The Top Skills Agencies Look for in Junior Hires
Starting your career in public affairs or PR often means applying for your first role in an agency. Competition is strong, but agencies are clear on the skills they want in junior hires. Understanding these will help you stand out in the recruitment process.
1. Strong Writing Skills
Agencies need people who can produce clear, accurate and persuasive content. At junior level, this often means:
- Drafting briefing notes and reports.
- Writing press releases and articles.
- Preparing concise summaries of policy developments.
If you can show examples of strong written work from university, internships or voluntary experience, you’ll already be ahead.
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2. Political and Media Awareness
Agencies expect juniors to keep on top of current affairs. Clients want to know how policy and media developments affect them. Demonstrating you read the news daily, follow debates in Parliament and track industry issues will set you apart.
3. Organisation and Attention to Detail
Agency work is fast-paced and client-driven. Juniors are often asked to:
- Monitor several projects at once.
- Keep accurate notes of meetings.
- Update client trackers and contact lists.
Showing that you can manage multiple tasks without mistakes is a core part of agency life.
4. Communication and People Skills
You will be working in teams and interacting with clients early on. Agencies look for juniors who can:
- Speak confidently in meetings.
- Build relationships with colleagues and external contacts.
- Listen carefully and act on feedback.
Soft skills are as important as technical skills when it comes to long-term success.
5. Initiative and Proactivity
Agencies value people who spot problems and offer solutions. At junior level, this could be as simple as:
- Flagging a relevant article to a client team.
- Suggesting a new way to monitor parliamentary activity.
- Volunteering to take on additional tasks.
Small proactive steps show you can add value from day one.
6. Digital and Research Ability
Whether it’s managing social media accounts, analysing policy documents or compiling stakeholder maps, juniors are expected to handle digital and research tasks with ease. Demonstrating familiarity with digital tools, databases and research methods will strengthen your application.
Final Thoughts
Agencies don’t expect juniors to know everything on day one. What they do expect is potential — evidence that you have the skills, curiosity and drive to grow quickly.
If you can highlight writing ability, political awareness, organisational skills and a proactive attitude, you’ll be well placed to secure your first role in an agency.
👉 Looking to start your career in public affairs or PR? Westminster Search works with agencies across the sector and can connect you to junior opportunities. Get in touch today.
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