Public Relations (PR)
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Public relations (PR) is the relationship between a company and the public (people outside the company). Individuals that work in public relations help a company project a positive image to the public in order to achieve its goals. 1https://www.thebalancecareers.com/public-relations-job-titles-2061504
What does this mean?
Public Relations is usually split into two main responsibilities: promoting a brand and protecting it.
- Promoting a brand – Help businesses or individuals develop a positive reputation with the public through various unpaid or earned forms of communication, like placements in traditional media, social media, blogs, etc.
- Protecting a brand – Help the company maintain their public reputation or defend it during crises.
It’s crucial that PR professionals are able to quickly react to any negative claims about their/their client’s brand and mitigate the damage.2https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/public-relations
What do PR professionals do?
The specific tasks can vary a lot depending on the type of company the PR professional works at and/or who their client is. However, below are some common responsibilities:
- Write press releases and prepare necessary information for the media
- Identify major client groups and/or target audiences and find the best way to reach them
- Respond to information requests from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson
- Help clients communicate with the public
- Evaluate and improve current public relations efforts
- Develop and maintain their organization’s corporate image and identity (for ex. designing logos, signs, etc.)
- Help organization’s top executives write speeches and prepare for interviews
- Develop and implement fundraising strategies for an organization3https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/public-relations-specialist/
What types of PR Jobs are out there?
Some common PR titles include:
- PR Specialist
- Publicist
- Copywriter
- Social Media Manager
- Spokesperson
What skills are necessary to be successful in PR?
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Writing skills
- Organized
- Works well under time constraints
- Ability to multitask
- Creative and imaginative
- Team Player
- Analytical/problem-solving skills
- Business Acumen
What are some challenges of working in PR?
- Sometimes have strict deadlines and need to work within tight time constraints
- Entry-Level salary is not very high (but gets much higher as your get promoted)
- Top positions often require a lot of work experience (5 years+)
- A very competitive industry, and sometimes has high turnover
- Often are responsible for improving problematic situations (which can be difficult)
What are some benefits of working in PR?
- High compensation, if experienced and good at what you do
- Creative work, which is exciting
- Work with a lot of different types of clients and companies
- Can specialize in many industries (lots of job opportunities)
- Hours usually are not bad
- A lot of different PR specialities (Public affairs, crisis management, etc.)
Typical Salary?
According to Glassdoor, below are the average salaries for those in Public Relations, grouped by seniority:
Entry Level
Public Relations Assistant – $36,576
Public Relations Coordinator – $42,663
Mid-Level
Public Relations Associate – $44,222
Public Relations Specialist – $53,241
Senior/Management
Public Relations Manager – $71,468
Public Relations Director – $83,343
Should I get into Public Relations?
If you enjoy working on creative projects that help build a brand and/or a reputation for your company or your client(s), you should consider a career in Public Relations. The work allows you to work on different things regularly, and oftentimes you get to work with many exciting companies.
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