Careers You Can Earn With A Public Relations Degree

Are you pursuing a public relations degree, or getting close to completing one, but you are just not sure what you want to do with it? According to Brad Plumer, reporter at the Washington Post, data from Jaison Abel and Richard Dietz of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that only 27 percent of college grads land jobs pertaining to their major.
​Here are 15 ideas of different jobs you could have a career in related to public relations including, but not limited to:

1. Publicist.
A publicist generates and manages media coverage for a company, brand, or public figure they are the link between their clients and the media to promote publicity for the people they represent.

2. Copywriter.
Some of the work a copywriter will do on a daily basis: Research, interview, edit, proofread, manage projects, source images and plan and implement marketing campaigns. They write for different mediums such as print, radio, television and the internet.

3. Public relations specialist.
A public relations specialist works on behalf of company’s initiatives to help build and maintain relationships with their publics. They organize and
manage budgets campaigns, draft new releases, draft speeches and write new letters – to name a few.

4. Social media manager
A social media manager will monitor, filter and guide a company or brands presence on social media. They also promote the brand they represent and engage with their audiences through a number of social media platforms.

5. Brand ambassador.
Brand ambassadors are paid to promote and help generates sales on behalf of a company. They also create a specific image for a brand and its products and bring awareness to what they promote.

6. Director of public affairs.
Public affairs work deals with current and political issues. This work is specific to the public concerns including policy, legislation and public administration. It is a blend of government relations, media relations, corporate social responsibility and issues management.

7. Event manager
Event managers delegate the duties and responsibilities in order to ensure an event or project is executed efficiently. Leadership is vital in this role to encourage, motivate and support team members to accomplish set goals.

8. Lobbyist.
Lobbyist work for legislatures, constitutes and corporations to influence and persuade members of Congress or other elected official to push legislation and get their support on behalf of their clients.

9. New media coordinator.
Multi-tasking is a key skill in this field of work. New media coordinators are responsible for online campaigns such as digital advertising and social networking. They assess the effectiveness of the campaigns for their companies.

10. Public information.
Public information work involves to distributing facts and information to the media, organizing special events and producing print and video content for their organization.

11. Corporate communications.
The main focus of corporate communications is to distribute information inside and outside of an organization and achieve the company’s strategic goals.

12. Strategic communications.
Responsibilities of strategic communication involve implanting communication programs with in a company and handle the responsibilities of crisis communication and corporate social responsibility. Strategic communicators are sometimes tasked with being the spokesperson for the company.

13. Marketing communications.
Marketing communicators deliver information to the public and media. They gather information to distribute to internal and external clients. Additional responsibilities include organizing meetings and planning timelines for executing goals for a project.

14. Media relations.
It is important in this role to develop a list of contacts for different members of the media. The handle any publicity issues a company may have and promote their company’s image. Strong writing skills are required, as this position involves constantly creating and editing news leases.

15. Fundraising manager.
A fundraising manager oversees all aspects of fund raising. Creativity is important to implement strategies to get people to donate to the foundation or charity. A fundraising manager also organizes events, gathers volunteers and manages the budget.

With all of these options in mind it is important to gain work experience through jobs and internships to get a feel for the professional you might want to pursue. Several of the job titles listed above overlap in numerous industries, which is why it is essential to consider what seems interesting to you or what you are passionate about. The first job you land does not determine what you will do
for the remainder of your working career. If it is not the right fit and you want to take your career in a different direction, there are plenty of options to find the perfect job for you.

-Connor Lazas-