During the interview process, one of the questions you can ALWAYS expect to be asked is, "Why did you choose PR?" Most of the generic answers are, "I love to write," or "I've always been interested in the media, " and so on. While it is true good writing and interest in the media are needed in this profession, is that a good enough answer? If you sit down and really think about what your favorite part of PR is, can you pin point the specifics?
I was sitting here thinking about this summer, and getting a job wondering, what I like most about this profession. I acutally commented something similar to this on a classmate's blog, but my favorite part of Public Relations is the possibilities. If you are an accountant or a dentist, the variations in what you work on are not going to be many. Variation is almost definite in Public Relations. You might be doing press releases, pitches, media training, event planning, etc. on your day to day work, but your clients can always change. In PR you get the opporunity to work with so many different people and organizations, experience so many different things, and meet so many different people. No matter which avenue you choose in your PR career, be it Fashion, Health, Corporate, or maybe a company that covers all of the above, you get the chance to get creative with every press release, every pitch, and every event.
I unfortunately (against my best efforts) have turned out to be a creature of habit. I find comfort in knowing what to expect and having a schedule. However, one of my biggest fears when coming to college and thinking of a career was being in a job where I find myself bored and stuck. Where you will always be doing the exact same thing, every single day. I enjoy the chance to be creative, and to make sure that 'boring' doesn't happen.
I actually really like this post, mostly because it's the truth. I guess it was a question I never thought to answer, or what I would answer if I was asked. I can totally agree with you that PR allows you to be creative and as I have sit and done countless hours of PR homework, each project differs. They all have similar strategies, but the end result and how you get to that point is always different. When I first came to school I didn't know what to do and to be honest I just fell into PR. I hated math and science and I wasn't sure what I would do just majoring in English (it also doesn't sound interesting period).
ReplyDeleteI still get a bit of anxiety when I go through my PR classes and how much there will still be to learn once I graduate in May. I'm nervous that I haven't written enough press releases or pitches and I still don't know where I really want to focus my time. Then I think that there's so much I can do with PR who says I have to pick just one? I don't see it being forever unless I'm put in a high position that allows me to focus on just one topic, but that's the fun of PR. It's constantly changing and there are always new ways to apply what we have already learned and what's to come.
So true, there are endless possibilities when it comes to PR. You can go into any industry that you are interested in, and their will always be a need for us. Although there is a lot to learn in class, the real learning experience will be in the work field. Although professors can teach us tactics, and help us learn layouts for writing, nothing is as real as doing it in the workplace.
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely one of the my favorite aspects of public relations. I always worried that I would be bored at my job, but have come to realize that I will never have to face that fear in public relations. I don't know what my answer would be to that question in an interview, but it is something that I have thought about for a couple years now.
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the aspects of PR that I love too. Another one that may be more important to me, and one that took me a while to realize, was the possibility of brining media coverage and recognition to people and organizations who are doing good and meaningful things. We can't always be a part of these small changes, but we do have the power to make sure people hear about them.
ReplyDeleteThats why I love PR also. I remember my mom trying to help me find jobs and her asking what I can do with my major. She was so surprised with everything that I can do.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite part is sharing with people something that I am passionate about, and know is great, and seeing that they believe it too. It was something that I have done since high school, and now (hopefully) will get paid for which is great!
I always dread this question during interviews for fear of giving that generic answer. I think people choose PR for different reasons. I personally love the variety PR offers. It applicable everywhere. Being able to take an idea from paper to an actual campaign is a great feeling. Small successes like a pitch gone well or a client placement are little day to day reminders to me why I like PR. It gives you a sense of power. Being able to articulate a particular message and have it come across well to your target audience...its a rewarding feeling.
ReplyDelete