Archive for Public Relations
I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already approaching! It’s the time of year when we sit back and reflect on our past year and all we have to be thankful for. Losing your job may be a devastating blow. As you contemplate life after getting the pink slip, look at what you have going for you…
Health/Well Being
Unemployment is not a death sentence. It may take some time to find your next position, but you will find it. Stay healthy and be thankful for the good health you and your family enjoy.
Benefits
Losing your job can feel like someone pulled the rug out from under you. Thanks to the signing of the COBRA policy in 1985, all qualifying employers must provide health insurance coverage to those who have lost their job and their immediate families. COBRA allows for up to 18 months of health insurance coverage, which is something you can be thankful for.
Think of the 26 weeks of unemployment benefits you’re receiving as cushion. It might not be a comfy cushion, but having some money coming in is better than none at all.
Take Time for You
Work, Home, Work. Work never ends does it? Employers expect their employees to give 110 percent. Look at your job loss as a vacation from the 60-hour workweeks, tight deadlines, and endless meetings.
You’re out of the rat race. What now? Be grateful for time for yourself. Stay in pajamas. Sleep! Knit. Explore a new hobby. Volunteer. Finish the baby book you started eight years ago…when your child was still a baby!
Spend time with your family and friends. You’ll never get this time back, so enjoy your family while you extra time to do so.
Got time? Finding time to exercise when you were working may not have worked with long commutes, business travel, or overtime. Appreciate that you have time for exercise and fitness.
Gift of Time
When the initial shock of losing your job lessens, look at your life. Did you love your job? Or were you punching a clock? Take stock of what motivates you. Need a career change? Now is the time to explore your options. What is important to you in an employer? Allow yourself time to find the right job. Want to return to school? Be thankful you have time to re-invent yourself.
Hone your skills…beef up your resume, practice your interview skills, take a class. Be glad that you have the opportunity to make yourself more employable.
It Takes a Village
Be thankful for the people in your life who support you through hard times. Being unemployed isn’t easy, but with the emotional support of friends and family, the burden lessens.
Photo courtesy: MTsofar
So you’ve graduated with a PR or Communications degree. Probably from a university or even received one from online classes. Now what? With the job market being what it is, you need a plan of action that will help you land your first job in PR.
You’ve learned how to handle a PR crisis. Write a press release. Connect with the media. Maybe you even held an internship that will give you more hands-on experience. You’re eager to put your skills to good use.
Many graduates assume the primary job a person with a PR or Communications degree gets is a job at a PR firm. Not so. There are actually many roles and many different types of companies you can work for and still use your communications skills. Don’t be narrow-minded in your search!
1. Work for an Agency
For many college students, getting hired at a PR agency is their golden ticket. For others, they quickly find out they over-glamorized what is often a grueling and stressful job. Working at an agency, you will be thrown into the fast-paced world of making clients look good. These clients might be in entertainment, politics, consumer and business products and services, or finance.
You’ll likely be writing press releases and doing lots of administrative support to start, and perhaps helping with events. As your experience grows, you may handle media relations for clients or manage accounts.
The catch 22 about working for an agency is that agencies want you to have prior experience…working for one. If you intern at a firm, this can get your foot in the door. Otherwise, getting hired as a Junior Publicist or Account Coordinator would be a great start.
Are there drawbacks in working for an agency? It depends on your personality and what you’re looking for. If you want a range of experience in multiple industries, you won’t get that working for many agencies, as they tend to focus on a single vertical or specialize their staff in practice groups. Some agencies, however, will let you move around to different practice groups, so it is important to understand how it works with each agency. If you want a 9 to 5 job that never requires extra work of you, a PR firm isn’t that.
Still, working at an agency, even for a few years, can give you the experience you need to do just about anything else you could do with a PR or Communication degree. If you make a point to connect to people, you’ll have the contacts to see you to your next role, even if it’s not at another agency.
2. Work for a Private Company
If you’ve glamorized working for an agency, consider the public relations staff of a private company the unsung heroes. In fact, many companies don’t hire external PR firms, and instead house them internal to the company. Some larger companies have a small internal PR team and also hire an agency. Either way, there are plenty of jobs working in communications directly for a company.
