Studying In the Field The advertising and public relations field tends to be very competitive so a solid education can give you a major advantage. Very few people working in the advertising or public relations are under twenty, which shows that either education or work experience is almost compulsory to enter the industry.
One of the major barriers to this industry is the highly complex nature of today's global and technological economy. A graduate education in advertising and public relations can give you the base you need to understand the complex and quickly shifting world of today's businesses and make you an invaluable asset to companies operating in this environment.
Not only will students learn about the modern business place, but they will also learn about people and sharpen their communication skills. Public relations involves opening lines of communication between companies and the people to whom they are providing services. It is important that companies have people who know how to communicate clearly to avoid the type of issues that can arise in any relationship, particularly one as delicate as consumer satisfaction.
Graduate degrees can be pursued at both the masters and doctorate levels. Graduate programs in the field vary widely in their emphases and directions. Many schools offer a more general degree in communication and specializations for advertising and/or public relations. Some degrees are set up for those who are looking to switch careers whereas others are oriented more toward those who completed undergraduate work in the field and wish to expand on their knowledge and delve deeper into the specifics of advertising or public relations. Please visit our sponsors for more information on the specific programs they offer.
Job Opportunities In the Field Competition for jobs is heavy due to the glamour associated with this industry. However, employment is expected to grow more than the average for other industries over the next decade. Occupations in this field vary widely including business, management, and financial workers, professionals and related workers, and sales and related workers. There are a large number of small firms in the industry in which workers tend to have varied responsibilities whereas the larger firms tend to encourage specialization of their employees. Jobs in this industry tend to center around large cities with California and New York together accounting for 1 in 5 firms and more than 1 in 4 workers. (http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs030.htm) Jobs in this industry tend to be fast paced and exciting; the downside to that being that workers frequently find themselves working long, stressful hours under deadlines. However, if you are looking for variety and a challenging, evolving environment, you certainly may want to look into graduate school in advertising and public relations.
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