Become a PR Representative for a Fast-Growing Career

A public relations professional, commonly called a PR representative, helps a company create and maintain its public images. These representatives may serve as a spokesperson and/or collaborate with creative professionals, event planners, and other team members and stakeholders. If you're interested in pursuing a dynamic career in the world of PR, here's what you need to know.

Educational Requirements

Most PR representatives have a bachelor's degree in either public relations or a related field such as journalism or English. Common courses in these four-year programs include public speaking, digital media, business writing, and journalism. Take advantage of opportunities to build your resume while in school through coursework and volunteer PR work for college and/or community organizations.

Work Experience and Certification

Internships help fledgling PR professionals develop a work portfolio to show prospective employers. You'll also get a better sense of what type of PR position is right for you. Agency-based representatives work with a variety of clients and industries, while internal PR staff members focus primarily on their parent company.

You can also access tools and resources for career development by joining professional organizations such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Some universities have student chapters of these organizations, or you may be able to start your own chapter. Once you've discovered your niche within PR, you may want to seek additional certification. For example, you can specialize in speechwriting, social media, news relations, and countless other disciplines.

The Tulane School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) Applied Business Studies course offers a bachelor of arts degree in public relations, which can be completed on campus or with a combination of campus-based and online classes. Within the PR degree program, students can further specialize with a concentration in digital media and marketing communication. To learn more, you can request information from SoPA, call (504) 291-6837 to speak to a staff member, or schedule your visit to one of our campus locations.