Careers in Public Relations

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in public relations? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

In April 2010 BP’s Deepwater Horizon well exploded, sending oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico and into the news for three months. Boycotts of BP gas stations popped up all across the country as frustration grew over the company’s failed efforts to stop the massive leak. The gushing well wasn’t their only problem, as their public relations efforts continued to make the situation worse according to many. First, they delayed responding at all, allowing the fake and humorous BPGlobalPR Twitter feed to dominate the conversation by relaying the angst of the public. Furthermore, when BP did issue public statements they lacked a show of human compassion, said most public relations experts. President Barack Obama voiced that the money spent on their multi-million dollar national TV spot should have gone to cleanup and compensating devastated fisherman and small business owners. In every company’s history there are public relations crises like this, which is why Public Relations Coordinators exist. A PR Coordinator is in charge of crafting a company’s story to help portray it in a positive light across the media to potential customers every day.

Public Relations Careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user Deepwater Horizon Response

Public Relations Career Guide Overview

  1. What a Public Relations Coordinator Does
  2. A Typical Day for a Public Relations Coordinator
  3. Salary and Career Progression for a Public Relations Coordinator
  4. Best Locations for Public Relations Coordinators
  5. Pros and Cons of Being a Public Relations Coordinator
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Public Relations
  7. Public Relations Resources
  8. Careers Related to Public Relations
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Public Relations

What a Public Relations Coordinator Does

A Public Relations Coordinator works to create and maintain a favorable public image for an organization. They do this by analyzing public opinion towards their company and using this information to help shape their organization’s policies and refine the story they’re crafting about it. As part of building the story, they help coordinate events and promote their company across print, broadcast, and online media.

A Typical Day for a Public Relations Coordinator

While a typical day might vary, here are some tasks you’ll probably encounter:

  • meeting with clients and team members to create stories you’ll convey to the public
  • pitching via email or phone to secure media coverage
  • writing news releases and sending them to media
  • networking with people working in media
  • monitoring media coverage
  • tracking expenses
  • assembling media kits
  • writing and designing newsletters
  • creating editorial calendars
  • assisting with fundraising
  • crafting speeches
  • planning and holding events

Salary and Career Progression for a Public Relations Coordinator

On average a PR Coordinator makes $43,000 per year. Beyond that you can go on to become a Communications Director ($92,000 on average per year), a Publicist ($52,000 on average per year), a Public Relations Director ($92,000 on average per year), or a Public Relations Specialist ($52,000 on average per year).

Best Locations for Public Relations Coordinators

Here are some hot spots for PR coordinators:

  • New York, New York
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Austin, Texas
  • San Francisco, California
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Baltimore, Maryland

Pros and Cons of Being a Public Relations Coordinators

Pros
  • Plenty of available positions–employment is supposed to grow by 24 percent from 2008-2018
  • It’s fun to craft the story and essence of a company and share it with people
  • You can work within a number of different industries–you’ll find opportunities at large corporations, nonprofits, universities and hospitals
Cons
  • May have lots of job-related stress due to deadlines and intense work schedule
  • Irregular and sometimes long work hours (events may take place after-hours)
  • Always on call for public relations crises

What You Need to Know for a Career in Public Relations

To be a PR Coordinator you’ll generally need a bachelor’s degree in communications, PR, journalism, or marketing. Beyond that employers are looking for people with excellent writing and communication skills. It’s also important that you have interpersonal skills, and that you’re organized, deadline-oriented, proactive, and creative. And finally it’s great to have new media experience–so to get started begin branding yourself across the internet. Create profiles on social media outlets that reflect your own story.

Public Relations Resources

If Public Relations still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Key Folks to Follow on Twitter

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Job Search Resources

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Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Public Relations

Chute Logo

Chute - Chute is based in SF and has developed a “visual content engine for brands” that makes “it easy to keep pace with your customers and create compelling, fresh content."

See the complete Chute profile


Fashion Update Logo

Fashion Update - Fashion Update is a New York, NY based company that offers tours that will help you “find designer name merchandise for less than a fraction of the retail cost.”

See the complete Fashion Update profile


HDMZ Logo

HDMZ - HDMZ is a Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA based healthcare and life science marketing agency that was founded in 1936.

See the complete HDMZ profile


MOCA - MOCA is the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and they are the only museum in L.A. that is entirely dedicated to contemporary art.

