My journey to the public relations profession took a meandering path. Turned off by PR students who thought the profession was about “being a people person” or “event planning,” I had set my course for a career in advertising. Fortunately, I found my way to public relations through a gubernatorial campaign. I knew instantly that public relations was the career I’d been looking for.
However, many people still have the perception that public relations is all about being a “people person” who loved “party planning.” Public relations is so much more than that! And it has been my personal quest to help change that perception – especially among college students and recent grads pursuing a career in public relations.
That is why the first question I ask any college student/grad who connect with me for networking or job hunting is “Why Public Relations?” For me, the “why public relations” comes down to the being able to bring different tools together to solve a problem or address a challenge. I am a problem solver who strives to connect people through stories. I’d love to hear your answer too – so please share!
I recently asked the juniors/seniors in my PR Writing and Campaign Tactics class that question as well. I think you might be surprised by the some of the responses and for others you’ll be nodding your head.
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- I originally had considered a news journalism major but quickly switched to PR for a variety of reasons. I love working with people and solving problems. PR is a field that offers opportunities to do so. PR also has many different job opportunities and can be applied to many occupations. The flexible nature of PR made it appealing to me. I am possibly considering events planning or linking it with a design position, creative opportunity.
- I chose to pursue a career in public relations because I enjoy media/journalism-style writing. However, I don’t like or agree with idea of journalism as an objective/un bias news source.
- I like events and the buzz of ideas and/or good times. I got in to media, the technical ends/means from a graphic and invitation background. Now after having some background and just getting old. I don’t want to be duped in to living in mass media created world.
- I really enjoy working with people and planning events. I also like to write so when I looked at what career included all of these, I came up with PR. Also, even if I don’t end up doing PR, the skills you learn can be applied to a ton of different positions and scenarios.
- I’m interested in investor relations because I enjoy writing, working with the media, writing speeches and thinking financially. Jobs in PR are also expected to grow faster than in many industries over the next few years and IR seems to have a good amount of security and advancement opportunities.
- I have always been extremely interested in basic human interaction. The process of two way communication is simply something that I believe is fundamental in daily life and also something I feel I’m very good at. Ultimately, PR is my way of making it to the next (professional) level.
- I originally started as a Civil Engineer major but changed in order to use and expand my social skills. PR was a great choice because I can write and connect in other social ways on behalf of an organization.
- I like to write and even if I don’t choose to go into PR, knowing about it and how to write strategically for specific publics will always be useful in any profession.
- I enjoy and feel confident at writing. I love working with people and in groups. I like jobs that are fast paced and always changing.
- I love the way people interact and how information flows, especially with a social media median. A good way to connect ideas through organization and wanted a double major, something with communication studies.
- I chose PR, because I like working with people and planning events. I’m also very interested in social media/any media in general. I also like to communicate information between a company and the public.
- I chose a major in public relations because I am interested in business to business relations. I also wanted to be involved in the media and help businesses have better relations with their constituents.
- I chose PR because I wanted a career that allows me to interact with others as well as promote an image. I enjoy working with people and this career would allow for me to do that. I have always been interested in campaigning and how they come about and how effective and important an effective campaign can be.
- I chose to pursue PR because of my interest in mass media in general. In today’s fast pace world, its truly fascinating how many ways the masses can be reached and how teach technique allows for great creativity. I originally was going for a print journalism degree, but due to its shrinking job market and the idea that PR can work alongside so many fields, I decided to switch. I’ve decided working on behalf of an organization I believe in its essential, therefore, non-profit seems most likely.
- PR is very unique and universal area in our society. Every organization contains PR department and PR role is strategic tactic, and it applies to every position.
- Investor Relations. Creative side of business. Constantly have to be on top of news, social media, business, etc. Allows me to combine my skills.
- Originally, I planned on pursuing a career in professional journalism. However, upon deciding upon the endeavor of law school, I felt that the skills I would acquire working in public relation would be beneficial towards my career as a lawyer.
- The reason why I would like to pursue a degree in PR is because I’m interested in how a corporation works to get the audiences/consumers attention, which affects the whole image of the corporation. However, my main reason is to get a job that is related to how psychological factors correlate in business fields.
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