Public Relations Officer Careers

WORK ENVIRONMENT:-

As a public relation (PR) officer, your duties will be developing and maintaining the image and reputation of your employer's in the minds of general public and customers.

You can work in the company's domestic public relation department, or you may be an account executive in the consultancy that search for PR for many clients. Your duties for this position will include:

• planning pr policy and promotion
• checking public and media perception of the customer and employer

• editing and writing direct mail, promotional material, speeches, newsletters, press release and websites
• organizing events like news conferences, press launches, open days, exhibition and sponsorship
• organizing for marketing or promotional films to be created
• public speaking at conferences, television interviews, radio, and presentations
• representing the company or patrons at events
• building up excellent relationship with the media

You will be known by different job titles like public relation is also known as corporate communication, media relations or public affairs

QUALIFICATION, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:-

Public relation is a very aggressive industry and most of the employer will desire you to be skilled to degree level, though this is not constantly necessary. You might have the benefit with a degree or postgraduate qualification in public relations, or other appropriate subject like:

• marketing, advertising or communication
• psychology
• journalism
• English
• Politics
• Business or management

Check the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations website for information of recognized degree and postgraduate course in Public Relations.

On the other hand, you can link to Public Relations firm or publicity assistant, administrator or information officer and work with experience. You can also enter into second career in Public Relation if you have prior relevant experience like advertising, marketing, journalism or fundraising.

If you are interested in the PR career but you are not having the any knowledge related to this field, it will be useful if you take a qualification in Public Relations before searching for work like:

• Foundation Award in Public Relations (CIPR)
• Diploma in Marketing Communication (CIPR)
• Diploma in Marketing Communications (CAM)

You will develop your chances of employment by doing work Public Relation Consultancies and Departments. You can obtain appropriate experience through charitable PR or fundraising work with the charitable trust, or participation with student newspaper and society.

Check the websites of Public Relations Director and CIPR for suggestion of getting experience, and for some publicized post and graduate training schemes.

TRAINING DETAILS:-

You will generally build up your skills on the job, probably through a structured graduate training scheme if you work for one of the superior consultancy or employers.

If will be beneficial to connect to the CIPR and work towards their professional qualifications:

• Diploma in Public Relations (CIPR):- advanced course for any person with Business or Public Relations postgraduate qualification including one year Public Relation experience or degree in the any subject with minimum 2 years of Public Relations experience.
• Advanced Certificate in Public Relations (CIPR):- right for anybody with minimum 2 years experience as a junior PR role.

You can also study on line for Advanced Certificate / Diploma and CIPR or as a part-time college course. For more information on membership, training and qualification visit the CIPR website.

You can also select to take the qualification from PRCA i.e. Public Relations Consultants Association- the Foundation Course, Advanced Diploma and Certificate. Visit their website for further information. You can make an improvement in the networking opportunities, knowledge and skills all through your profession by participating in the additional short term courses and training event presented by the qualified bodies like PRCA, CIM and CIPR.

SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE:-

• ability to express the message convincingly and evidently
• superior presentation and communication skills
• good time management, planning and organizational skills
• inventiveness and imagination
• ability to work effectively with all types of clients and team member
• ability to multi-tasks
• ability to work well even when under pressure
• flexible to handle the criticism and rejection of ideas
• accurateness and attention towards the details
• enthusiastic about the media

SALARY AND OTHER BENEFITS:-

• Preparatory salaries can be around $ 16,000 to $ 20,000 a year.
• With experience this can go up to between $ 20,000 and $ 40,000.
• Heads of corporate affairs and account directors can be paid up to $ 80,000 to $ 100,000 a year.

WORKING CONDITIONS:-

You will typically work during standard office hours from Monday to Friday, even though you will have to work for some unsocial hours to remain present at Public Relations events, complete time limit or handle the crisis.

You will be based in the office and also expend much of your time in meeting the customers and be present at the events.

You will be working for the PR consultancy or agency or internally in the huge companies, public sectors or charities. Public Relation is the rising industry but contest for job is strong.

Jobs may be promoted on the national, local or industry press and by specialist recruitment agencies. However, it is possible that all the jobs might be publicized, so you can directly contact the agencies, or get the job through approaching the industry.

As an internal Public Relations officer, you can turn into the Head of Communication or Public Relation Manager. In the agencies, you can make a progress to senior account manager or account executive. You can also select to become self-employed, or turn into the marketing, advertising or journalism.

Along with this career guidance, refer these resume writing tips for public relations and sample of labor relations specialist resume.

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