“Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.” – John D. Rockefeller
And that’s what a Public Relations specialist do. They are the ultimate spin doctor by putting the best face of its client on the news that could flourish the company’s work and embrace its reputation in front of the masses. A strategy that bridges the gap between the organization and the public, PR gives the company more credit than their ordinary accomplishments. Regardless of how effective an organization is, Public Relations educate & inform the people about their contributions and enhances its brand recognition by making it more relevant in the public eye.
The Public Relations profile has grown as an industry over the last few years. More and more businesses are coming into the market, and all of them have one common requirement to increase their brand’s reach and improve customer engagement. This is where public relations executives show up, and their demand is at an all-time high. If you are looking for a challenging career path that is simultaneously exciting, Public Relations is ideally suited for you.
Top mass communication courses after the XIIth standard will set the tone for you. It is mainly about interacting with people, and a degree in mass communications creates that foundation. Apart from this, other aspects of public relations make it such a famed career option and a much sought-after field. Here is a list to help you to understand this field better and weigh its value to you. Read carefully and make an informed decision.
- Never-ending demand
We are witnessing an era where small businesses strive to go big. Such firms are almost always on the lookout for people with good PR skills, and if you have a degree from a reputed institute, you can get a job in the field with ease right after graduation. The demand for PR professionals is so high that experience hardly matters to small firms, and these are the right places to get started.
- Versatile
All companies require a PR professional. Be it technology, sports, food chain, or media. You can start your career in any field. If you are interested in law, you can apply for a PR profile in a law firm. If gadgets are your forte, you can seek an electronics company. Recruiters do not require you to hold a field-specific degree for the job. All you need is to show your interest and PR skills.
A Public Relations degree gives you diversity, and you can switch between fields without actually changing your profession. It is an advantage in the business world where at times, experience determines selection.
- Encourages creativity
Most professions out there have a clearly defined work profile, and you are required to do almost the same thing day in and day out. Public Relations is about reaching out to people, and it is essential to have excellent communication skills for the profile.
You get to decide the best channel. You get to use your creativity. You can customize and improvise to find ways to do the PR and every day brings in a new challenge. Such dynamic work culture is quite exciting and keeps you motivated. Your work profile is new every day, and your skills improve exponentially.
- Profitable
PR is a very profitable profession. The better you communicate with people, the higher your chances to rise. For instance, if you are joining as a junior PR executive, you can rise to the position of a Director PR in a matter of few years. Your salary will then range somewhere on the higher side of seven figures annually.
Plus, as a PR executive, you get to attend company events which are great places to build networks with a lot of important people. With PR, your career is never stagnant.
- Greater Opportunities
And if you ultimately decide high demand reduces the risk to a certain extent, and the service is comparatively easier to provide. You can bootstrap your firm and cut out on any external investment.
Most start-ups look to outsource their PR work, and these are up for grabs. Even bigger firms now opt for outsourcing as a cost-cutting technique, and these offers come with a fat paycheque. The only skill you will ever need is what you went into PR with good communication skills and the ability to interact.
A degree in mass communication or media from top institutes gives you the right start, and your career continues to grow from there onwards. A degree in Mass media and Communications can help you gain the right skill-set for the profile. If you are willing to build on your communication skills, work in a fast-paced, ever-changing landscape, and learn new things every day, PR could be an exciting industry to work in. It won’t be easy, but if you are willing to make mistakes and dive right in, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you.
Job prospects in the PR sector are very bright in India. By furnishing yourself with a degree from a reputed institute, you can start an exciting and rewarding career in public relations!