These PR folks work for companies in every industry: manufacturing, consumer products, technology, semiconductors, finance, healthcare, etc. If you’re interested in really delving into a specific industry, working for a private company, for example, a company like Fisher Investments, is a great way to do so.
Depending on the size of the firm, you may work with a very small team, which you will come to rely on in your work. You’ll get to know the company’s products or services well, as they’re the stars of your PR pitches and the center of all your communications.
You’ll do the same work you’d do at a firm: write and distribute press releases, work with the media, manage crises. If your team is small you may have additional responsibilities such as creating email newsletters and managing the company’s social media strategy. In smaller companies, marketing and PR often overlap.
What companies look for will vary, based on the business and role, but usually they don’t expect as much prior experience as a firm for entry-level positions. Your degree, general skills, and writing ability are the typical areas of focus. Some companies may want you to have experience with content management systems, Photoshop or presentation software.
Drawbacks here: focusing on the same products day in and day out can get boring if you need constant stimulation. Some industries are less exciting than others, so if the idea of pitching laser marking devices doesn’t appeal to you, focus on industries that you enjoy more.
3. Start Your Own Firm or Freelance
While it’s not always easy to do right out of college, some PR professionals end up forming their own companies or freelancing. This can give you the freedom to focus on the type of clients you want and you are able to pick and choose your projects.
Naturally being your own boss sounds great, but it’s not for everyone. You truly need experience, either with an agency or internally, to understand client relationships. As the owner or freelancer, you are responsible for constantly finding new clients; you won’t get a paycheck unless you get paid! Running your own business requires a strong stomach to take some risks, and constant dedication to improving your craft – on your own.
If you stick with it, your business might thrive so much you can afford to hire support staff and a team of account executives, writers, and managers. Keep in mind doing so sometimes takes you away from what you love doing the most: the actual PR and communications. Many entrepreneurs don’t realize they’ll be doing more admin work than hands-on in their businesses.
Where to Find Your First PR Job
For your first job in PR or Communications, start by searching for titles like PR Specialist, PR Coordinator, Junior Publicist, Account Coordinator, Assistant Account Executive, or Account Executive. Look for jobs that don’t require much more than a degree and interest, if that’s all you have.
In terms of where to look, there are websites that focus on jobs in public relations and communications specifically, like Hoojobs (disclosure: I’m an owner of the site). You should be able to find both agency and in-house jobs here. And don’t overlook investor relations jobs at publicly-traded companies, especially if you have a knack for understanding stocks and financial information.
Use social media to find your first job. Twitter has plenty of accounts and hashtags you can follow that will give you a stream of new openings, including #PRJobs, @EntryPRJobs, @HlthcarePRjobs and, of course, @PRjobs. Here are more tips for finding a job on Twitter.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated, and join groups with PR professionals and job hunters to network.
If you want to start freelancing, Guru and Elance are great places to find part time work or single projects you can build experience around.
You can join professional organizations like PRSA, which not only gives you access to its job boards, but also gives you the chance to network with PR professionals in your area.
Finding a job fresh out of college can be a challenge, and a PR or Communications job is no different. But once you land that job, put in some good, hard work, and build your resume and experience!
When you go to school and earn a degree in public relations, communications, or English, landing a job can prove to be a bit more difficult than in a more specific field like pharmacy technician schools. You can improve your changes by focusing on some of your extra-curricular work, volunteer opportunities, and internships.
Four years of hard work and the investment in a college education makes many students feel entitled to immediate job offers right out of school. Unfortunately, that’s not the case and it’s even harder these days. With senior level employees losing their positions and taking lower paid jobs just to stay in the industry, there is more competition than ever for work.
Work Samples
When you are attending classes at a university, you’ll have to do a certain amount of practical work – activities you’ll do daily in a full-time job like writing press releases, creating marketing collateral, and shooting video news releases, etc. Make sure to save all of these clips to build out your portfolio. Better yet, make sure you have them digitally to post to your own blog/website/online portfolio. Go the extra mile and reserve your own domain name with your work samples which you can add to your resume when applying for jobs.
