The profession of public relations, integrated marketing communication, strategic communication and professional communication continues to evolve. Social and digital media, reputation management, strategic communication, advocacy, social justice, branding and corporate social responsibility are driving forces of this versatile and dynamic industry.
Here are my top 10 reasons why PR is a great career path:
1. Stability
Public relations jobs consistently rank as top careers in national media polls, government census statistics, industry associations and business analyst reports. Few careers can boast continued growth during an economic recession.
2. Opportunities
The entrepreneurial nature of public relations work is invigorating. Great ideas and sound strategic thinking are welcome at all levels of the business. As such, if you take initiative and show how your great ideas will positively impact business, you can truly carve out a niche for yourself and advance accordingly.
3. Excitement
You’ll never be bored in public relations. It is an ever-evolving industry and the fast-paced environment ensures you won’t be sedentary. From social media marketing, to public advocacy to event production, to media training and beyond—the creative, strategic and tactical work you might do is never the same on any given day. If you thrive on variety, this career is perfect for you.
4. Impact
Marketing, social media, advertising, branding, promotion, sales and public relations disciplines are rapidly integrating. With traditional silos blurring, public relations professionals are increasingly leading business and marketing strategy, and earning the respect of the C-suite executives. There is nothing more rewarding than helping an organization overcome business challenges. See Public Relations 2022 Trends HERE.
5. Results
There is great satisfaction in seeing the results of your hard work. Whether you earn a national TV segment, boost social engagement, see an increase in website traffic or drive qualified sales leads, knowing that you are the reason your client or company exceeded its goals is incredibly gratifying. Check out the best PR campaigns of 2021 HERE.
6. Learning
You never stop learning in the public relations field. Public relations requires a great deal of intellectual curiosity. Whether conducting research for a new project, trouble shooting a client issue or interacting with a dizzying cast of characters (colleagues, clients, journalists, influencers, consumers, trade groups, etc.), you become smarter and more aware of the world every day.
7. Perks
For dedicated public relations professionals, the intellectually stimulating hard work outweighs any public relations perks. But it certainly can be fun to work with your favorite celebrity, travel to exotic locales, sample cool new products or dine at the hottest new restaurant.
8. Camaraderie
Some of your best friends in life are likely to be those with whom you have worked. Working alongside your professional family and feeding off each other’s intellect, creative thinking and work ethic fosters life-long bonds and shared respect. I know many public relations professionals who have met their future spouse or who maintain lifelong friendships with colleagues and clients. Having a shared goal and achieving it is a true aphrodisiac!
9. Meaning
Public relations, when conducted ethically and responsibly, is not about “spin” or pitching nonsense stories to uninterested media. There are thousands of examples in which public relations helps drive social justice, public education and true positive change. Advocacy, corporate social responsibility, community engagement and cause-related public relations can educate, increase awareness and understanding. It can secure resources about global issues and meaningful causes to truly benefit society.
10. Anything and everything
Public relations skills apply to virtually every industry and interest area, providing endless opportunities to merge personal and professional interests.
Are you a music junky? Pursue a career promoting bands or record labels. How about sports? You may wish to become a sports information director or corporate communication professional for a sports team.
Enjoy event marketing? Work in fashion PR, consumer marketing or experiential marketing where you can launch products and promote services with creative large and small scale events.
Love a great debate? Issues and crisis management are essential public relations functions.
Interested in science? Healthcare public relations jobs abound. Love writing? Become a social media community manager or digital brand journalist.
Do you want to help people? Non-profit or corporate social responsibility careers are rewarding options. No idea what to do? Work at a public relations firm where you work across several industry sectors.
Whether just starting out or looking for a career-change, public relations has endless opportunities for you to utilize your strategic and creative abilities! Check out more PR industries and opportunities HERE.