Public relations professionals are dedicated to maintaining a good relationship between their organization and the public. It is part of the marketing and advertising sector, but public relations is much more about building and maintaining a company's reputation and image, and involves more direct personal relationships. Public relations professionals often work closely with the media. Because communications skills are so crucial to the job, many organizations require a college degree in journalism or communications.

Pursuing a Public Relations Career

If you want to work in a specific field or industry instead of with a general public relations firm, your prospective employer may want you to have a degree in that field. This way you can speak intelligently about the issues your firm might face. For example, PR professionals with backgrounds in science, technology, and foreign affairs are in especially high demand in those fast-growing sectors. Since public relations is a very competitive field, the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that, in addition to your degree you add career training, such as an internship, to your resume before applying for your first job.