5 must-have qualities of PR pros

When filling open positions at your PR firm or company, you want to choose individuals who not only have the necessary skills, but the willpower to live up to their potential. That said, it can be difficult to identify the best traits in a potential candidate.

It helps to have a checklist. Here are five must-have qualities of stellar PR professionals:

1. A strong writer: There’s no shortage of writing in PR. That’s why it’s extremely important for all PR professionals to be adept at writing. This is especially true when it comes to content marketing, blogging, press releases and even social media.

Like most writers, PR pros should also be able to think and act creatively, be articulate and remain positive—even during the most trying situations.

2. Extremely organized and a good multi-tasker: Organizational skills are important in PR, but they go hand-in-hand with the ability to multi-task. If a potential employee can handle both, she’ll be stellar at the job.

PR pros must be able to handle a waterfall’s worth of duties, as well as complete tasks quickly. While there may not be strict deadlines, everything still has an expiration date. PR pros must be able to handle the pressure and get everything done, even when they feel bogged down.