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Public Relations Specialists

In the Public Relations Specialists occupation, workers promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. O*NET rates it as considerable preparation, which usually means a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience. It leans on speaking, active listening, and writing. You may also need to respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source. The strongest interest signal is Enterprising (5.8 of 7), then Artistic (4.7) and Social, which gives it the code EAS. A regular part of the work is to plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility. People who want leading, persuading and making business decisions usually fit better here than those who need hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.

What they do

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

Main tasks

  • Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
  • Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
  • Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
  • 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.
  • Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Time Management

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You want room to make something in your own way.
  • You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and active listening.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather not persuade, sell or manage other people.
  • You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code EAS takes the three highest, and Enterprising comes first here.

Preparation

Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Communications Specialist
  • Community Relations Coordinator
  • Corporate Communications Specialist
  • Information and Communications Specialist
  • Media Relations Specialist

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.