Public Relations Job Titles, Descriptions, and Career Tips
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Updated April 02, 2018
Public relations (PR) refers to the relationship between a company and the public. Public relations involves helping a company maintain a positive public image. Interested in a career in public relations? Read on for more information about PR job titles, descriptions and career tips.
The goal is to get people to purchase your product, promote your idea, or support your position. To do this, people working in PR communicate through press releases, speeches, special events, social media, and more.
Public relations (PR) professionals try to gain publicity for their clients (if they work at a PR firm) or for their organization (if they work in a corporate communications department with a particular organization).
What's PR All About?
Instead of paying for ads like advertising professionals, Public Relations pros try to draw media attention to their clients hoping that print, online and/or broadcast journalists will decide that there is a story worth covering through their paper, magazine, website or tv/radio program.
Public relations staffers get the job done with tasks like writing press releases, connecting key players at their client organization to the press for interviews, arranging press conferences and other events, composing web copy and creating newsletters.
PR pros must have strong writing, verbal and presentation skills; be well organized, detail oriented; be assertive and comfortable reaching out to others. Having a solid aptitude for marketing can also be very helpful.
Jobs in Public Relations
The field of public relations has a variety of job titles. There is a full career path in public relations, so you will see titles for apprentice and entry-level employees as well as frontline staff, supervisors, managers, and specialty areas.
Read below for an extensive list of different public relations job titles. Use this list when searching for a job in PR. You might also use this list to encourage your employer to change the title of your position to fit your responsibilities.
Public Relations Job Titles
Below is a list of some of the most common job titles from the public relations industry, organized by category. For more information about each job title, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.
General Job Titles
Brand Ambassador
Chapter Relations Administrator
Content Manager
Content Strategist
Copy Writer
Director of Public Affairs
Director of Public Relations
Editor
Executive Assistant
Event Coordinator
Event Manager
Lobbyist
Manager
Manager, Digital, and Social Media
Managing Editor
Media Director
New Media Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Public Affairs Manager
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Information Assistant
Public Information Officer
Public Information Specialist
Public Relations Coordinator
Public Relations Director
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Public Relations Manager
Public Relations Specialist
Publicist
Relationship Manager
Social Media Analyst
Social Media Manager
Social Media Specialist
Technical Writer
Account Job Titles
Account Director
Account Executive
Account Manager
Account Supervisor
Assistant Account Executive
Senior Account Executive
Communications Job Titles
Communications Coordinator
Communications Director
Communications Editor
Communications Representative
Communications Specialist
Corporate Communications Specialist
Director of Communications
Director of Strategic Communication
External Communications Manager
Internal Communications Specialist
Marketing Communications Director
Marketing Communications Manager
Media and Communications Manager
Development and Fundraising Job Titles
Development Director
Development Officer
Director of Development
Financial Public Relations Associate
Fundraising Manager
Major Gifts Officer
Marketing Job Titles
Marketing Associate
Marketing Communications Director
Marketing Communications Manager
Marketing Coordinator
Marketing Director
Marketing Officer
Social Media Marketing Coordinator
Media Job Titles
Manager, Digital, and Social Media
Media and Communications Manager
Media Coordinator
Media Director
Media Relations Manager
New Media Coordinator
Social Media Specialist
Uses for PR Job Titles
If you’re searching for a job, knowing some of the common job titles used can help you do a more effective online job search. If you are looking for a public relations job but you don't know the different job titles, you may end up with blank searches when there are jobs available.
For public relations, also use the terms marketing, communications, media relations, development, and fundraising when searching for jobs in the field. Note the field of public relations does not have a strict hierarchy, as it is not licensed and regulated.
If you’re an employer who wishes to alter your employee's job titles to keep up with changing titles in the field, use the above list for ideas. You can also use it to screen applicants and judge whether they have passed public relations experience that may not be obvious at first glance. For example, job titles like “Account Manager” or “Gifts Operator” might not appear to be related to public relations at first, but they are.
If you’re the only public relations employee at your company, you may be associated, specialist, coordinator, manager, director, and executive all rolled up into one. Use this list to consider whether or not you should ask your employer for a new job title that reflects your responsibilities.
Even if public relations is only part of your job, you may wish to ask for a title that you can list on your resume. You may be both an executive assistant and director of social media, for example.
Tips for Starting a Career in Public Relations
College students who want a career in public relations can prepare for entry into the PR field by doing some or all of the following:
Consider writing intensive majors such as English, Journalism, Communications or Marketing
Develop and promote a blog on a topic of interest
Develop and document your writing/communication credentials by working for campus newspapers, magazines and tv stations
Work as a public relations coordinator for campus organizations
Land a student job in offices where the college is promoted or events are organized, such as the college's media relations/communications department, sports information office, admissions, events or alumni affairs offices
Pursue positions with student clubs where you can organize concerts, speakers, fashion shows and other events
Conduct informational interviews with PR professionals through alumni/family contacts and professionals in your home area
Ask professionals if you can job shadow them during school breaks
Complete internships with PR firms, communication departments, media outlets and/or marketing firms. Contact small local firms near your school or home through local chambers of commerce as well as targeting big-name firms
Join the Public Relations Student Society of America to learn more about the field, identify mentors and internships as well as to demonstrate your professional interest
Consider starting your career with a paid post-graduate internship
Build up your public relations skills.
By preparing in these ways' you'll distinguish yourself from the competition and lay the foundation for a rewarding career in public relations. It’ll also help to review these public relations interview questions before you start interviewing for potential PR jobs.
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/public-relations-job-titles-2061504
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