If you major in a non-specific area such as communications or English, you are going to have to get crafty when applying for jobs. Taking a minor in something more specific could give you the extra edge you need. After finishing your school assignments, start learning how to write proper press releases, how to design promotional materials, and follow how companies are communicating online through social media. Employers are looking for candidates who take initiative and learn skills that might be outside their curriculum.
Internships
When you look at job descriptions for entry-level jobs at companies, it usually says that they are looking for people with 1-2 years worth of experience. It obviously a catch-22 because you can’t get a job without experience and you can’t get experience without a job. Many PR and advertising agencies offer unpaid internships for students for college credit. If you’re lucky, you might even find a paid internship. You are going to have to take a couple of internships in order to build up your experience level.
Growing Industries
While it may be your dream to work at a cutting edge PR firm or ad agency, there is very little chance of landing a position with little experience. In order to break into an entry-level field, it is important to perform research on the companies who are looking for fresh talent.
A Huffington Post article demonstrates the highest growing fields: gamification and social gaming are generating major marketing dollars, online publishing and e-commerce will continue to grow, and biotechnology and environmental services are gaining more government grants. Applying to these organizations or agencies who have clients like this on their roster can be an excellent way to launch your career.
Major Corporations
Landing a job at a major corporation or Fortune 500 company looks good on any resume. Whether you find an entry-level role in the marketing department or work as an administrative assistant, these positions can enhance your business knowledge and give your a great network of colleagues and references. It could be a great place to start and move into the PR department as your next step.
Possible Scams for Entry-Level Workers
When searching for jobs online, be aware of possible scam artists and sales cults. If you see a job posting that wants you to create elaborate sample work or write relevant press releases, be very skeptical because they may just be looking for free work. If a job posting promises entry-level management opportunities, or the job description sounds vague, you might be headed into a sales cult. Horror stories of these organizations can be found on The Consumerist website.
Starting your journey into the the PR field may seem overwhelming at first. Look daily as entry-level positions get filled as quickly as they come. Make sure you communicate and network with as many people as possible – you want to stay top of mind – and potentially be contacted before the company posts the position. If you find yourself in a rut or dead end job to make ends meet before you land the perfect entry-level PR opportunity, make sure to keep educating yourself in order to remain a relevant job candidate.
It can be daunting to apply for public relations jobs that want more experience than you’ve got. If you are just entering the workforce, it seems like every company wants you to have experience. But just because you’re new to the PR world doesn’t mean you can’t be a qualified candidate. Take the initiative to learn the skills you’ll need at your next job, and beef up your resume…even if it’s on your own dime.
1. PRWeb
Sure, you know PRWeb as a resource for publishing press releases, but did you know it’s also got a great resource center? There you can find great articles and white papers on writing press releases, using social media and SEO for PR. You can watch videos and attend webinars led by industry experts like John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing. They even offer free e-classes on all topics relating to PR.
2. Publicity Hound
Led by publicity expert Joan Stewart, Publicity Hound has some amazing resources. While some of her webinars, ebooks, reports and whitepapers have a fee, there’s still a slew of freebies on her site. Check out Joan’s blog to stay on top of industry news. If you want a PR mentor, Joan also offers mentoring services.
3. Press Releases
If you don’t have a ton of press releases under your belt, it can help you to read them online. Just check Google’s News feed or sites like PRWeb to get a sense for formatting, as well as headlines and content that appeal to readers.
4. Volunteer
Maybe you haven’t broken into the PR field just yet, but are ready to go. Consider volunteering for a charity or nonprofit to provide public relations services pro bono. It’s a great resume booster, and will give you a chance to get some real practice, get to know media contacts and try on the nonprofit industry for size. It might just lead to your first PR job!
5. Intern
We all start at the bottom and work our way up. Taking an internship, either through your college or on your own, gives you the chance to learn the ropes and build your portfolio. Let your employer know the skills you are interested in building, like writing or media relations. He’ll more than likely be willing to let you tag along while he works so you can learn from him if you have a clear focus to what you want to learn.
6. Hang with PR Pros on Twitter
On Twitter, there’s a ton of groups for public relations enthusiasts, like:
Participating in these scheduled group chats can give you valuable advice and provide you the chance to ask questions.
