I've been working in public relations for five years now, both in the States and in New Zealand.
- What in PR do you do?
I specialize in technology PR, and have worked at agencies in all my positions so far.
- How did you get there?
I went to college planning to be an electrical engineer, but found my writing and communications classes far more engaging. I switched majors, and did a co-op working in the PR department of my university. I've always loved the news, so being in the middle of it was exciting for me.
- Are you happy with it?
Yes, for the most part. the money isn't very good to start out with, and the hours can be quite long. But no two days are the same, and if you like to write, it's one of the few fields where you can write and have a comfortable standard of living.
- Perks? Upside/downsides?
At entry level there are fairly few perks. You'll get some free booze, possibly a laptop and a cell phone. Maybe some lunches on the corporate tab. If you want perks, my advice is to check out as many employers as possible; I've found the quality of employment packages can vary widely.
Send me a message if you'd like and we can chat.
