4 answers
harlee
Student
2
Questions
Asked
539 views
What do you do to become a public relations manager?
high school student looking for career advice
Login to comment
4 answers
Justin Capella
4
Answers
Updated
Justin’s Answer
Hi Harlee!
You'll likely start as a PR associate and climb the ladder from that point - this will ensure you have the basic skillset to become a successful PR professional. The most important skill for someone looking to get into PR is writing - being able to write succinctly and clearly is the bedrock for which all your other skills will be built upon. It's also important to stay in tune with the news and what is going on in the world, regardless of what company you work for. This will help you guide your company on how best to communicate on a certain topic.
You'll likely start as a PR associate and climb the ladder from that point - this will ensure you have the basic skillset to become a successful PR professional. The most important skill for someone looking to get into PR is writing - being able to write succinctly and clearly is the bedrock for which all your other skills will be built upon. It's also important to stay in tune with the news and what is going on in the world, regardless of what company you work for. This will help you guide your company on how best to communicate on a certain topic.
Jerry Bires
career coach
28
Answers
Carbondale, Illinois
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
First off, one does not enter the field of public relations as a manager, but rather as, say, a PR specialist, as did I in 1983. Most certainly you'll need to hone your writing and editing skills, which you do by...practicing writing and editing! Come up to speed on these two commonly used style guides: AP style for journalism, Chicago style for publishing. Critical to success in this field is learning to write an effective, punchy news release; every client you'll eventually serve will have something to announce and they will require this most essential form of PR writing. One challenge is to write a headline for your news release that captures attention? (One of my clients, Austgen BioJet, was an Australian-based company with an innovative waste treatment technology. Qantas is an Australian-based airline. So my headline, announcing the firm's entry into the U.S. market was this: "Introducing a Qantas-leap Forward in Wastewater Treatment Technology. " I substituted Qantas-leap for Quantum-leap to showcase the Australian roots of the company.)
Another essential type of writing you'll do is the case history; telling a story about how your client's product or service benefited a user. Master your verbal skills as you will be meeting with clients and you must be able to speak intelligently. Get familiar with editors/reporters who work for magazines or other media and who will be most frequently covering your clients' products or services.
The field is gratifying and once you've proven your skills as a "specialist" you can then demonstrate your ability to teach and subsequently manage the work of other specialists as their PR Manager.
Another essential type of writing you'll do is the case history; telling a story about how your client's product or service benefited a user. Master your verbal skills as you will be meeting with clients and you must be able to speak intelligently. Get familiar with editors/reporters who work for magazines or other media and who will be most frequently covering your clients' products or services.
The field is gratifying and once you've proven your skills as a "specialist" you can then demonstrate your ability to teach and subsequently manage the work of other specialists as their PR Manager.
ian villebrun
Correctional specialist
115
Answers
Mountain Iron, Minnesota
Updated
ian’s Answer
To become a public relations manager, you need to123:
Pursue a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing or a related field.
Complete internship programmes and gain relevant work experience in public relations.
Receive a certification from a professional organization, such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) or the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Build your network of contacts in the media and the industry.
Train for management skills, such as leadership, budgeting, and strategic planning.
Apply for public relations manager positions and showcase your portfolio of successful campaigns.
Pursue a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing or a related field.
Complete internship programmes and gain relevant work experience in public relations.
Receive a certification from a professional organization, such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) or the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Build your network of contacts in the media and the industry.
Train for management skills, such as leadership, budgeting, and strategic planning.
Apply for public relations manager positions and showcase your portfolio of successful campaigns.
Amy C.
Director of Strategic Communications
35
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
Amy’s Answer
An important decision you'll have to make is choosing between launching your career in an agency or within a company, also known as "in-house." Both options offer their own advantages, depending on the particular opportunity available. However, I highly suggest thinking about taking up an agency role at some point in your career path. Despite the fact that agency work can be intense and challenging, my personal experience in this environment was immensely beneficial. My tenure at an agency provided me with a diverse set of skills, which I have been able to utilize in a more sophisticated in-house position.