7. Network on LinkedIn Groups
There are many groups on LinkedIn catering to public relations experts, such as Public Relations and Communications Job Community (created by my search firm, Paradigm Staffing). Here, you’ll find links to quality PR content as well as discussions among people working in PR. It’s a great place to learn and network.
There’s so many ways you can teach yourself more about public relations and gear up for that next job interview!
If you’re starting your PR career search, you may be torn between wanting to work at a public relations agency or work in-house at a company. There are perks and drawbacks to both. Let’s dive in.
Working In-house
The nice thing about working in-house is that you get to really know a single industry. This gives you the chance to develop relationships internally with executive management and gain a deep understanding of a company, rather than flitting from field to field, the way you might at an agency.
You’ll likely work with people in different departments, like marketing, sales, finance and HR, which can expose you to a lot of types of people and roles. You may also find more opportunity to gain experience in other aspects of communications and perhaps move into a very specialized communications role, such as employee communications, or switch departments completely. In an in-house PR role, you might feel you’ve got more vested in the company, and will want to help the brand succeed through your efforts.
On the other hand, depending on the size of your department and the support your company gets from any outside agencies, you may be pigeon-holed in your job with very specific duties and may never have the opportunity to dabble in events or many of the activities given to the agency, and that won’t help you appear well-rounded on your resume. And knowing everything there is to know about laser manufacturing might not be what you want out of life, so focusing on a single industry might not be what you’re looking for.
There’s a shine that comes from working at a PR agency, and it’s one you won’t feel working in a cubicle for an engineering company or healthcare facility. If you want excitement, diversity, and a non-stop, ever-changing environment, a private company might not live up to the challenge.
Working for a PR Agency
On the opposite side of the coin is the PR agency. One benefit is that an agency is an excellent training ground, and you will learn a variety of public relations skills that will be valuable wherever you go in the future. Plus, working with multiple clients gives you experience in a variety of industries. You can figure out which ones you like best. You’ll more than likely report into separate supervisors on each account, so you’ll have the opportunity to deal with different work styles and multiple managers’ expectations.
That shine I mentioned? It’s all yours. Depending on your industry speciality and clients, you might work with celebrities, attend galas or movie premieres, and get the chance to try out new products working for an agency.
Already thinking about your next career move? You’ll meet many people within an agency environment, extending your professional network, which will come in handy in the future.
On the converse, working with so many industries could give you only superficial knowledge of each, without any real depth that can help form your PR career or be considered a specialist in a chosen industry. You’ll have to work your way through the agency structure, starting at the bottom before you’ll have a chance to manage clients and get involved in the strategic work. Expect to work long hours and have plenty of stress working at an agency. You might not be able to work on what you want all the time, depending on your clients’ needs and changes with new (or lost) business.
Some people are more cut out for working in-house for a company, while others thrive in the high pressure of an agency. Where do you fall?
If you’re looking for your next role in public relations, look beyond traditional PR/Media Relations roles. You may not have considered some of the specialty areas of PR open to you and those could be right up your alley. Here are a few areas to consider:
Investor Relations
Public companies have investor relations departments. Usually, these departments are a subset of corporate communications or report into the CFO. Earnings releases, earnings forecasts, annual and quarterly reports and press announcements all fall under the IR department. You will likely be involved in setting up roadshows, where company executives talk to analysts about the health of their company and its stock, conference calls, where executives discuss quarterly earnings, and press announcements.
While you may not need an MBA to work in investor relations, a solid understanding of stocks and finance will help you tremendously. Communication skills and the ability to work hard under pressure, in a regulated environment and with tight deadlines are a must.
Look for jobs in this field if…you enjoy talking finances, mergers and acquisitions, and options.
Corporate Communications
Every company needs someone to write both internal and external communications, including letters, emails, memos, newsletters and promotional material. These days, a Communications Specialist may even handle social media communications. The goal in this niche is to keep all company communications consistent and professional.
You tend to see most openings with larger organizations and companies that need more centralized communications and messaging. In this role, you may be responsible for not only drafting the messaging mentioned above, but also writing press releases and arranging speaking engagements and press conferences.
Most hiring managers look for candidates with 4-year degrees in a communications field, like PR, communications, marketing, or journalism, as well as heavy writing experience. Being creative, fast on your feet and a good decision maker will help you score the job as well.
