Suppose that you wanted people to know something about you, such as a skill or an interest, or even to explain why you acted a certain way. You could tell them yourself, or you could ask a friend or family member to tell others. That kind of work is what public relations specialists do. These people work with companies and other organizations to explain the business to others. If you are good with words and enjoy working with others, you should consider the job of public relations specialist.

Working as a public relations specialist requires an ability to communicate, as well as some knowledge of business. Many universities offer degrees and colleges offer diplomas in business marketing, public relations, journalism, communications, and other subjects that can be useful. Normally, it takes about three or four years to complete this training, although some people might continue on with their studies in a subject related to their particular work. High school courses in English, writing, public speaking, and even acting can be useful for the work. Some jobs might require a license to work in this field.

Jobs in public relations tend to be available in large companies, government departments, and major organizations. Cities are the best places to find this type of job, although much of the work can be done remotely in many cases. Basically, public relations specialists promote a company or organization. They publish documents or websites letting people know what their employers do. They might deal with complaints, and sometimes they must decide what to do when a serious scandal threatens to destroy a company or other organization.

Public relations specialists often work as consultants for several different companies, but fulltime work is also sometimes available. Consultants are often brought in when a company is in trouble, often because of a problem such as bad management or because of a failing economy, or similar factors. Sometimes, a new company just needs a bit of help with finding customers. Understanding what clients need in these different situations is important for public relations specialists.

The job of public relations specialist is not normally very physically difficult, but the hours can be long and stressful. Sometimes, these specialists might arrange press conferences, public lectures, or other events that can go all day or late into the evening. People in this field need to be friendly and welcoming to others and to have a certain amount of endurance to be able to stay alert through all of these events. They also need to be quick thinkers in case they need to make a last-minute change to a program or event.

Salaries for public relations specialists depend on the size of the organization where they work and can vary widely for freelance consultants. However, pay generally starts at about $50,000 per year and can rise to about $88,000 with experience. The job can be difficult, but people can continue in the work until retirement if they wish, especially if they have good helpers to do some of the more challenging parts, such as moving tables and chairs in a meeting room.

Explaining the value in what others do can be an important job. If you like communicating with others and helping them understand someone else’s viewpoint, a career as a public relations specialist might be right for you.

Bibliography:

Career Explorer. “Public Relations Specialist.” https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/public-relations-specialist.

Job Bank. “Public Relations Specialist in Ontario.” https://www.on.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/requirements/20976/ON.

Glassdoor. “Public Relations Specialist Salaries in Canada.” https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/public-relations-pr-specialist-salary-SRCH_KO0,30.htm

Ontario Colleges. “Public Relations.” https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/business-finance-and-administration/public-relations.