Public relations is a unique field, one whose myths and legends may make some people a little hesitant to enter. But you aren’t “some people." You want to know the truth before you jump into a career. Well, what does it take to work in public relations? What kind of people does it attract? What skills will make you more suited for this field? Let’s take a look.
You’re “in the know.”
Are you always on top of the latest gossip? Do you always rock the hottest trends? A big part of being successful in public relations is knowing the tastes of the general public, which means being able to keep up with what is popular.
You don’t mind taking your work home with you.
This is not your standard 9-5 job. You will need to be able to work outside your normal office hours, which includes weekends. Some projects might take a lot of preparation before they’re ready to be shown to your boss, and you need to be willing to put in the extra hours to be successful in a public relations position.
Your phone is always glued to your hand.
A lot of your work will be on the computer, or (since we are already a decade and a half deep into the 21st century) on your smartphone. You’ll need to keep up with one tab while you’re emailing a client in another in order to keep up with this fast paced field.
You’re organized.
This job has a lot of moving pieces and you need to be able to keep them all straight. You’ll have to keep track of meetings and deadlines without any scheduling conflicts. Invest in a daily planner. It’s your friend.
You’re a people person.
To work in a public relations career, you need to have great communication skills. It’s at least 85% of the job. If you’re the kind of person who loves to chat and is able to persuade people to see your point of view, then this might be the place for you.
You enjoy writing.
It comes with the territory. You’re going to have to write up reports and make presentations to clients and fellow employees. This means that you’re going to need be able to write for long periods of time without wanting to hurt someone.
You’re addicted to social media.
Like it or not, social media is the way of the world now. There’s an entire generation of people who get their news exclusively from Twitter. So, in order for you to be on top of your game, you’re going to need to see what’s out there.
You don’t mind being busy.
Some people thrive on constantly having tasks to work on. Those people are public relations representatives. You’re going to have your hands full all the time, so you’re going to need to master the art of multitasking.
You don’t take no for an answer.
People in public relations have to be persuasive, especially when it comes to plugging their company. So, this is one of the few times where it’s actually good if you are stubborn.
You like planning events.
Are you the kind of person who throws elaborate theme parties that need to be planned months in advance? Believe it or not, those skills will translate to public relations, as you will need to coordinate events to win over clients.
