Strong answers should mention specific metrics like media coverage quality, engagement rates, sentiment analysis, and connecting PR efforts to business goals. They should also discuss ROI and reporting methods.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What steps do you take when creating a PR strategy for a new client or campaign?

Expected Answer: Should discuss research, goal setting, target audience identification, message development, channel selection, and timeline creation. Look for structured thinking and practical experience.

Q: How do you handle negative press or a PR crisis?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of crisis communications, including quick response protocols, stakeholder communication, message control, and recovery planning.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the key components of a PR strategy?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic elements like goals, target audience, key messages, tactics, timeline, and success metrics. Look for understanding of fundamental PR principles.

Q: How do you stay current with media trends and PR best practices?

Expected Answer: Should discuss reading industry news, following thought leaders, participating in professional organizations, and ongoing learning through workshops or webinars.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Writing press releases and media materials
  • Social media management
  • Media monitoring
  • Basic event planning

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Campaign planning and execution
  • Media relations management
  • Crisis communications support
  • Stakeholder relationship building

Senior (5+ years)

  • Strategic planning and leadership
  • Crisis management
  • Budget management
  • Team leadership and client relationships

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No experience writing press releases or media materials
  • Poor understanding of social media platforms
  • Lack of crisis management experience
  • Unable to provide examples of successful PR campaigns
  • No knowledge of media relationship building