– Maggie MacDonald
Like many of my college classmates, I live with constant apprehension about the future. We worry if we’re choosing the right major and whether our career choice will lead to professional success and personal satisfaction. I decided on Public Relations, thinking it was a good fit for someone like me who likes to communicate. I, of course, had my doubts—sometimes I need to shut off from the world and be alone, too. I wondered if there was ever a moment of solitude in the day of a PR professional when they weren’t on the phone with a reporter or meeting with a client.
As an intern with Buchanan Public Relations, I’ve seen how PR can be a welcoming world for extroverted introverts like me. Contrary to the Samantha Jones stereotype, not everyone in PR is crazy bold and outgoing 24/7. I’ve learned that there are many times in a day when the different sides of me can shine.
There are times you must be socially confident.
A large part of a job in public relations is getting media exposure for the client. This means weekly— if not daily – communication with reporters and editors. In these instances, you have to be willing to use your interpersonal skills to build the relationships that will get your client where they want to be. This is when being able to interact confidently with strangers comes in handy.
There are times to let yourself be a social butterfly.
Something I wasn’t attuned to from inside the classroom is the amount of teamwork that goes into every project at work. Even when projects are distributed individually, it’s still as if the heart of every member on each account beats as one. A unified team makes for a successful account, and that requires constant communication. Internal meetings are daily, so being someone who’s easy to get along with is a must.
There are times to be a loner.
Much to my surprise, there are always many hours in the day spent behind the scenes. PR is sometimes seen as a glamorous profession, but in reality, there is a lot of in-depth research that goes into each task. It’s a sharp contrast to alternate between working with others and dedicated solitary, focused work.
While many public relations professionals tend to be more on the outgoing end of the spectrum, there is by no means one stereotypical profile. At the mid-point in my summer internship, I’ve happily learned much more about the industry than I had hoped. I can rest assured that PR is most definitely the right career fit for me.
Have you ever encountered a PR professional that didn’t fit the industry stereotype? Let us know in the comments below!