What skills should I put on a public relations specialist resume?

Key skills for a public relations specialist resume include Media Relations, Press Release Writing, Crisis Communications, PR Campaign Strategy, Media Monitoring (Meltwater/Cision), Social Media Management, Written Communication, Relationship Building, Creativity, and more. Prioritize skills mentioned in the job description and demonstrate them through quantified bullet points rather than just listing them.

How many skills should I list on my public relations specialist resume?

List 8 to 15 skills on your resume. Focus on the most relevant ones for each job application. Include a mix of technical/hard skills and transferable soft skills. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.

Should I include soft skills on a public relations specialist resume?

Yes, but demonstrate them through achievements rather than listing them. Instead of writing 'strong communicator,' show it: 'Presented technical findings to 200-person all-hands meetings.' ATS systems also scan for soft skill keywords.

14+ Best Skills for a Public Relations Specialist Resume

Public relations specialist resumes should showcase your media relationships, writing skills, and ability to shape brand narratives. Employers want candidates who can secure positive coverage, manage crises, and measure the impact of PR campaigns.

PR & Communications

Media Relations Press Release Writing Crisis Communications Storytelling & Messaging Speechwriting

Media Relations in action

“Secured 75+ media placements annually in outlets including Forbes, TechCrunch, and industry publications”

Strategy & Tools

PR Campaign Strategy Media Monitoring (Meltwater/Cision) Social Media Management Event PR & Coordination Analytics & Reporting

PR Campaign Strategy in action

“Developed a product launch PR strategy that generated $2.5M in earned media value and 15M+ impressions”

Soft Skills

Written Communication Relationship Building Creativity Adaptability

Skill Priority Guide

Not all skills carry equal weight. Prioritize the ones most commonly requested in public relations specialist job descriptions.

Skill	Priority
Media Relations	Must Have
Press Release Writing	Must Have
Crisis Communications	Must Have
Storytelling & Messaging	Must Have
PR Campaign Strategy	Must Have
Media Monitoring (Meltwater/Cision)	Must Have
Written Communication	Must Have
Relationship Building	Must Have
Speechwriting	Nice to Have
Social Media Management	Nice to Have
Event PR & Coordination	Nice to Have
Analytics & Reporting	Nice to Have
Creativity	Nice to Have

Tip 1

Include specific media outlets and publications where you have secured coverage to demonstrate your media network.

Tip 2

Quantify PR outcomes using earned media value, impressions, share of voice, or sentiment metrics.

Keep Reading

→ Public Relations Specialist Resume Example → How to Write Your Skills Section → 200+ Resume Action Verbs That Get Results → The Complete ATS-Friendly Resume Guide

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