After years in the PR world, Miles Harris, Vice President - Lifestyle at PURPLE, knows what makes candidates stand out. Here, he shares clear, actionable tips to help publicists at any level navigate the job search more effectively.

Whilst I am not a recruitment specialist, I've scouted and hired a fair share of talented team members in the PR world. With that in mind, I wanted to pass along some personal advice and learnings to make the job searching process more effective for both aspiring and established publicists.

Thoroughly read the job description to ensure that your experience is aligned with the role’s needs.

I wish I didn’t have to say this but the number of people who get click happy, blindly applying for any and every job is disappointingly high. Considering the following questions is going to make better use of everyone’s time: do you have genuinely relevant work history? Do you have the appropriate level of experience? If the role is in-office, are you based in a suitable location to commute? Is the advertised salary aligned with your expectations?

Your resume shouldn’t be longer than one page, and keep it tidy.

Less is more. Take the time to streamline your resume highlighting the most important elements of your experience, qualifications and key skills. Please keep formatting consistent and do not use multiple fonts, colors and text sizes – it’s messy and harder to read. This document should demonstrate the pride and care you take in your work on the clock, so keep it slick.

Is a cover letter necessary? Yes and no. How should I email the employer?

In my opinion it is not necessary to prepare a formal cover letter document as an attachment, if you are applying for the job directly on email. Your best bet is to use the body of your outreach email to succinctly outline why your experience is relevant for the role, then attach your resume. Please don’t just send a blank email with your resume and/or cover letter attached – it’s thoughtless and lazy. Publicity is a fast-paced industry, if you can cut through the waffle and get to the point, you’re already halfway there.

Pro tip: the follow up.

Similarly to the way you format your resume, the way you behave during the interview process is demonstrative to how you conduct yourself professionally. My litmus test for a good candidate in PR is if I receive a post-interview follow-up email. Why? It shows that you care – you’re proactive, you want the role and follow through. Keep it short and sweet – maybe you're elaborating on an interesting topic discussed in the interview, asking a considered question or sharing a simple thank you.