Public relations

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Advertising account executive
• Advertising copywriter
• Digital marketer
• Event manager
• Marketing executive
• Media researcher
• Public affairs consultant
• Public relations officer
• Sales promotion account executive
• Social media manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Advertising account planner
• Broadcast journalist
• Charity fundraiser
• Charity officer
• Digital copywriter
• Human resources officer
• Local government officer
• Personal assistant
• Policy officer
• Politician's assistant
• PPC specialist
• Talent agent

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

PR is a competitive field to get into and pre-entry experience in PR, communications, marketing and media is highly desirable.

Take advantage of any work placements on your course to develop your skills and knowledge, and to build a network of contacts for future potential opportunities. Not all public relations degrees offer this, so if you want to do a placement module check the course curriculum before applying.

You could look for internships or work placements with PR agencies working on behalf of many clients or with organisations with a strong brand image in consumer industries such as fashion, cars and beauty, especially if consumer PR is an area you want to work in.

Paid work experience can be hard to find, so volunteering in a PR or related role with a charity, for example, is also a good way to prove your ability and strengthen your job applications. There may also be opportunities with university societies to get involved with planning events, writing press releases and contacting media outlets, for example a university radio station or newspaper.

Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit is a high-quality trait that looks good to prospective employers. Even if there aren't advertised work experience options in a specific area you can help create that experience by taking advantage of gaps in the market and creating your own opportunities and contacts.

The PR industry is fast paced and always looking for talented graduates. Try to find work experience opportunities with a variety of companies. You'll gain different experiences of client representation and learn industry protocols, including communicating with the media, managing client issues, developing brand image and the most important aspect of PR - protecting the client's reputation.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

The main employers of public relations graduates are PR consultancies, which provide an independent service to several client organisations, often working with very different market sectors.

Consultancies vary in size, from large international firms with offices throughout the world to small local firms who may specialise in more specific sectors. Larger consultancies are likely to have a wider client base.

You could also work for an in-house department, working exclusively for one company or organisation in the public, private, charity and not-for-profit sectors. On the other hand, there are also a freelance/self employed routes you can take as a PR professional for consultancies or other companies.

Other employers of PR graduates outside of these consultancies include:

• advertising firms and creative agencies
• event organisers
• marketing agencies
• media communication organisations
• political organisations
• public affairs companies.

Another option is to use your skills in a wider communication role, in an area such as HR, education, management or public services.

Find information on employers in marketing, advertising and PR, media and internet, hospitality and events management and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying public relations gives you professional knowledge and practical skills in client management, marketing/communications strategy and ethical practice.

You also develop a range of other skills that are valued by employers and can be used in many careers. These include:

• an innovative approach to content creation using social media and other communication channels
• business and commercial awareness - knowing how business and PR work together effectively
• communication and interpersonal skills - written, verbal and presentation
• critical thinking, research and evaluation skills
• IT skills across all forms of digital media
• organisation and time management skills from completing assignments on time
• project management skills through planning and managing your assignments
• teamworking and relationship building skills through collaborating with students on your course and other related courses.

Identifying your achievements from work experience opportunities or academic assignments can help you match your relevant skills and strengths for specific roles and types of clients.

Further study

Some graduates go on to study for a Masters degree in public relations or related areas such as international public relations, global communications management, strategic communication and corporate communications. These courses enable graduates to look in depth at the role of PR in business, politics or client management, depending on the specific area you may want to specialise in.

Professional courses accredited by professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) are useful for career development. Courses are available at different levels and in different areas of PR. Taking CIPR qualifications forms part of the process for gaining Chartered PR Practitioner status with the CIPR.

Through further study you can develop industry contacts and networks. This is a vitally important part of progressing your PR career.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search for postgraduate courses in public relations.

What do public relations graduates do?

Public relations professional (29%) is the most popular occupation for public relations graduates. Making up the rest of the top five are:

• advertising and marketing associate professionals (14%)
• business sales executives (7%)
• sales and retail assistants (4%)
• other administrative occupations (4%).

Find out what other graduates are doing after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.