Are you the type of person who can make any situation better?
Do you have any original ideas for emphasizing the talents and qualities of others?
Are there any brands or personalities whose online profiles you especially admire?
There are clever people striving to shape and present these brands’ and celebrities’ images in the best favourable way.
You’ve come to the correct place if networking, managing, and promoting sound like your cup of tea in terms of finding a career that fits your personality.
Read on for details about a career as a PR specialist, job titles, descriptions, and career advice if you’re considering a career in this area.
What does a PR Specialist do?
PR is distinctive because it enables businesses to establish relationships with consumers via reliable sources, such as reputable news organizations. The promotion of a brand and brand protection are the two fundamental duties of public relations. Their duties include:
- A PR expert writes press releases that seem like a captivating news story and explain why his client’s good, service, or background is significant.
- Developing connections with journalists and other members of the media takes a lot of work for PR specialists.
- To learn more about the kinds of articles the journalist is searching for and how he prefers to receive story ideas, they could get in touch with him or her.
- Creating a press kit or media kit is another responsibility of public relations. Everything a journalist needs to know about the client and what they do is in the press kit.
- Press conferences must be planned and held by the PR division as necessary.
- When a piece of potentially detrimental news is breaking, public relations experts can respond immediately and proactively by developing a crisis management plan.
Job Titles of a PR Specialist
- Director of PR
A public relations team’s objectives and goals are established by the director of public relations. Along with maintaining their ties with the media, they also work to increase the brand exposure of their business across all platforms and mediums.
- PR Manager
Public relations managers keep their firm or client’s reputation positive by updating the public on their initiatives and successes. With a marketing communications strategy, they also organize news conferences and produce media kits.
- Assistant PR
They are responsible for taking phone calls, creating press kits, assisting with the creation of marketing campaigns, or analyzing the social media material of their employer or client.
- Relation Manager of Investor
Managers of investor relations are in charge of a company’s relations and communication with its shareholders. They organize yearly gatherings and handle any shareholder inquiries about the business.
- Relation Manager Employee
The employee relations manager frequently plans staff gatherings, settles arguments, aids in internal communication, and supports managers in developing productive working relationships with their teams, for employee satisfaction and motivation.
- Communications Executive – Internal
Executives in internal communications work to strengthen the organization by promoting the company’s internal communications plan. They also make sure that their staff members are informed and inspired.
- PR Accounts Executive
Public relations accounts executives continue to uphold the reputation of their firm while also writing press releases, pitching press releases, and establishing relationships with their clients.
- Public Affairs Specialist
They act as the agency’s leaders and produce marketing materials to advertise their services on numerous websites and news outlets. Public affairs experts also reply to queries from the press and the general public.
- Publicist
Publicists help their clients get media attention. They oversee campaigns and the social media presence of their business. Additionally, publicists manage daily communications with the media and issue press releases.
- PR Intern
Interns in public relations assist in the execution of a company’s public relations strategy. They compose press releases, interact with current and potential customers, and assist with a variety of administrative tasks.
Career Path to becoming a PR specialist
Path 1: You can finish your 12 from any stream. After that, you can finish your mass communication bachelor’s degree. You can also continue your studies for an MA in communication and public relations.
Path 2: You can complete your 12 from any stream. After that, you can pursue a mass communication bachelor’s degree. You may also continue on to an MBA in communication management.
Path 3: You can complete 12 from any stream. Then finish your Mass Communication degree. You may also pursue a postgraduate degree in corporate communication.
Path 4: Your 12 can be finished in any stream. then finish your Mass Communication degree. You may also pursue a postgraduate degree in public relations.
Read this blog to know in detail how to become a PR Specialist.
Salary of PR Specialist at different stages of career
The average salary offered to public relations diploma holders ranges from Rs. 20,000 to 70,000 per month, naturally dependent on the institution, degree, area of specialization, and experience of the student. Candidates with more experience in this industry are sure to win lucrative jobs.
Level | Average monthly salary |
Entry-level | Rs. 15,000 |
Mid-Level | Rs. 20,000 to 70,000 |
Top-Level | Rs. 50,000 and above |
Skills required to become a PR Specialist
Hard skills, soft skills, and personality attributes are frequently combined by successful public relations professionals, including
Communication – Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, as well as presentation and public speaking skills.
Computer Knowledge – IT expertise and computer abilities, particularly those related to social media and digital communication.
Research – Knowledge of current events both locally and globally interpersonal abilities and research abilities.
Time Management – Prioritizing projects and mastering deadlines are essential. Additionally, a physical organization is essential to avoid misplacing documents in this fast-paced, complicated career.
Creative Thinking – Publicists must be brave and inventive to stand out in a fragmented market without breaking the rules and taking calculative risks at the right time.
Attention to detail – Accuracy and close attention to detail are essential for a PR professional to effectively express their customers’ stories in the fast-moving, constantly changing media.
Presentation – Developing presentation skills is essential because you’ll need to carefully articulate and explain your imaginative ideas to clients, media buyers, and journalists who want a polished and perceptive delivery of information.