Look for jobs in this field if…you love writing and working for a large organization.
Community Relations
Creating community awareness of your employer would be your role in the Community Relations niche of PR. Corporations, non-profits, and governmental agencies employ Community Relations Specialists. Building strong relationships with individuals, other business and organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, local media, and government officials is key for this role to generate community awareness.
You may be required to organize community events and develop community outreach programs, in addition to creating buzz about them. You may organize volunteer programs and other community activities that increase employee involvement in the local community and assist with the planning and decision-making for the organization’s charitable contributions in the community.
A degree in PR or Communications is helpful when applying for jobs in Community Relations, public speaking and a solid grasp of social media.
Look for jobs in this field if…you love interacting with people and planning events.
This is a post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
As the media around us continues to change and evolve, PR practitioners are adapting: we’re participating in social media, creating new content to appeal to many different audiences and using various new media formats in our efforts. So, is what we’re doing still “P.R.”? Or do we need a new name for this enhanced role we play?
Arik Hansen blogged recently that we PR pros are evolving into media producers and that “companies will be looking more and more for a professional with storytelling skills. And photography skills. And video producing and editing skills.”
Last year Eloqua was one of the companies that hired its own media producer. It brought Jesse Noyes (@noyesjesse) on board as a corporate reporter. I decided to follow up with Jesse on his experience over the past year and ask him if he has any advice to help PR pros develop skills for this new type of role. He was kind enough to take the time to answer my questions:
How is being a corporate reporter unique? How does it differ from traditional reporting? How does it differ from PR or other marketing functions?
Well, first, the role of an in-house reporter for any brand is not journalism in the traditional sense. Your role is not necessarily to break news, and I don’t think I’ll be hearing from the Pulitzer committee any time soon. You’re there to create editorial content, whether it’s articles, podcasts, videos, etc, that educate or inform or even entertain your audience. While many of the topics I explore might be pertinent to my company or my industry, I’m not here to tout a product or service specifically. Eloqua has charged me with creating stuff that will delight and engage people working at the cross roads of marketing, sales, social media, cloud computing and tech in general – not to sell.
In terms of PR, I have many former newsroom colleagues that have gone on to this field, with great success. But it was never for me. I don’t communicate with the media, pitch stories to news outlets or blogs, or work with analysts. I have great co-workers who do that. Honestly, if you’re calling me to arrange an interview or get a quote, you have the wrong guy.
That said, how does corporate reporting incorporate aspects of traditional journalism and aspects of marketing/PR?
There’s a new mantra within marketing: “Think like a publisher.” That’s all well and good, but I think brands need to take an even bigger step and think like an editor. The publisher at most outlets is supposed to have little involvement with the actual editorial content. In this day and age where publishing tools are cheap and easy, you need the professional skills of an editor and reporter to differentiate yourself. This requires some very basic, but hard-learned, lessons from journalism. Interviewing skills, research skills, proofreading, an ability to jump from subject to subject, even industry to industry, on any given day – these are the purview of the corporate reporter. My purpose is not only to produce great work, but to elevate the content of those working at every level of the company. Those skills are hard to come by, and why I think more brands will be pilfering from newsrooms in the future.
What skills do you think are most important to the corporate reporting role?
As I noted above, the ability to switch from subject to subject, solid editing chops, and expert interview skills are probably the most fundamental. When I started out in the newsroom, I had great editors who made me feel great about my work, even as they ripped it apart and showed me how to do it right. That kind of editing finesse is critical within organizations that want to act as publishers. I’d add an ability to tell a story, is something that can only be learned with time and a lot of tapping on the keyboard. It doesn’t come naturally all that often.
Can any size/type organization benefit from having a corporate reporter on staff?
Absolutely. Large companies benefit by having someone who can oversee the editorial quality of their content, and to push back when it sounds too much like marketing speak. Small companies benefit from someone who can help position them as market leaders, cutting through the noise without a huge budget on their side.
Do you employ different types of media in your reporting, e.g. video, audio, photos?
All of the above.
Who is your primary audience?
People who want to elevate their sales and marketing. This can range from those just starting out in their careers to those at the highest level within an organization. I have written about and interviewed people working at professional sports team to software-makers to business thought leaders.
