What Do PR Specialists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

PR Specialists 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. They also respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.

Other tasks include:

• Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
• Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
• Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization’s accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
• 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.
• Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.
• Update and maintain content posted on the Web.

We asked PR Specialists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, PR Specialists establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups. They write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.

• Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders’ reports, for internal or external audiences.
• Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization’s accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
• Update and maintain content posted on the Web.
• Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
• Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.

We asked some PR Specialists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	58% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	75% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	33% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	38% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, PR Specialists also respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source. They may also confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, PR Specialists Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill. They might also Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.

In addition, they Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Update and maintain content posted on the Web.

To some PR Specialists, it is also their responsibility to Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Public Relations Specialist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm

http://www.prsa.org/

http://prssa.org/

http://www.iabc.com/