Public Relations Assistant

We're looking for people who:	enjoy working with others to promote their products or services.
What you will do:	You will work with individuals, groups, and organizations to create and disseminate publicity materials to different media. Some specific tasks you will be asked to complete include: Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, and/or exhibits to transmit client's message and/or product to the intended audience Be informed about cultural and advertising trends Establish good relationships with media representatives and community and public interest groups Plan and conduct market and public opinion research to test products
Knowledge required for this job:	How to communicate effectively in writing, using the appropriate grammar, spelling, and writing style for the intended audience Understanding the method and media to use to deliver a client's message to its intended audience(s) Marketing strategies and tactics used to display, promote, and sell products or services How to provide professional service to all kinds of customers
Skills required for this job:	The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a variety of audiences Using logic, creativity and thinking outside-the-box to generate ideas and solutions for a range of problems and situations that confront clients Ability to understand both the meaning and the message of written materials Active listening to understand client needs
What education you need:	Most jobs require either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. Most of the people (80.6%) ages 25-44 who currently hold this kind of job have a bachelor's degree.
Salary:	Nationally, people working in this job earn between $13.50 and $42.89 an hour. In Maryland, the pay scale ranges from $13.50-$44.96 an hour. (Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) 2007)
Future job prospects	Nationally, all public relations specialists jobs are expected to grow from 187,600 positions in 2004 to 230,500 in 2014. (+23%) In Maryland, jobs are expected to increase from 2,840 in 2004 to 3,300 in 2014. (+16%)

Watch a video that shows what a public relations specialist does.

According to the Maryland Commission on Higher Education, training for this career is available through these resources:

The keyword PUBLIC RELATIONS located these community and four year colleges

The Maryland Career Clusters help students prepare for their future education and careers while they are in high school. The job of Public Relations Specialist is a career opportunity in the Arts, Media, and Communication Career Cluster, in the core area of Mass Communication.

You can explore other careers in the Arts, Media, and Communication Career Cluster here.