How to Become a Public Relations Specialist

If you pursue a Bachelor's or Master's degree in public relations or a related field when you attend university, you will be well on your way to obtaining a position as a public relations specialist when you graduate. Each firm that advertises job openings for this position has different requirements. There are also many technical and vocational colleges that offer diploma programs in the public relations field. Your program, whether it is at a college or a university, should include an internship where you work with a firm and gain practical work experience. In fact, when most companies anticipate job openings in public relations, they take interns from the various programs and train them to become full time employees when they graduate.

You should have other desirable qualities that employers like to see in applicants when you want to obtain a position as a public relations specialist. You must have excellent communication skills, demonstrate creativity and initiative and have good decision-making and problem solving skills. Research is one of the tasks you will have to perform in this position, so you should be able to demonstrate good research skills.

In the position of public relations specialist, your primary role will be to serve as an advocate of the business or organization making it visible in the community. Some examples of the types of jobs you could have in this position include managing a political campaign, draft press releases and contact the media for distribution, mediate conflicts between various groups in different situations and handle other functions within the organization. You may have to prepare speeches, respond to inquiries, conduct research or represent the employer at media events where you become the spokesperson for the organization. If you work for the government in this type of position, you might be called a press secretary. Your role in the job will depend on the role of your employer.



You can expect to have a busy schedule when you get a job as a public relations specialist. Even though the typical work week is from Monday to Friday, you may have to work on weekends depending on the nature of your role or if emergency situations arise.

As a student, you should become a member of the Public Relations Society of America. Through this society, you will get the chance to meet public relations specialists working in this administrative field and get valuable advice on the education and experience routes you should take that will lead to obtaining a job. This organization is also responsible for accrediting public relations specialists throughout the country and has the only professional certification available for those in this job. It is recommended that you have at least five years of experience before you pursue this accreditation. You will have a face-to-face interview with the members of the board to determine whether you have a good grasp of the principles and practices of this occupation. Then you must pass a comprehensive exam and once you receive initial accreditation, you must take this exam every three years to renew your credentials.