What kind of response/feedback have you received from Eloqua’s customers/prospects?
By far, the feedback I get from our regular readers is the most encouraging. Often I meet people at conferences or other events, and when I say I work for Eloqua I hear, “I love the content you’re producing!” That’s the best feeling.
What is the hardest part of making a career change for those “old school” journalists who are adapting to market changes and leaving traditional journalism for corporate PR or marketing positions?
Honestly, I think it’s just wrapping your head around it. You work for a company that sells something to someone. Many journalists would struggle with that. But it’s not really that different. I worked for newspapers and ultimately those papers were a business with skin in the game. At the same time, if the company wants to keep a reporter on a short leash, they probably shouldn’t even make the hire. The relationship won’t work if some brand manager wants to control every period and comma.
For PR and marketing types, I think it’s realizing that writing, editing and narrative skills aren’t just polish. They’re critical to your success. And you can’t just take a night class and say you have “reporting skills now.” You have to find the right people and build a relationship with them internally. Luckily, at Eloqua I work with smart people who see the value in a sharp editorial product.
What lessons can PR and marketing types take from traditional journalism folk in this new world?
Interview people. Write everyday. Understand that people care about a good story, not your product. I was always baffled by PR people who would call me and expect me to just write an article about their company. My readers cared about wider trends and changes in the market, not just about some brand’s CEO. Do the work to find the bigger story, and you’ll have more success getting your brand’s own story told.
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
The public relations industry is constantly changing. It seems like every day there are new tools to master. How can you make sure you’re up to speed when it comes to your next job interview?
Get Smarter
Blogs
Industry learning opportunities are endless. One way to stay current about happenings in the public relations field is by reading blogs, both about public relations as well as the industry you want to work in.
How do you find the right blogs to read? Start with this list of the top 100 PR blogs and then choose the ones you like the best. Check out the links and blogrolls for each blog to find find other related sites and blogs to read.
Press releases
Searching for releases in your industry or areas of interest will give you topic ideas and domain knowledge to potentially share in an interview. By reading press releases, you can get ideas you can incorporate in the releases you write for your clients, too. While we’re on the subject, you should be reading all the recent releases from any agency or company you interview with before the interview.
Twitter
Follow both industry journalists and other PR folks on Twitter. Once you find someone to follow, check their Twitter Lists to see if they’ve categorized other industry people you should follow as well. Sites like Listorious and WeFollow allow you to search a category to follow new people. It’s a great place to start in following thought leaders.
What Hiring Managers Want You to Know
When you’re in your next job interview, what will the hiring manager want you to know?
They expect you to be up to speed on changes in both public relations and the industry you want to work in. That means if Obama passed an economic stimulus package that affects physicians moving to electronic medical records and you’re applying for a job at a healthcare company, you better know all about it!
They expect you to know about the them. If they have a tagline, memorize it. If they have posted their mission statement, read it thoroughly. If you have the job description, you should understand it and have your questions prepared. Read through all their press releases – you should know about the company’s latest news and management hires. If asked, you should be able to name their top five clients. You should also have a general knowledge of the hiring manager’s background by checking out LinkedIn or doing a bit of internet research prior to the interview.
Hiring managers also like you to have diverse interests that will help in coming up with creative ideas and story angles. And every hiring manager in the public relations industry will expect better than average writing skills. Before the interview, prepare a few samples of your work and make sure they are relevant for the position.
Knowing what the market pays in the PR industry can help you ensure that you receive the right package for the job you’re doing. Whether you already have a job or are applying for one, you should do your research beforehand and know the average salary for the position for which you are applying. It’s common to be asked about your salary expectations during a job interview, so you need be prepared to handle the question.
Without knowing this in advance, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. In an existing job, especially if you have long tenure with a company, this information can help position your discussion around a raise at review time.
Just what are PR professionals earning? Let’s take a look at some of the data available. The average salary for a public relations manager within the United States, according to Salary.com, is $85,761, but not surprisingly, the actual amount will vary drastically depending on which state/city you work in and the specific company, industry, and position.
Agency Positions
The figures below are all based on typical earnings from New York City and San Francisco. When it comes to agency positions, the following salaries are fairly common.
