(It goes without saying – or maybe not, because I’m saying it – that anything said on this blog does NOT reflect the opinions of my company or anyone working there, and in no way do my sailor mouth, crass sense of humor, and weekend Southern drinking habits represent my professional abilities.)
(Yeah. I just started a work-related post with the word “poop” in it. Way to look professional, Knight. Source.)
If you read this blog with any regularity (I’m assuming you don’t, especially since my posting as of late has been…nonexistent) you know I very rarely discuss discuss my job. I feel very grateful to work for a company that allows me a loose leash for my creative outlet, so I generally try to steer clear of work-related topics out of respect. Even so, this is a food and lifestyle blog, and it was only a matter of time before the two converged.
My blog is 100% my hobby…which is unfortunately why I disappear from time to time. During after-work drinks with a few colleagues at Julep Bar, my boss asked me about my recent disappearing act and said that she can always tell when I’m buried at work because I stop updating the blog. This is a fairly accurate assumption. And, since the majority of the questions I receive (both for the blog and in life) are about what exactly it is that I do, I used my boss’ keen observation as an opportunity to ask whether she would be ok with me writing about it. She kindly consented, so here’s a brief overview.
What IS PR?
The short story is that I work in public relations.
The reason I get so many questions about it is because a) there is a lot of confusion about what, exactly, public relations is or what that means (it is NOT marketing or advertising), and b) it’s a popular industry so people want to know what it’s really like to do it.
(I know it’s overdone, but it just says it so well.)
My family did not understand what I do until about six months-to-a year ago (despite the fact that one of my sisters works in PR, so this is not new information). I think my friends and Ryan’s family have given up trying. It gets even more granular than typical public relations because I work in public affairs, a specific sector under the public relations umbrella.
Let’s start out with what it’s NOT: I am NOT Samantha Jones.
(Not me. Source.)
What she does IS a type of PR (obviously glamorized for television), but it definitely doesn’t capture the less-than-glitzy pieces of the job and it bears no resemblance whatsoever to MY job. My company deals with the business and policy side of public relations – crisis management and strategic communications for the healthcare, education, real estate, professional services and nonprofit industries. In other words, we are not party planners (usually), but consultants who advise clients on a wide variety of matters including:
Internal communications – communicating to employees during a merger or crisis, or guiding management through a change in leadership
Government and community relations – informing audiences about legislation the client is backing or a community about the permitting of a controversial building
Relationship building with key stakeholders and thought leaders – helping a client’s voice reach these audiences by setting up meetings or securing speaking engagements
Crisis management and labor relations – managing media coverage of unfavorable situations, minimizing the risk of a strike
Traditional media outreach – social media, press releases, editorials
Among many, many other things.
Most people hear this spiel and they’re like:
But y’all, I LOVE what I do. It’s like ten jobs in one. No two days are ever the same, I am constantly challenged and pushed outside my comfort zone, I learn new things about new industries HOURLY, and I get to pick the minds of very intelligent, successful and powerful people…and I’m only 26. When I say I have my dream job, I am not kidding. I’m very, very fortunate.
(Source.)
Ok I’m bored, and you’re using fewer pictures of LOLcats than you normally do. What’s it REALLY like?
I had a friend once who said PR is the perfect field for people who like business and writing. Depending on your field, you likely spend about one-half to two-thirds of your day writing and/or researching, and the rest of the day talking to clients, pitching stories to reporters, and reading the news.
Regardless of the type of PR you decide to do, there are some very general trends that are almost always part of the job:
1. It’s a highly competitive field and your starting pay will SUCK.
Everyone wants to be Samantha Jones, or at least a raging socialite, so actually landing a job in public relations is half the challenge. You need a strong resume and some really good experience through volunteer opportunities and internships, and it usually helps to know someone who can act as the point of the sword. I had a roommate in PR who helped me get my resume and cover letter to a good place and taught me how to apply for a PR position. If it hadn’t been for her and a series of very, very lucky breaks, I would probably still be looking.
Oh and if you’re just starting out? Enjoy late nights and lots of ramen. As you move up, you have more autonomy over your schedule and, thankfully, more fulfilling paychecks (PRSA has a good chart for industry standards here), but the first year or two is killer. My advice? Be a passionate learner, work your butt off and move up as quickly as possible.
(Source.)
It’s also likely that you won’t talk to clients or see the inside of a conference room until you’re an account executive or higher (unless you work for a smaller agency). Until then, your bosses are your clients. Treat them as such, it’s a good primer. That way, when you f*ck up (and BELIEVE ME, you will), you’ll learn more and the consequences won’t be as catastrophic.
2. It’s not a 9-to-5 gig. All hours are “normal” hours.
PR people say this so much it should be tattooed on our heads, but the fact of the matter is that your time belongs to your clients and your boss(es), especially during the formative years. Your job lasts from the time you finish up your to-do lists from the previous two days (because you will NEVER finish it day of) and start on your list of deliverables for the day. My days probably average about 9.5-10 hours, and during busy periods I usually leave the office around 7pm (sometimes earlier, sometimes later).
Again, I work for an outstanding company that appreciates its employees having a reasonable work-life balance, given that you’re getting your work done, but this is a rare characteristic in the industry.
3. If you don’t already enjoy the sauce, you probably will.
Client dinners, happy hours, cocktail parties, functions – most people in PR have such a refined ability to throw back the alcoholic beverages and appear totally normal that they put Don Draper to shame.
4. You will learn to think in the confines of 5 bazillion little boxes.
You think you’re organized now? No.
Everything is done in grid format. Everything. Media lists, strategy memos, timelines, vulnerability assessments, etc. etc. etc. While it may take awhile to wrap your brain around it, you’ll probably emerge having guzzled the kool-aid and see grids as the quickest, most efficient way to organize and reference information. So much so that you start thinking in grids.
I love them. LOVE them.
5. You will become permanently knock-kneed from all the pencil skirts.
(Truth. Source.)
I hate those damn things.
6. You’re probably at least marginally cranky 99% of the time.
(Source.)
This is a service industry, which means that everyone else is more important than you. You tirelessly work to please others and pull rabbits out of hats, all while moving at a ridiculously fast pace – and you probably thrive on the stress of it all. It feels good. It also probably means that your patience and tolerance for bullsh*t is non-existent. The nice thing is that your coworkers are all in the same boat, so you can roar at your computer or snark at something absurd (“Look at that bitch and her stupid ponytail. I HATE MOTHEREFFING PONYTAILS!!!!!!!”) and you’ll probably just get laughed at.
This also contributes to #3.
Personally, I’m shocked they haven’t filmed a reality show from inside the walls of a PR company yet. The colorful characters, ridiculous conversations, and general bat-shit-craziness of it all would be great fodder for primetime. Despite its many quirks, I really love working in PR (in case I hadn’t said that part enough already).
This is a very brief, high-level overview of what it’s like – if you have more specific questions or you’d like more information, feel free to email me. Also, if you’re in the Boston area and looking for a job in PR I’d be happy to sit down for coffee and pass anything I know along that might help you out.
What’s your job like? If you work in PR, what would you add?
