WHAT IS A PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER?

Public relations managers are administrators who oversee campaigns that either bolster the public image of their clients or raise funds for clients. In such a position, you might also monitor and use economic, political and social trends to enhance a client’s image or help protect them from unfavorable policy developments. In many instances you might specialize in a particular industry or area. Your specific duties include establishing lines of communication between media outlets and government regulators; planning PR campaigns; writing speeches, conducting interviews or arranging interviews for clients; coordinating PR campaigns with a client’s advertising and marketing efforts; assigning duties to staffers and managing budgets.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
You may think choosing a major is a no-brainer. But before committing yourself to something that will make you miserable, it’s important to get the facts. Most management jobs require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public relations or a related field. These programs are typically offered through a school’s business or communications department. In some schools, a public relations degree is offered as a combined public relations and advertising or marketing degree program. Programs may allow students to focus on either the creative or managerial aspects of PR or a combination of both.
Success Tips:
Build a portfolio. Some bachelor’s degree programs require the completion of hands-on projects that can be included in a portfolio. Content such as writing examples, press releases, brochures and newsletters are good mediums to feature.
Join a professional association. Joining an association like the Public Relations Society of American (PRSA ) can give students access to career development and networking opportunities. Undergraduate students can join as an associate member during their senior year.
Develop Work Experience
Due to high competition for entry-level positions in public relations, students might seek internships either during or upon completion of a bachelor’s degree program in order to gain training and experience. Journalism is another industry that provides growth opportunities leading to public relations positions; familiarity with media practices can be extremely helpful to those guiding and safeguarding their companies’ public images.
According to the BLS, larger firms may have extensive on-the-job training for entry-level employees. Companies want to hire the best person for the job, and public relations is a field that is full of ambitious and impressive individuals. You’re going to need to find some way to make yourself stand out.

Whether a new public relations specialist works for one of these firms or not, the first years in the industry are generally ones of mentoring and training. Because of the nature of the work, important traits for a career in public relations are those that might be best shown in crisis, such as good judgment, initiative and creative problem-solving skills.
Find a Job in Public Relations
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), public relations managers are typically promoted from a lower-level position such as a public relations specialist (www.bls.gov). PR specialists held about 202,000 jobs in 2013. Advertising agencies, schools, healthcare and social service providers, government agencies and financial institutions are your potential employers. Your duties in the lower-level position include writing press releases, creating visual presentations and maintaining contacts between your client and the public.

Seek accreditation.
While this isn’t a necessity, it makes it that much easier to move forward in your career. In order to apply, find one of the professional organizations (the PRSA that was mentioned earlier is probably the most popular) and review their requirements for accreditation.
You won’t be able to apply until you’re a few years deep in the field, but you’ll be glad you did. National recognition for your accomplishments is a great way to get your name to potential employers. It sure beats Craigslist.

Source: PR Tampa FL / Terry Blog