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Career Details

27-3031.00 - Public Relations Specialists


Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
240,700
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
255,600
Estimate
Change in Employment
+14,900
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+6.2%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
  • Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
  • Confer with production or support personnel to produce or coordinate production of advertisements or promotions.
  • Arrange public appearances, lectures, contests, or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or to promote goodwill.
  • Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or services.
  • Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
  • Consult with advertising agencies or staff to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media for products, organizations, or individuals.
  • Coach client representatives in effective communication with the public or with employees.
  • Prepare or deliver speeches to further public relations objectives.
  • Coordinate public responses to environmental management incidents or conflicts.
  • Develop plans or materials to communicate organizational activities that are beneficial to the environment, public safety, or other important social issues.
  • Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
  • Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
  • Update and maintain content posted on the Web.
  • Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders' reports, for internal or external audiences.
Supplemental
  • Purchase advertising space or time as required to promote client's product or agenda.
  • Plan or conduct market or public opinion research to test products or determine potential for product success, communicating results to client or management.
  • Develop marketing campaigns for environmental technologies or services.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 English Language
  • 99%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Communications and Media
  • 99%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 70%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 69%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Administration and Management
  • 68%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 66%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Clerical
  • 62%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 56%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Law and Government
  • 55%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Education and Training
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 51%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
 Duplicating machines
  • Photocopying equipment
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content authoring and editing software
  • 3M Post-it App
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffectsHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative CloudHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Adobe Systems Adobe IllustratorHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Writer
  • Apple Final Cut Express
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Apple iPhoto
  • Apple Keynote
  • Apple QuickTime
  • Blogging software
  • FacebookHOT
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Google Slides
  • JamBoard
  • Mentimeter
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • MySpace
  • Podcasting software
  • SmugMug FlickrHOT
  • Social media sitesHOT
  • Website management software
  • YouTubeHOT
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Reader
 Development software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSSHOT
  • DrupalHOT
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Airtable
  • Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
  • Cision CisionPoint
  • Customer relationship management CRM software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Google AnalyticsHOT
  • Google+
  • LexisNexis
  • LinkedInHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
  • Oracle Eloqua
  • Salesforce softwareHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Cisco Systems Webex
  • LogMeIn GoToWebinar
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
  • Slido
  • Twitter
 Business function specific software
  • Google AdWordsHOT
  • Google DriveHOT
  • HubSpot softwareHOT
  • Marketo Marketing AutomationHOT
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
 Network applications software
  • ParentSquare
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
 Product/Equipment
  • IBM Certified Specialist - Unica Campaign V8.5
    1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)

  • IBM Certified Specialist - Campaign V9.1
    1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)

 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Laurel Ridge Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College