There can be no doubt that it’s tougher than ever for grads looking for a job in the PR industry. Both Steve and I have blogged extensively on the topic.

Last week I caught up with Ben Smith publisher of PRmoment.com. His site includes an active job board that connects candidates with prospective employers. His view is that despite the tough market it’s easier than ever to get yourself noticed.

In Ben’s own words here are his suggestions for finding a PR job. Its a long post but all of Ben’s points are easily achieved and, apart from your time, are free.

1. Create a LinkedIn page
As a graduate your CV might be quite short, but a LinkedIn profile will increase your “findability”. It also shows that you are thinking about your career and are switched on enough to think about using LinkedIn. You can also link your blog (see point 2) and your Twitter (point 3) feed to your LinkedIn profile. Again this shows you are current and relevant.

You can also join some LinkedIn Groups. These may help you network. Some groups such as the CIPR’s and PRmoment.com’s also have many job vacancies posted on them.

2. Create a blog
Only do this if you enjoy writing, and do bear in mind that good writing skills are still an essential part of being a PR professional. So if you don’t enjoy writing – maybe PR isn’t for you.

The subject matter for the blog doesn’t really matter. A diary format is fine, but make sure it includes your opinions about what is going on around you. A diary of how much you drank this week or how much you love you new boyfriend is unlikely to impress. WordPress is probably the easiest and cheapest way to set up your own blog.

3. Tweet
No one is expecting you to have 5,000 followers, but if have a presence on Twitter it shows you are on the road to understanding it. In addition, by setting up hashtag search terms like #prjobs, you are opening yourself up to a load of PR Job vacancies.

4. Facebook
Remember, we all now have an online footprint, so only talk about stuff that you a comfortable with a potential employer seeing. We all have personal lives and no-one wants to employ a roomful of saints, so just use your common sense on what content you upload.

There are also some decent Facebook PR groups around, some of these are job specific and others like PRmoment.com’s Facebook fan page offer an insight into PR and post the latest PR jobs.

5. Use jobs boards
PR jobs boards are a great way of keeping track of what jobs are out there. Don’t use them exclusively, but you can quickly and easily search for PR jobs that are relevant for you.

6. Apply on spec
The best job I ever had (before I started my own business) was when I applied on spec. In a graduate market it is unlikely that you will be alone in applying to most PR firms, but applying on spec shows initiative and hunger, both attributes that employers will like. A (non-exhaustive) list of PR agencies in the UK can be seen here.

7. Get work experience
In a competitive market like PR this is vital. It shows that you are keen and will give you some valuable on-the-job experience.

There is a palaver in PR right now about unpaid interns. This is a tricky one, but as with most things in life, common sense goes a long way:

• A full-time long-term (over four weeks) internship without pay means that the employer is taking the piss. Expenses should be paid for any internship.
• Anything that is less than four weeks and pays your expenses is probably acceptable.
• If it’s more than four weeks, but for just around one day a week, this is also fine if you are gaining valuable experience. A long-term internship for two or more days a week seems unreasonable.

8. Sign up with up to three PR recruitment agencies
In the UK, recruitment agencies are still a good way of targeting PR employers. But don’t rely on them and don’t register with more than three. Also, make sure you do your research and find a decent PR recruitment specialist. I would always recommend registering with specialist PR recruitment consultant rather than the generalist one.

Remember that the recruitment consultant you register with will potentially be representing you to your future employer. So it’s important you’ve met them and like them. If they can’t be bothered to spend the time meeting you, I’d go elsewhere.