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Is a PR Specialist a good career option
This position is the best place to start because there is such a huge need for PR experts that tiny businesses scarcely care about experience. Independent PR agencies have expanded as a result of the growing demand for PR specialists. The trend of additional job possibilities being created by this is likely to continue.
Public relations professionals’ employment is expected to increase by 11% between 2020 and 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
Type of Industries hiring a PR Specialist
Public relations professionals often work for PR and marketing agencies, businesses and corporations, the government and public officials in the capacity of public information officers, as well as nonprofit and non-profit organizations. Top Industries include
- Government Organizations
- International Public Relations
- NGOs
- Tourist Agencies
- College and Universities
- Social Media Agencies
- Entertainment Industry
- Police Departments
- Social Welfare Schemes
- Banking Sector
- Indian Civil Services
- Community Health Centres
- Political Parties
- Hotels
- Sports Arena
Top recruiters for PR Specialists in India
- Genesis Burson-Marsteller
- Adfactors PR
- Waggener Edstrom
- Weber Shandwick
- Edelman
- MSLGroup India
- Perfect Relations
- Text100 India
- Avian Media
- The PRactice
- Concept
- PR Pundit
- Aim High Consulting
Courses to upskill as a PR Specialist
Although certification isn’t necessary for the majority of PR specialist positions, it can help you stand out from the competition by showcasing your expertise, talent, and up-to-date knowledge. Anybody can obtain credentials from the many organizations devoted to professional public relations to have a deeper understanding of the field.
COURSE | DURATION |
Introduction to public relations and media | 3-6 months |
Principles of public relations | 1-3 months |
Media ethics and governance | 1-4 weeks |
Branding: the creative journey | 3-6 months |
Social media management | 1-4 weeks |
Qualifications to become a PR Specialist
Degrees in India
Public relations courses are open to students from any stream who have passed class 12 and fulfilled the prerequisites.
Most of the time, admission is determined by merit (the best BA public relations programs require a minimum grade point average of 90% in classes 10 and 12), but some institutions, like IIMC Delhi, JMI New Delhi, and Delhi University, also require applicants to sit for university-level entrance exams in order to be accepted into their BA public relations programs.
IELTS or TOEFL certification is the fundamental criterion for all international universities.
Different courses for pursuing Undergraduate courses in India:
COURSE | DURATION |
BJMC (Bachelors in journalism and mass communication | 3 years |
BA in journalism and mass communication | 3 years |
BMM (bachelor in mass media) | 3 years |
Degrees Abroad
At the undergraduate and graduate levels, public relations can be studied for diplomas, certificates, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees. Programs that lead to a diploma or certificate typically run for one to two years and cover the fundamentals of the subject.
The most typical course of study is a three- or four-year bachelor’s degree. These courses are often offered as a BA, however, if they have additional analytical and mathematical marketing components, some universities may offer PR degrees as a BSc.
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Different courses for undergraduate courses abroad:
COURSE | DURATION |
Bachelors in advertising and public relations | 4 years |
Bachelors in digital communication and PR | 3 years |
Bachelors of arts in communication and PR | 3 years |
References
Some of the famous books to refer to for a PR career –
- AMA Handbook of Public Relations
- Primer of Public Relation Research
- Public Relations and the Social Web
- Creativity in Public Relations
- Effective Writing Skills for Public Relation
India’s top 5 Men in Public Relations
- Ameer Ismail – Executive Director of GolinOpinion
- Amit Mishra – MD of MSLGroup
- Dilip Cherian – Co-Founder & Consulting Partner at Perfect Relations
- Kunal Kishore – Founder, Value 360 Communications
- Madan Bahal – Co-Founder & MD of Adfactors PR
India’s top 5 Women in Public Relation
- Amrit Ahuja – Client Services Director, Technology and B2B lead Asia at 20:20 MSL
- Archana Jain – Founder & MD, PR PUNDIT
- Bela Rajan – Founder & Director, Ketchum Sampark Public Relations Pvt. Ltd.
- Jayoti Lahiri – Secretary General of PRCAI
- Nandita Lakshmanan – Founder & Chairperson, The PRactice
We wish you luck in pursuing a career as a PR specialist and hope you gained a thorough understanding of the field.
That’s all from us for now, folks. Check back soon for more information.
FAQs about a career as a PR Specialist
Is PR a good career?
Public relations professionals were named the third-best creative and media job of 2020 by the U.S. News and World Report.
Are PR jobs in demand?
Public relations professionals’ employment is expected to increase by 11% between 2020 and 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. Over the next ten years, there are expected to be, on average, 29,200 jobs for public relations specialists.
Is PR a desk job?
PR isn’t your typical office job. Professionals have a fresh opportunity each day to venture into the world and exercise their creativity while coming up with innovative ideas for their clients.
What do PR people do?
You work to generate positive press and attention for a company or person in the field of public relations. Among the responsibilities could be managing press releases and advertising, answering questions from the media, and setting up interviews.
How do I get a job in PR?
1. Submit a job application to at least 7–10 companies.
2. Pick convenient dates for scheduling interviews and exams.
3. Expect to talk a lot during the interview because these organizations want to meet applicants who are outstanding communicators.
4. If you are a fresher, be flexible with your salary package.