Public Relations Specialist

What a Public Relations Specialist Does

Public relations is typically considered a branch of business and advertising or marketing, but it is also a great career choice for a liberal arts major. Public relations is an interdisciplinary field that requires specialists to pull from their experiences from and knowledge of the social sciences, business, writing skills, communication and strategizing. As a public relations specialist, you would work as a go-between for clients of all kinds -- nonprofit groups, entrepreneurs, government agencies, large corporations, and more -- and the media and the public. PR specialists help their clients brand themselves in a way that is pleasing to the public and boosts their image and accessibility. They write press releases and use their relationships with local and national media to arrange for newspaper and magazine features, TV spots, interviews, community events, and more. Some public relations specialists work in-house for a single client, while others handle many accounts, working for public relations firms that cater to many clients across all industries.

How to Become a Public Relations Specialist

You will need a bachelor's degree to become a public relations professional. Communications, journalism, English and public relations are all good majors for the field, but a liberal arts major that is tailored towards English, communicating, writing, and even psychology or the social sciences is helpful. Take a few business courses to round out your major, and consider taking courses that relate to the particular industry you want to work in, if that's the case. For example, if you want to work as a public relations specialist in-house for an IT company, having a knowledge of the basic vernacular and principles of computer science and IT would be a plus. Internships are excellent ways to gain direct experience to supplement your diverse educational background, too, and demonstrate to employers that you understand the basics of public relations. Also look into becoming a member of the Public Relations Society of America, and then accredited by the Universal Accreditation Board. You will also need to take the Accreditation in Public Relations exam to be accredited.

Career Outlook for Public Relations Specialists

Public relations specialists work for all types of companies, government agencies, nonprofit groups, and private businesses and firms, across all industries. Their career outlook is strong for the next several years at least, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that they held a total of about 275,200 jobs in 2008. Through 2018, employment should increase 24%, which is much faster than the national average and amounts to about 66,200 new jobs for the profession. Public relations specialists earned an average of $51,280 in May 2008, and the middle 50% earned between $38,400 and $71,670. Those who worked in management of companies and enterprises earned an average of $55,530, followed by specialists in business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations, who earned $55,460 on average. The lowest-earning public relations specialists seemed to work for colleges, universities and professional schools, and earned an average median salary of $46,660.