Planning a Career in Public Relations

CASE ACTIVITY: READ & EXPLAIN ANSWER
You will graduate from college in several months and plan on pursuing a career in public relations. After
applying for a number of positions, you receive two job offers.
One is with a national chain of pizza parlors. The corporate communications department has about 20
professionals, and it is customary for beginners to start in employee relations and write articles for the
company’s website and intranet. Later, with more experience, you might be assigned to do marketing
communications or work in a specialized area such as investor relations, governmental affairs, or even
community relations.
The second job offer is from a local office of a large, national public relations firm. You would begin as an
assistant account executive and work on several accounts, including a chain of fast-food restaurants and a
manufacturer of computer keyboards. The starting pay is about the same, but the pizza chain offers better
health and pension benefits.
Journal 4.6: What Do You Think?
Taking into consideration the pros and cons of working for public relations firms versus corporations, what job
would best fit your abilities and preferences? Explain your reasons.