Healthcare PR jobs are among the best PR jobs available. There is a high demand for them since despite the state of the economy, pharmaceutical companies will continue to manufacture drugs and people will still require healthcare. This means that healthcare providers and suppliers will continue to need public relations services in order to manage expectations and perceptions while continuing to develop their markets. The only problem public relations professionals may have with regards to these positions is whether or not the positions one is required to take are entirely ethical. For example, many drugs have been promoted to the public which were later found to cause serious harm. Before moving into this area of public relations, it is important to consider your position on these issues.
An effective way to discover the specific skills you will need to qualify for healthcare PR jobs is to browse through employment ads for public relations professionals in the industry. Read through the job descriptions and the selection criteria to get a good idea of what qualifications, skills, and experience you will need to be competitive. If you find that most job ads are requiring more than you possess, then make a plan to fill in the gaps. However, if you have the qualifications, skills, and experience to suit most jobs you, are ready to begin your job search.
Probably the easiest and most effective thing you can do is to take advantage of online job sites. There are specialist job sites which only advertise for public relations positions and others that only offer healthcare positions. It is a good idea to look at both types of job sites. An Internet search will quickly provide links to these employment sites.
The large online job sites which advertise across all employment areas should also be an important component of your job search strategy. These sites are ideal places to search for healthcare PR jobs close to home because they enable you to search based on location as well as category and salary. You can also do an advanced search based on more specific criteria. Furthermore, these sites generally allow you to apply online and upload your resume and any supporting documents from your computer directly to the employer. This convenience makes it easy to apply for jobs and increases your job search productivity. In other words, you can apply for a lot more jobs than if you had to print and post countless copies of your resume along with specific letters of application.
Contact PR companies which work for healthcare clients. You can initially go to their Web sites and see if they are advertising PR jobs vacancies. However, even if they are not, still ask for an appointment to see someone. Explain your situation and tell the person you are speaking to that you would really appreciate some advice on how to enter the profession. Perhaps you can offer your services pro bono for a project in order to get experience, references, and perhaps even a job offer. If you are still at college, try to work in internship positions during vacations. This will not only give you experience which will help you into a job, but it will also give you contacts who may be in a position to help you.
Read public relations journals. Oftentimes, employers advertising for public relations professionals will do so in a professional journal. They may also do so online through professional associations. It is therefore helpful to not only read the journals and browse the job ads, but also to join the relevant professional associations for their benefits to members. Sometimes jobs will be advertised through these closed sites that are not advertised elsewhere. These associations often also provide training and information which will facilitate your career in public relations.
Do not forget to read your regional newspaper employment ads. It might be a little more time consuming than conducting an online job search, but many employers still prefer the traditional print media. Once a week, on the day when most jobs are advertised, grab a coffee or tea and relax with the paper. You never know what you might stumble across.
Public relations jobs are in high demand but if you plan your job search intelligently and ensure you meet the requirements for the healthcare PR jobs you are targeting, you will not only find the best PR jobs close to home, you will actually obtain one. Public relations jobs are interesting, creative, and allow you to use your intelligence. When you are offered an interesting and well-paid healthcare pr job close to home, you will be able to relax in the knowledge that your efforts paid off.
