How to Write a New Hire Press Release (+ Free Template)
Elizabeth Kraus has more than a decade of first-hand experience building and growing a boutique digital marketing agency and double that in small and mid-size business marketing management. She provides expert answers to marketing questions related to branding, content marketing, web development, email, social media, and SEO.
Jocelyn Dimaculangan has spent 14+ years in the online publishing industry while studying digital marketing and SEO trends. As a staff writer for Fit Small Business, she shares her expertise by creating articles that tackle the latest trends in marketing.
A new hire press release is a media announcement about a new team member, typically for executive, C-level positions. Crafting a good press release for a new hire involves choosing a compelling headline and developing an informative lead paragraph. Next, summarize the hire’s top qualifications and expected impact in the role. Add a quote and a headshot, and then end with your company’s boilerplate before distributing your press release.
Getting your story into the hands of journalists and media outlets can be challenging if you don’t have press contacts. To mitigate this, use a press release distribution service like Newswire, which offers the most advanced targeting options to reach your audience and industry. Visit Newswire today to get 10% off.
Download Our Free New Hire Press Release Template
Using a template can save you a considerable amount of time and guesswork in terms of learning how to write a new hire press release. Download our free template, which includes sections required in the standard press release. Use it as you follow the steps below to create an engaging new hire press release.
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When you’re ready to distribute your announcement, use Newswire, which offers the best options for getting your story noticed by niche audiences or industries.
1. Follow the Standard Press Release Format
Like other types of press releases, new hire announcements should follow the standard press release format. It must include your logo and contact information, the release date, headline, location, the body of the press release, and a boilerplate with details about your company.
Here are each of the elements in a new hire press release:
- Company logo: Add your company logo in the header area to increase brand visibility
- Release date information: Either “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” or “HELD FOR EMBARGO” followed by the desired release date
- Headline: The subject of your press release
- Subheadline: This line develops the headline further
- City, state: The location of your business
- Date: The actual date you publish the press release
- Summary paragraph: A brief description of the complete story
- Body: Develop the details in the body
- Quote: Add a quote to enhance the article
- Boilerplate company information: A description of the business affixed to the end
- Three pound signs: ### to signify the conclusion of the press release
- Contact information: Include other details for further inquiry (name, email, phone)
While its content is specific to your new hire, following the standard format layout ensures that journalists effectively review your press release and is syndicated by media agencies. If you haven’t written a press release before, reading the basics of what a press release is can be a great jumping-off point.
Looking for low-cost expert help writing your story? Hire freelance press release writers starting from $5 on Fiverr, or get combined writing and distribution starting at around $40.
2. Craft an Attention-getting Headline
The headline of your new hire press release should include your business name, the new hire’s name, and their position in about 10 to 20 words. Including all these elements ensures that readers and journalists know immediately what is under discussion. If you’re not certain where to start, follow this headline convention: [Business Name] Hires [New Hire Name] for/as [Job Title or Role].
Some examples of headlines used in actual press releases for new hires include:
- Roku’s Splashy Hire Of Veteran TV Exec Charlie Collier Highlights Company’s Bet On Original Programming (Source: Deadline.com)
- Scholastic Names Jeffrey Mathews Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations (Source: PRNewswire.com)
- PayPal Appoints John Kim as Chief Product Officer (Source: FinanceFeeds.com)
3. Develop Your Lead Paragraph
The lead paragraph is the first paragraph in the body of your story and the most important one. It’s your chance to entice the reader and communicate everything they need to know about the new employee, their responsibilities, and how it will benefit the business and community.
The five questions your lead paragraph needs to answer are:
- Who: The new hire’s name
- What: What the new hire will be doing, their position, and title
- Where: Where the new hire is from, their background, and education
- When: The new hire’s first day on the job
- Why: The positive impact the new hire will have on the business and in the community
MGP Ingredients’ press release announcing the hiring of a new CEO. (Source: PRNewswire.com)
4. Discuss the New Hire’s Background & Qualifications
The next few paragraphs build on the lead and should be anywhere from 50 to 200 words (in total). This section of your new hire press release sheds a positive light on the new team member by describing their expertise and accomplishments. Additionally, it references your company and how the new hire expands or strengthens your business.
The paragraphs under the lead add supplemental information about the company and new hire. (Source: PRNewswire.com)
Here are some features of the new employee that could be useful to include in your supporting paragraphs:
- Previous company/companies
- Previous position(s) held
- Years of experience
- Degree, advanced degree(s) and/or honorific titles
- Recognition (Forbes lists, 40 under 40, etc.)
- Certifications (e.g., P.E., PMI-ACP®)
- Veteran status
- Minority status
- Notable accomplishments
- Type of role (e.g., executive, management)
- Scope of role (e.g., oversaw a merger, managed a $29 million budget)
Pro tip: Short press releases are easier and faster to read than long ones. The shorter your new hire press release, the better. Aim for 250 to 300 words. In a later step, you’ll add your boilerplate, and with that, a link to your website. Keeping it concise piques interest and generates traffic for your website.
5. Add a Quote
To make the press release as effective and interesting as possible, include a quote from a company representative, such as the CEO or the new hire, in the second or third paragraph. Quotes can range from 50 words to 150 words. With a quote, you add vibrancy to the release and convey more of the new hire’s personality.
Here are some different ways quotes could be incorporated based on the source of the quote:
- Quote by a company CEO: “We are very excited to welcome Stacy to our team at NLE. He brings a tighter focus on customer relationship quality to our sales team and will be a great role model for our employees and vendors who come into contact with him.”
