A successful PR person is one who establishes an amicable association with the media as well as the public, thus communicating an honest and strong picture of the organization he/she is working for. In fact, it is the duty of the public relations professional to take care of the company when its reputation seems to be in rough waters. This can sometimes be addressed through press releases, downplaying the issue at hand and highlighting the corrective measures the company proposes as its future plan.
So, what does it take to get a PR job?
The Necessary Acumen
Although there is no typical specification for being a PR officer, a degree in a communicative field, such as journalism, mass communications, or advertising, would be of definite help. Most colleges offer specialized coursework in public relations these days. Also, some amount of training and experience in the field would be advantageous when you are going for any in-house hospital PR jobs or PR jobs in the music industry. Beyond that, your very own experience in the public relations domain can definitely lead to a great PR career with a large-sized organization. Many colleges help you gather some work experience through internship programs in public relations.
Target the Right Place
Decide on the level of income you desire and target companies accordingly before applying for PR jobs. The salaries for a PR specialist are generally highest in the media and advertising industries. Jobs in the business industry follow that. Next in the compensation ranks come the self-styled professionals, only to be followed by PR professionals in the political arena. The academic sector encompassing schools and colleges is next in line, followed by local government institutions and in-house PR jobs.
You should also consider which PR jobs fascinate you the most — whether it is the role of company representative to the masses and media, or whether you want to be communicative in writing project proposals or overseeing the company’s annual report. You may also see yourself as a PR person in the government sector, handling public affairs. Be specific about your goals.
Always consider the geographical location of the given PR job. This is a factor in the scope and opportunity of the work, as well as the annual wages, which vary from one place to another. In the US itself, one report notes that ''the highest number of people employed in the public relations field are in the DC, Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia metropolitan areas where the annual wage is $86,120. They are followed by Olympia, Washington; Gainesville, Florida; Burlington, Vermont; and Jefferson City, Missouri. The salaries here range from $63,440 to $52, 640.''
Whether or not you want to relocate to other prospective PR job markets should also be carefully considered.
The ''Musts'' of Any PR Job Search
''Job search often seems to be a job in and of itself!''
It goes without saying that PR is often a major job. If you pay special attention to every detail while performing a PR job search, though, you are more likely to be ahead of your competition.
First and foremost, create a tailor-made professional resume highlighting your education, areas of specialization, and training, if any. Mention the experience you hold in this domain (do not hesitate to mention if it was only an internship). Focusing on your strengths related to PR definitely adds weight to your candidacy.
''Online job search'' is the latest buzzword these days. With the advent of Internet, the whole wide world has come within our reach. Online tools offer the fastest as well as the most convenient and dependable option to find the right job. The Internet offers you the podium to find out the desired information regarding various occupations, opportunities, compensations, related companies, networks, and communities, thus helping you to stay focused. With so many job sites featured on the World Wide Web, finding the right PR job is no longer a distant dream. Post your resume with some of these job portals, and see the way things turn greener for you! Again, you may search through these job sites to find a PR job of your choice yourself. Last but not the least, always have a professional attitude during any interview.
The role of a public relation specialist is so necessary that PR jobs are in real demand these days, and are quite lucrative, too. Whether its healthcare PR jobs, hospital PR jobs, music PR jobs, or in-house PR jobs, public relations professionals are necessary in all industries. With such a wide scope, public relations is a truly rewarding career with better-than-average upward mobility.
