PR: Stressed for Success

There has been a lot of Twitter buzz in the wake of a CareerCast study that listed public relations as one of the most stressful professions.

I believe that PR can be a very rewarding career, but do find it stressful at times (in particular, life at a PR agency can have its trying moments).  The fact that few people understand what the field is about can also be frustrating - I find that I am constantly explaining what I do for a living .  I think my kids finally understand what PR is, although at first they were hoping that my career can somehow help them get on TV.

Awhile back, I wrote on the Fusion agency blog about the field and its challenges in my post PR's Moment of Truth.

The reputation of PR is not helped by the fact that many people outside the profession simply do not understand what it is about.

When you think about it, it is simply amazing that we go out there and get the job done every day, considering the many skills that the average PR person who manages accounts is expected to master. He or she must be a word smith; a storyteller; a good conversationalist; a salesperson; a customer support person; a marketing strategist; a manager and resource coordinator; an MC of sorts, to facilitate interviews and press events; and a media specialist.

 

 

Comments

[Jgombita]

I appreciate the way you use non-gender-specific language, Bob.

What do you say for all of the non-PR practitioners who felt they had the right to weigh in on the validity (or not) of PRSA's #PRDefined project?

Would dentists tell the doctors association what they can or can't do?

[Bob Geller]

Judy,
Thanks for reading and commenting, hadn't given much thought to your question but it does strike me as odd (letting others define the profession) now that you mention it.

[Joel Don]

My accountant tells me she has stress, especially at this time of the year -- tax season. But I've never asked and she never has had to tell me what she does for a living or the value she delivers. And I suppose if you never experience an audit, that's the ROI of your bean counter, plain and simple.