What a public relations specialist really does
You shape what the public hears about an organization, and you are the one who answers when reporters call.
FieldCreative and media
Preparation (O*NET Job Zone)Considerable preparation needed
What the work involves
What fills a typical week for public relations specialists, built from O*NET occupation data.
- Answering reporters' questions and finding the right spokesperson for each request
- Writing press releases, statements, pitches and talking points
- Updating the website and social channels with news and announcements
- Prepping executives before interviews and coaching them on what to say
- Building relationships with community groups, partners and journalists
- Meeting with leaders to plan communication around launches, changes and bad news
- Tracking coverage and public opinion and reporting results
What the days are like
What people in the job know
- You are on the phone and in email constantly. It is a very social job. E-Mail: 95% every day; Telephone conversations: 86% every day; Face-to-face discussions: 82% every day (O*NET Work Context)
- Most errors are fixable, but about a quarter of PR specialists rate their mistakes as very serious, and they happen in public. Consequence of error: very serious 24%, serious 29%, fairly serious 38% (O*NET Work Context)
- Long weeks are the norm. Duration of typical work week: more than 40 hours 64% (O*NET Work Context)
- Conflict and difficult people are regular parts of the work. Conflict situations: 27% once a week or more, 45% once a month or more; Dealing with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous people: 14% every day (O*NET Work Context)
- You usually execute someone else's priorities more than setting your own. Determine tasks, priorities and goals: only 14% a lot of freedom, 68% some freedom (O*NET Work Context)
How people get into it
Nearly all entrants have a bachelor's degree (91% of new hires per O*NET survey), usually in public relations, communications, journalism or marketing. Internships at agencies or in house teams are a common way in. Job Zone 4 means several years of experience is common before senior roles.
The Firstday trial, easy to hard
Three simulated tasks at Larkspur Regional Health, a fictional company, with AI coworkers who message you, react to your work and coach with questions. Nobody scores you.
What the trial can't show: The trial cannot show building real relationships with reporters over years, running live events, or standing behind a podium at a press conference. Media coverage and public reaction are simulated, so you will not feel the real weight of a story going viral. Long campaigns and opinion research that run over months are compressed.
Reading about it is one thing.
Find out how the work feels to you before you spend on a degree, course or job change. Your first trial is free.
Other careers you can try
Job details on this page are built from O*NET OnLine, 27-3031.00. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.