Account Coordinator: $35,000 – $45,000
Account Executive: $45,000 – $58,000
Senior Account Executive: $52,000 – $70,000
Account Manager/Account Supervisor: $65,000 – $95,000
Account Director: $80,000 – $120,000
Vice President: $100,000 -$150,000
Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, General Manager: $150,000 – $250,000
(This information comes from the salary ranges my PR recruiting firm, Paradigm Staffing, sees for the positions we have worked on in 2011 and from the stated current salaries of the candidates we recruit for them.)
Keep in mind that all of these will depend entirely on the position and the structure of the agency. A VP in one agency may be the highest level next to the owner or the General Manager and require 15+ years experience. In another agency, there are still four or five more levels higher than a Vice President and the typical VP has half the years of experience. Other factors that could affect your salary include how many clients you manage, which clients you manage, your industry specialty, the agency size, and your previous salary history with your company or your previous employer.
Bonuses are another factor that are particularly common in smaller agencies that may struggle with offering the most industry competitive base salaries. Many do, however, offer bonuses annually or semi-annually. Some even offer new business commissions to employees who either win a new business pitch or bring in a viable lead to the agency which can significantly boost your income.
In-House Positions
Working in-house means you’ll have the opportunity to work on one brand or in a specific area of communications at the corporate level or within a division. Most larger companies have an in-house PR team and work with external agencies. The wages tend to a bit higher, especially at the junior and mid-levels and discretionary bonuses are common for managers and above, typically 10-20% of the base salary. Salaries tend to be as follows:
PR Specialist: $40,000 – $65,000
PR Manager and Corporate Communications Manager: $65,000 -$120,000
PR Director and Corporate Communications Director: $115,000 – $195,000
Vice President: $140,000 -$195,000+
Sr. Vice President, EVP, Chief Communications Officer – $175,000 to over $300,000
(This information comes from the salary ranges my PR recruiting firm, Paradigm Staffing, sees for the positions we have worked on in 2011 and from the stated current salaries of the candidates we recruit for them.)
Asking for a Raise
When asking for a raise in your current position, you should have a good reason behind asking. Simply telling your boss that you know other PR pros are earning more than you or that you have X amount of time with the company are not compelling enough reasons and you’ll likely annoy your manager more than help your cause. You can certainly arm yourself with information and a carefully thought out plan to present to your boss. When you offer good, quality reasons with plenty of data to back it up and examples of your increased responsibilities/contributions to the company, you’ll find that you have a better chance of getting a salary increase.
This is a post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
Like many people, when it comes to Google+ I’m wary of putting time and energy into another social media network, especially when there’s not a lot to be gained from doing so yet. Unlike the major social networks Google is trying to unseat with Plus (such as Facebook and Twitter), Google+ isn’t attracting the masses and the folks who are attracted are scratching their heads once they join.
So, what is one to do?
First, have some perspective –Google+ got an impressive jump out of the starting gate with 25 million people signing up for it in the first month. Technology “geeks” and social media experts rave about it. On the other hand, Google+ visitors have dropped 37 percent in the last few weeks, according to Alexa and plenty of “ordinary folk” who got into the beta have expressed backlash for Google+.
Give Google a chance – Google+ is currently in a closed beta testing phase but Google appears to be betting heavily on Plus with impressive marketing expenditures. Google has yet to introduce its Google+ pages for businesses, so it’s impossible to say what the business opportunity will be yet (though that isn’t stopping anyone from speculating)
Be patient – as Doug Haslam writes on the Voce Communications blog: “I ask the early adopters not to declare the service dead or the greatest thing ever- mere days into this limited launch. I share the naysayers’ concerns that it will be hard to move people off Facebook and/or Twitter, let alone other services we are used to using, to make Plus the center of our lives. We don’t even know what the services for businesses are going to be, so snap judgments on this new social network are meaningless. I also share the cheerleaders’ enthusiasm- for me, a hope, really- that Google Plus may actually take advantage of the fact many of use disparate Google services like Mail, Documents, even Buzz (guilty, and lonely).”
What do you think? Have you tried Google+? What do you think it’s chances are?
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
This blog is to share my recruiting experiences and discuss thoughts on the job market, PR industry and technology.
Alison Kenney is an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience.
