If you've always been fascinated with how corporations, government agencies, institutions, and media inform and persuade the public, a career in public relations can put you behind the scenes, making the decisions that influence the masses.
Public relations consultants focus on building relationships with all the "publics" of an organization. They are effective communicators who are adept at problem solving, able to see multiple points-of-view, and are calm even in the most hectic situations.
The PR Potential A career in public relations can be glamorous, as you often work with interesting and influential people such as celebrities or politicians. As an added benefit, according to the Council of Public Relations Firms, freelance public relations consultants can earn up to $85,000 or more per year. Finally, there is a huge sense of personal satisfaction in planning a public relations project, implementing that plan, and seeing the results.
- Learn the job. One of the reasons this career is so interesting is that it includes many different activities, including publicity, promotion, advertising, lobbying, fund-raising, and media relations. Many PR consultants specialize in one of these areas, so use the Internet and other resources to explore these areas of expertise to find out where your strengths and interests lie.
- Develop your skills. You need to be clear and persuasive in your written communication. Desirable employees are computer-savvy, polished individuals who are comfortable speaking with groups of two or 200. You also will want to demonstrate that you are empathetic, appreciate diversity, and work well under stress.
- Education and alternatives. A college degree is highly desirable, and public relations, journalism, marketing, and communications is especially attractive. Even if you have a degree in an entirely different area, volunteering for PR projects or taking a few night courses will give you a competitive edge. Without a college degree, some individuals have become successful by opening their own agencies or freelancing.
- Get experience. Experience, a good mentor, and lots of practice can turn you into an effective consultant. Get an internship or volunteer to do public relations for civic groups or the like. You may want to try freelance writing, or see if your current employer has any PR projects you can take on. Working with trained PR professionals is a great way to learn and make contacts in the industry.
- Your portfolio. You will need to have a portfolio available for review. It will include your published press releases, articles you have written, communication plans you developed, brochures you designed, information about special events you coordinated, and any awards you have received for your work.
- Job hunting. Check newspaper classifieds, trade publications, and online job boards, and attend job fairs and trade shows. You can even "cold call" potential employers.