See the complete MOCA profile


RocksBox Logo

RocksBox - RocksBox is a San Francisco, CA based company that lets you “experiment with different looks, discover the latest designers, and only buy the jewelry that you truly love.”

See the complete RocksBox profile


Kellen Company Logo

Kellen Company - Kellen Company is a "professional services company serving associations, companies and foundations” with offices in Atlanta, New York, Denver, Chicago, and D.C.

See the complete Kellen Company profile


GoPro Logo

GoPro - GoPro is a San Mateo, CA based company that has built a huge business by offering “the world’s most versatile camera.”

See the complete GoPro profile


Relias Learning Logo

Relias Learning - Relias Learning is based in Cary, NC and offers “online training to senior care, health and human services, corrections, and intellectual and developmental disabilities organizations.”

See the complete Relias Learning profile


Tierney Logo

Tierney - Tierney is a Philadelphia, PA based agency that does advertising, PR, media, interactive, crisis management, and branding.

See the complete Tierney profile


Loverly Logo

Loverly - Loverly is a New York, NY based "one-stop-shop for wedding planning where brides and grooms find ideas, people to hire and things to buy.”

See the complete Loverly profile


Lyft Logo

Lyft - Lyft is a San Francisco, CA based company that offers “on-demand ridesharing” in nearly 20 cities across the country.

See the complete Lyft profile


Lilly Pulitzer Logo

Lilly Pulitzer - Lilly Pulitzer is a King of Prussia, PA based fashion brand and retailer that is known for its over the top, colorful prints.

See the complete Lilly Pulitzer profile


Sterling-Rice Group Logo

Sterling-Rice Group - Sterling-Rice Group is a Boulder, CO based, food-focused “strategy, innovation, and communications firm that grows businesses and builds brands in considerable ways.”

See the complete Sterling-Rice Group profile


Oxford University Press Logo

Oxford University Press - Oxford University Press is “the world’s largest university press with the widest global presence” and has U.S. offices in New York, NY and Cary, NC.

See the complete Oxford University Press profile


HL Group Logo

HL Group - HL Group is an NYC based agency that offers services ranging “from media relations and corporate communications strategies to flawless event execution.”

See the complete HL Group profile


Yoga Alliance Logo

Yoga Alliance - Yoga Alliance is an Arlington, VA non-profit trade association that exists “to sustain and support the field of yoga.”

See the complete Yoga Alliance profile


Brandwatch Logo

Brandwatch - Brandwatch is a New York, NY based company that is “all about monitoring what people say about your brand, products, competitors, industry or any related topics.”

See the complete Brandwatch profile


Lumi Logo

Lumi - Lumi is a Los Angeles, CA based company that has developed “a revolutionary photographic print process for textiles and natural materials.”

See the complete Lumi profile


Everlane Logo

Everlane - Everlane is a LA and SF based “luxury clothing design and manufacturing company” that “aims to provide low-cost, high-quality goods by cutting out middlemen.”

See the complete Everlane profile


Grovo Logo

Grovo - Grovo is an NYC based company that “produces one-minute video lessons covering every change to the world’s most popular websites, mobile apps and online tools.”

See the complete Grovo profile


90octane Logo

90octane - 90octane is a Denver, CO based online marketing agency that does online advertising, email marketing, microsite and landing page development, SEO, and PPC.

See the complete 90octane profile


Grouper Logo

Grouper - Grouper is a New York, NY based dating startup/social club “that sets up drinks between 2 groups of friends.”

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Loudpixel Logo

Loudpixel - Loudpixel is a Lansing, MI based “digital consultancy that works with companies and brands to deliver unbiased social media monitoring, measurement and insights.”

See the complete Loudpixel profile


AmeriCares Logo

AmeriCares - AmeriCares is a Stamford, CT based “nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs."

See the complete AmeriCares profile


WCG Logo

WCG - WCG is a San Francisco, CA based “independent strategic communications firm” that is embracing “the positive future of communications.”

See the complete WCG profile


Mullen Logo

Mullen - Mullen is a Boston, MA based agency that is “on a mission to work with the world’s most innovative marketers.”

See the complete Mullen profile


Yankee Candle Logo

Yankee Candle - I can’t think of a bigger name in candles than Yankee Candle, so I thought we should take a look at the South Deerfield, MA based candle maker and retailer.

