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Public Relations Specialists

Also called: Account Executive, Public Affairs Specialist, Public Relations Specialist (PR Specialist), Public Information Officer

What they do:
Engage in promoting or creating an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media.
On the job, you would:
  • Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
  • Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.
  • Plan or direct development or communication of informational programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments or agenda.

Knowledge

Communications
  • multimedia
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Business
  • sales and marketing
  • customer service
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • talking to others
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • understanding people's reactions

Abilities

Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Independence
  • Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Web page creation and editing software
  • Blogging software
  • MySpace
Web platform development software
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSS
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software
  • Apple iPhoto

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$53,190
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about public relations specialists.