If you consider yourself a people person, are capable of handling pressure and want to work in a dynamic environment, then Public Relations might just be the career you’re looking for. As a public relations representative, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your client – whether it is an individual or an organization – should always be seen in a positive light.

PR encompasses a plethora of sub-domains like branding, product/service promotion, image repair, etc. Therefore, you should decide which one you will like to work in before you start thinking about pursuing a career. Now that we have a fundamental understanding of what PR is, let us discuss the skills that you should possess to bag a job at your dream organization.

What skills are needed for becoming a PR representative?

· The ability to absorb large amounts of information.

· You should be creative-minded. You have to constantly think out-of-the-box to grab the audience’s attention for your client.

· You also need to be tech-savvy so that you can leverage new technologies to reach a wider audience more efficiently.

· As a PR representative, you might have to multitask a lot. Therefore, good managerial skills are also required.

· PR is all about communication, and if you want to climb the ladder of success, you should have good oral and written communication skills.

What academic qualifications are needed for becoming a PR representative?

In terms of academic qualifications, you can become a PR representative if you have a graduation degree in any stream – preferably mass communication. If you want to further strengthen your position, you can pursue a 1-year PG diploma in PR or a 2-year master’s degree in Communication and Journalism – specializing in PR in the 2nd year.

While pursuing a course in PR, you will have to complete several projects and internships, which will give you hands-on experience. In a dynamic career like PR, work experience matters a lot when you’re out looking for a job. Top agencies prefer to hire candidates who have had experience with internships, as it is easier to train them.

What are the career prospects in PR?

The global Public Relations industry is expected to reach 130.5 billion dollars by 2025, registering a robust CAGR of 10.5%. This means there are plenty of opportunities in the PR industry for aspiring candidates, as the PR market is expanding. With the advancements in technology, starting a business

has become easier than ever. This means the competition between organizations within the same domain is getting tougher by the day. Therefore, to gain an edge over their competitors, the businesses are leveraging the power of PR. So if you’re looking to carve a career in PR, this is the best time for it.

One thing that you must keep in mind, however, is that the package you get depends upon your experience and the size of the organization you’re working in. So you might have to pay your dues for a couple of years and work at relatively lower salaries for smaller organizations before you can start raking in big bucks. However, once you’ve acquired a solid experience, your package can be anywhere from Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 per month – depending upon your skills. The best thing about this career is that once you feel you’ve learned enough and have developed a good network, you can start your own firm – if that is what interests you. It is not easy, but if you have a passion for it, you’ll have fun!