Public Relations Specialists

What the work involves

• Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
• Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
• Confer with production or support personnel to produce or coordinate production of advertisements or promotions.
• Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill.
• Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.
• Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
• Consult with advertising agencies or staff to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media for products, organizations, or individuals.

What to study

The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.

• Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationSee 470 colleges that teach it
• Communication and Media StudiesSee 1,139 colleges that teach it
• Business/Corporate CommunicationsSee 64 colleges that teach it
• Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business ServicesSee 16 colleges that teach it

Who it suits

O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.

• Leading and persuading

• Creative and expressive

• Helping and teaching

Careers like this one

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