Although the media and communications field has had its share of struggles and drawbacks in recent years, public relations jobs have endured as a popular line of work.
Even as the field of journalism, mass media and communications changes, there will always be a demand for high-quality workers to promote a product, service, individual or company.
According to the United States Department of Labor, the PR field pays an average salary of $57,550 per year (the most recent figures are from 2010). Just under 70,000 people are expected to enter the PR field between 2010 and 2020, an increase of 21 percent. It is a fast-growing field, but what type of education do you need to enter it?
Most entry-level public relations professionals have four-year undergraduate or graduate degrees, and an increasing number of schools are offering online courses.
You have now taken your courses at college. What type of career can you expect? For starters, the best thing for you to do is to spend a summer or a semester as an intern at a PR agency or corporation. You will see right away how busy things can get, but it is also a rush for you to experience. You will spend a summer putting together press releases, pitches and helping stage events. You might work on a company’s PR strategy, maybe even oversee a corporation as it launches a new product.
Beginning PR staffers will spend a lot of time writing press releases, generating media reports, and pitching media about new products and services. However, if you have access to and are adept with social media, your chances of advancement are that much better. It all depends on how much of a whiz you are in dealing with companies and their top brass.
You definitely need to be a people person to excel in a job like this. If you hate dealing with crowds or groups of people on a smaller basis, then you are in trouble with this job.
If devising, strategizing and daring are three words in your vocabulary, chances are somehow wants to see you for some exciting work. Enjoy every second of your PR career.