Written by Mallory Cook
When I began my public relations degree, I knew very little about the field. My interests in writing, creativity and interpersonal communication led me to believe the major was a good fit. However, I didn’t know exactly how I would use my degree and what opportunities it could open in the professional world. Throughout my almost three years studying public relations, I have been exposed to the many potential career paths for PR graduates. The following list of potential career paths is intended to provide guidance and inspiration.
Public Relations Agencies
Public relations agencies — also known as PR firms — provide PR services to various clients. Depending on the agency, these clients could be anything from large corporations to small nonprofit organizations. Working at an agency is a great opportunity if you want variety in your career because you will get to work with organizations in various industries, rather than being limited to one organization. Ultimately, agency life provides a fast-paced and diverse experience for PR professionals seeking broad industry exposure.
Nonprofit Public Relations
Most nonprofit organizations employ communications and public relations professionals to promote their efforts. Working for a nonprofit is a great way to put your degree and skills toward advancing its mission. United Way of West Alabama and Make-A-Wish Alabama are examples of nonprofits in Alabama that employ public relations professionals. You will likely be on a smaller team working in nonprofit public relations than you would at a for-profit company, so you will have a wide range of public relations responsibilities. Ultimately, a career in nonprofit public relations offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference while honing valuable communication skills.
Corporate Communications
Working in corporate communications involves working “in-house” for a company and communicating with that company’s internal and external audiences. For every company, there is someone completing that company’s communication tasks. This role offers less variety than agency work, but if you're passionate about a particular company or industry, it could be the perfect fit. Essentially, corporate communications professionals manage the flow of information between a company and its various stakeholders. There are a variety of job titles in this field including communications coordinator, public relations assistant and social media coordinator.
Government Communications
Just as companies need PR professionals to communicate with their customers and employees, governments need PR professionals to communicate to their citizens and groups within the government. There are PR professionals working at the local, state and federal government levels. For example, at the local level, they might handle communication for city councils, school districts or public safety departments, informing residents about local ordinances, school events or emergency procedures. Transparency and accountability are crucial aspects of government PR, as these professionals are responsible for informing the public about how their tax dollars are being used and the decisions made by government officials.
This list is not exhaustive, but I hope it helps you explore the many opportunities available in public relations after graduation. A PR degree doesn’t limit you to one role; instead, it opens a wide variety of career paths.
Interested in seeing what PR jobs are available? Check out the PRSA Jobcenter.
Comments