Public Relations Cover Letter Example

Business people discussing over adhesive notes at creative office
Halfdark / Getty Images

People who work in public relations manage communications between an organization and the public. This can involve getting a company media attention, reinventing a brand image, or making sure a company's message is expressed clearly and empathetically.

What the Hiring Manager is Looking For

Keep in mind that your potential employer will be looking not only at the information you provide, but also at the way in which you express yourself.

Cover letters are, first and foremost, strategic marketing documents: their two primary purposes are to ensure that your resume gets read and that you land a personal interview.

Particularly in a field like public relations, you will be evaluated on how well you “sell” yourself to your audience and how successfully you demonstrate how your qualifications and experience can best serve the employer.

Your primary task then, in writing a cover letter for a public relations job, is to be able to say very persuasively, “This is what your organization needs, and this is why I’m the best person to fulfill these needs.” Succeed in this objective, and interviews will follow.

Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are required for a position in PR.

What to Include in Your Cover Letter

In your cover letter for a public relations position, you'll want to emphasize your PR skills, as well as any past public relations experience you may have. You should also try to mention any industry-specific keywords used in the job advertisement, because many employers use automated applicant tracking systems to scan cover letters and resumes for these phrases. Job applications that are rich in these keywords are more likely to secure interviews.

Best Skills to Include

Other public relations skills and keywords you may want to emphasize include: media content creation, web analytics, SEO, content curation, blogging, social media management, social media releases, social channel development, digital marketing, marketing communications, brand communications, brand management, account management, business storytelling, event planning, client relations, relationship building, project management, networking, strategy development, strategic planning, copywriting, copy editing, press releases, and speech writing.

Mention Your Achievements

If you have any relevant success stories, such as increasing media mentions of your company, upping the number of followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, or creating a strategy around a launch, you should mention them in your cover letter.

Try to quantify these examples with percentages or dollar figures, if at all possible.

Below is an example of a cover letter for a job in public relations. Use this as a guideline: your cover letter should be specific to your own experience, as well as closely targeting the requirements of the job you are applying for.

Public Relations Cover Letter Example

This is an example of a cover letter for a public relations position. Download the public relations cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Screenshot of a public relations cover letter example
©TheBalance 2018

Public Relations Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Donna Applicant
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
donna.lee@email.com

September 1, 2020

Georgette Lau
Director, Human Resources
Acme Office Supplies
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321

Dear Ms. Lau,

With so many individuals applying for a position within your organization, how can you decide who is the best candidate? If you're seeking an individual who merely performs the work assigned, without any innovative leadership of their own, then I am not the person to call.

However, if you seek a capable, creative, team-oriented person with a dynamic outlook on life and a strong desire to succeed in Public Relations, then you should review my enclosed resume.

As you will note, I have solid interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface with individuals at all levels. I also have strong talents in creating, writing, and producing communication pieces. My organizational skills have allowed me to prioritize schedules and consistently complete projects within challenging time and budget guidelines.

Finally, my 15 years of experience in broadcast journalism has allowed me to develop exceptional skills in thinking on my feet, community outreach, and public relations.

I know I will make a positive contribution to Acme Office Supplies and look forward to discussing my capabilities in more detail. I am available for a personal interview at your convenience. I know you are busy and have many applications to review, so please let me know if you would like to further discuss your requirements and my ability to meet them.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Signature (hard copy letter)

Donna Applicant

More Sample Cover Letters

Review more cover letter samples for a variety of career fields and employment levels, including an internship cover letter sample, entry-level, targeted, and email cover letters.