Public relations (PR) is often thrown around as an ambiguous term, which can be particularly confusing for those looking to enter the world of work. Put simply, it’s an industry that helps improve – or protect – the reputation of a business and its leaders amongst its key stakeholders such as employees, regulators, investors, consumers or clients, and partners. That might be, but not limited to, efforts to raise external investment, attempts to try and improve perceptions amongst consumers to drive demand for a business’s products or services, or to drive employee engagement internally.
So, how do we do that? Well, the world of PR is constantly changing. 15-20 years ago, traditional media – newspapers, radio, and TV broadcasts – were the bread and butter of most PR agencies. A piece in a prominent national newspaper could be the make or break of a company.
Whilst traditional media is still highly influential, today other channels, such as social media, have exploded in popularity. Some consumers – particularly Gen Zs – prefer to use social media as a channel for their daily news updates. This creates fantastic opportunities for businesses to engage directly with stakeholders but also presents potential reputational risks – one risqué post could lead spiral into a larger issue or crisis.
Supporting businesses as they navigate the ever-changing world of media is one of the reasons why a career in PR is incredibly exciting. You’ll work closely with your teams to create impactful content for a variety of channels, directly engage journalists and analysts to communicate a client’s unique story, and share successes and learnings with the client to evolve their strategy moving forward.
The nature of working with businesses means that no two days are the same: one day, a client could sign a major strategic agreement, and the next could announce the departure of its CEO. Meanwhile, working for an agency also means that you’ll be supporting several businesses, which could span multiple industries; during a single day, you could be creating content for a UK retail brand, a business-to-business technology brand, a charity, and a natural resources business. Because of this, the role is incredibly fast-paced and constantly changes in line with the evolving macroeconomic climate, helping you get a strong grasp of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses.
Above all, a career in public relations is fantastic fun. It’s built on social interaction, providing critical advice, and developing strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders. At Hudson Sandler, that’s something we pride ourselves on. We’ve worked with some of our clients, such as Greggs, for more than 30 years and have colleagues in the business still today who have been with us the entire time.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, fun, and varied career, public relations could be for you. We’d love for you to be the next person to join us and help us forge relationships that will last for decades to come.
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Andy, Client Director