How to advance your PR career

Rising to the top of PR is tough.

There’s nothing task-driven about it. Ultimately, you’re judged by what you have created, not by what you’ve shared. And, it’s not just about creating great stories for your clients. it’s also about what you decide to create for yourself.

There’s a reason why agencies are filled with a large number of mid-level employees, while at the same time, there remain only a few senior people at the top. Too many promising young people prematurely bail out of the PR agency path, simply because they don’t know what they don’t know. They leave when they realize that following the “rules” simply didn’t get them anywhere.

Here are a few key things that can help you move upward through the chaos and ambiguity that is part of being a PR pro:

1. Remember why you do this. Your managers and teammates, and especially your clients, don’t need you to take orders. They need you to make things happen. To do so, you have to be willing to take risks. Take some chances and you’ll soon realize that there is nothing to be afraid of.