See the complete Yankee Candle profile


Phelps Logo

Phelps - Phelps does. They’re a Santa Monica, CA based integrated marketing communications agency that describes what they do as “All Communications. One Voice.”

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SEER Interactive Logo

SEER Interactive - SEER Interactive is a Philadelphia, PA based online marketing agency that specializes in SEO, SEM, Analytics, and Conversion Optimization.

See the complete SEER Interactive profile


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Green Mountain Coffee Roasters - One of the more interesting success stories in the coffee business is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, which started as a small coffee shop in 1981.

See the complete Green Mountain Coffee Roasters profile


BlueGlass Interactive Logo

BlueGlass - BlueGlass is a Tampa, FL based company aiming to “change the way companies market themselves online with extraordinary strategies, service and software."

See the complete BlueGlass profile


Collette Vacations Logo

Collette Vacations - Collette Vacations is a Pawtucket, RI based company that offers “more than 150 expertly designed, escorted tours spanning 50-plus countries."

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VSCPR Logo

VSCPR - VSCPR is “an award-winning strategic public relations and digital marketing boutique " based in San Francisco and New York.

See the complete VSCPR profile


JESS3 Logo

JESS3 - JESS3is a Los Angeles, CA based “creative interactive agency that specializes in the art of data visualization

See the complete JESS3 profile


Showtime Logo

Showtime - Showtime is a New York, NY based media company that offers premium cable/satellite programming, and they're hiring.

See the complete Showtime profile


BUZZMEDIA Logo

BUZZMEDIA - Pop culture is like a drug, and BUZZMEDIA is a dealer. They run more than 40 web properties, and they're hiring.

See the complete BUZZMEDIA profile


Sparkpr Logo

Sparkpr - Sparkpr is a tech focused PR firm that serves big name clients like Bing Travel, Electronic Arts, The Economist, Flickr and more, and they're hiring.

See the complete Sparkpr profile


National Ability Center Logo

National Ability Center - National Ability Center in Park City, UT uses activities and sports to aid the “the development of lifetime skills for people of all ages and abilities.”

See the complete National Ability Center profile


Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation Logo

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation - If you love the sporting life and its intersection with politics, you should consider a job with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in Washington, DC.

See the complete Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation profile


Everyday Health Logo

Everyday Health - Everyday Health provides “consumers, healthcare professionals, and brands with content and advertising-based services," and they're hiring.

See the complete Everyday Health profile


Emanate Logo

Emanate - Emanate is an NYC and LA base PR firm that focuses on action and results with a side of irreverence, and they're hiring new grads.

See the complete Emanate profile


Greatist Logo

Greatist - Greatist inspires "young, savvy, and social" people to "make one healthier choice per week," and they're hiring new grads for a variety of positions.

See the complete Greatist profile


Voxy Logo

Voxy - Voxy is an NYC based company that has developed an amazing platform for using life experiences to learn a new language, and they're hiring.

See the complete Voxy profile


Consumer Electronics Association Logo

Consumer Electronics Association - Consumer Electronics Association is an organization that represents more than 2,000 members in the consumer electronics industry, and they're hiring.

See the complete Consumer Electronics Association profile


Batter Blaster Logo

Batter Blaster - Batter Blaster is an Austin, TX based company that makes making pancakes as easy as using a whipped cream can.

See the complete Batter Blaster profile


The Humane Society Logo

The Humane Society of the United States - The Humane Society of the United States is the country's largest animal protection organization, and they're hiring.

See the complete The Humane Society of the United States profile


Inspirato Logo

Inspirato - Inspirato is a Denver, CO based luxury destination club that provides access to high end properties, and they're hiring.

See the complete Inspirato profile


Macmillan Logo

Macmillan - Macmillan is the public face of a ton of U.S. publishers owned by a German media company, and they have a ridiculous number of job opportunities.

See the complete Macmillan profile


Nasty Gal Logo

Nasty Gal - Nasty Gal is a Los Angeles, CA based e-commerce site that features "a highly curated selection of vintage pieces," and they're hiring.

See the complete Nasty Gal profile


mcgarrybowen logo

mcgarrybowen - mcgarrybowen is based in Chicago and New York, and they were just named Agency of the Year by AdAge. Sounds like a good place to land a job.

See the complete mcgarrybowen profile


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