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Advice From the Pros
What Employers Look for in Public Relations Candidates
Before you run down to Kinko's and order 1,000 photocopies of your resume, there is an important question you should ask yourself: Do I have the educational background, the basic job skills and the personal traits sought by public relations employers? These include:
Education
A bachelor's degree with a major in communications, journalism or English is by far the most common minimum educational requirement listed in public relations job descriptions. Some organizations find a degree in marketing or business administration equally acceptable--or even preferable--for marketing communications positions if the candidate has also minored in communications, journalism or English. A few may prefer a well-rounded liberal arts education to help you manage the breadth of issues you might have to manage in your career.
There are several Washington universities and colleges that offer bachelor's and advanced degrees in communications, and one that offers an eight-month evening certification program. Local public libraries usually carry information on available programs and degrees. Three state universities have Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chatpters, including Central Washington University, University of Washington and Washington State University.
