The other day one of my fellow graduate students asked me what skills where needed to work in a job like mine. She said she’d seen postings for positions in my office in the past, but had not applied for any of the jobs because she was not sure she was qualified.

My response to her was to apply, even if you are not sure you have all of the necessary skills. If you don’t apply, then you’ll never know if you would have been a good fit for the position. If you are a strong enough candidate, who can learn quickly, then most companies will be willing to train you in some of the more specialized areas.

When I applied for my current job, the job posting asked for three years of media relations experience. I was not sure whether my experience as a student would be accepted, but I applied, and the rest is history.

Going back to my fellow student’s original question, I would say there are a handful of essential skills for becoming a successful public relations professional. Here are six skills that I would encourage anyone considering a career in communications to cultivate:

Writing

Writing is still the foundation of communications — knowing how to communicate your client or company’s messages effectively through writing is essential. It also is important to have a grasp of grammar and AP style.

People Skills

Strong interpersonal skills separate exceptional communicators from competent ones. You have to be able to build relationships with your media contacts and your clients. If you come off as abrasive or insincere, then you will have difficulty earning the trust of your partners.

News Judgment

Working in public relations often requires prioritizing tasks or stories. It’s important for professionals to understand the news media – both traditional and online formats – in order to make the right choices when it comes to which stories to devote time.

Flexibility/Adaptability

If you like to plan ahead and have a set schedule for your day, then public relations may not be the career for you. There are constantly new tasks popping up that need to be dealt with in a timely manner. If you can keep all the balls in air while keeping a smile on your face, then you are on your way to being a PR star.

Photo/Video

As news outlets are shrinking, many public relations professionals are being asked to take the lead in producing multimedia content that can be provided to overworked reporters and used for internal purposes. Most supervisors won’t expect you to produce feature length films, but knowing some basic rules of composition and editing will give you a leg up on your competition.

Social Media

Most hiring committees expect candidates to have a grasp of social media platforms today. If your understanding includes strategy, and not just personal experience on Facebook and Twitter, then you will have a better chance of standing out.