- Quote by the new hire: “I am thrilled to be part of the NLE team. My entire career has been spent in the technology industry, and I look forward to continuing that tradition by providing ‘best of breed’ network solutions to NLE’s current and future customers.”
- Quote by the new hire: “I intend to apply my green building project experience and communication skills to teaching and developing curriculum that will help Everblue’s students get jobs, change the economy, and improve the environment.”
Example of a new hire press release with a quote (Source: FossilGroup.com)
Keep in mind that you can add more than one quote, which can make your press release more interesting to readers and give journalists more to work with. You can also include a link in your new hire press release back to a landing page on your website that features your full press release and additional quotes, images, and resources. This makes it easier for journalists to cover your story, in turn giving your business additional exposure.
6. Describe the Impact of the New Hire’s Role
The final paragraph should explain what the team member will do, their goals, and how the hire contributes to the business’ objectives. Since this is the concluding paragraph, make sure to broaden the press release to indicate that the new hire is a positive step forward for the company and the community.
Here are a couple of sample concluding paragraphs for a new hire press release:
- “Mark joins ABC as National Account Manager to continue ABC’s recent success providing business services to many of the top companies in America and Europe. Mark comments, ‘I am excited to start a new challenge within ABC Company and look forward to working with the team to further develop their already extensive product and service suite. I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that prides itself on top quality service.’
- “Goldman will be developing and implementing an overall corporate marketing strategy, directly engaging and managing the marketing team, and translating the company’s business objectives into marketing strategies that drive revenue. In addition, he will determine and administer the marketing budget, identify and track key metrics, and establish pricing and positioning for a wide range of Windward products.”
Pro tip: Ask yourself if you have effectively managed to explain why the new hire matters to the journalist and their audience. Remember, the press release isn’t about why this new hire matters to you and your organization, but why it matters to the public.
7. Add a Headshot
It’s ideal to include a photo of the new hire in your press release to add personality and visual interest. Most press release services allow you to embed at least one image, and local news agencies will be able to include the picture in a write-up or a new hire section. Make sure to use a more editorial or candid photo than the classic yearbook-style headshot—ideally, one that aligns with your brand.
8. Conclude With Your Company’s Boilerplate
New employee announcements introduce the new hire to the world—but they also inform readers about your company in the body and boilerplate. The final section of the press release is the boilerplate—a standard section included with any press release made up of a 30- to 100-word description of your business.
The boilerplate that concludes your new hire press release should describe the nature of your business. It should also mention the key products or services, awards, and background information, such as years in business or names of founders. For more details, check out our article on how to write a boilerplate.
End the announcement by including a link to your website, indicating any downloadable content, and listing a dedicated media contact or a link to your corporate press kit. You can also add company contact information like the contact person, official company address, and phone number.
Fossil Group boilerplate and media contacts (Source: FossilGroup.com)
9. Distribute Your New Employee Announcement
After writing your new hire press release, it’s time to send it out. To maximize the coverage of your announcement and ensure it reaches your desired audience, follow our step-by-step instructions on how to send a press release.
In addition to sending it to media outlets and journalists, send your new hire press release to as many relevant organizations as possible. It would be best to send the press release to local TV, radio, and newspaper outlets. When possible, you can also target industry-specific organizations like trade publications, your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce office, and other civic and business organizations.
For mass distribution, syndicate your release using a press release distribution service like Newswire. This will ensure that your news reaches your intended audience through industry and journalist targeting in order to earn the most publicity and backlinks. Another option is to use EIN Presswire, one of the most affordable press release distribution services in the market, starting at $99.95.
For additional guidance, read our list of press release distribution tips. After distributing your press release, monitor and track its performance to gauge its effectiveness and estimate your return on investment (ROI).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you announce a new hire on social media?
Announce your new hire as part of your brand’s social media marketing in conjunction with a press release to spark engagement about your news. Create a post that summarizes your release and add a link to your press release below. To ensure this benefits your website, publish the press release on your blog or a media page of your site, and link to that page in your social post.
Where can I get help with writing or editing my press release?
There are a number of ways to get assistance with writing and editing your new employee press release. You could ask a colleague or friend or hire a freelance professional on Fiverr to write or edit your press release. Many press release distribution services also offer press release writing while others, like Newswire, include free editing. Learn more about the top press release writing services.
How do you write a press release for an employee promotion?
Writing a press release for an employee promotion is the same as for a new hire. Start with a template and develop the body of your content to showcase the employee being promoted. Discuss what the promotion means for your business, how it impacts the local community, and what they bring to your industry. Learn more about what makes a good press release.
Bottom Line
A press release is an excellent way to gain media coverage of a new hire, curate goodwill toward your company, and boost employee and customer trust in your business. When preparing a new employee announcement, follow the customary format, craft an enticing story around your new hire, and hone in on why that matters to the general public. Read our list of press release best practices to boost PR for even more guidance.
Struggling to write a good press release? Leave it to the experts. You can hire a Fiverr freelancer for as little as $5 to $10. However, to maximize your release’s chances of landing additional coverage, we recommend eReleases, which offers writing services in addition to comprehensive distribution.
You Might Also Like…
- Learn how to create a press kit and give the media the info they need to craft a story.
- Check out these common press release mistakes to ensure you’re not making any.
- Get inspiration for writing a winning press release by checking out real-world business press release examples that work.
