A career in PR

People say I am a good communicator and have a good command over English. But I do not want to become a journalist and I am interested in a career in public relations. Will it be a good choice? What are the other qualities needed to become a PR professional? What are the career prospects and qualifications? -Praveen Bhandari, R P Road

The role of a PR practitioner ranges from handling customer relations to cultivating inter-relationships in the company, between managers and employees or between the various branch offices. The most important activity would be fact-gathering. It could be personal; through informal conversation or through interviews. The work schedule of a PR professional is often irregular and interrupted. The PR executive is not tied to his desk always and the PR programs often work against deadlines.

The basic requirement for a PR professional is good communication skills, be it on print or over the phone. Enhancing the clients reputation is one of the important responsibilities of a PR practitioner and for this you need to be passionate about media related tasks or events and should have the capability to generate positive publicity for the clients (which could be a company, individual or government).

To give your client a public eye, you need to be analytical and creative in problem solving. You need to have the capacity to come out with persuasive practical solutions and be able to draw out necessary information. You need also to be responsible to keep the line of communication open between the companies policies and the company’s shareholders, managing body, employees and the consumers.

• You need to be
• Be articulative and imaginative
• Extremely confident
• Organise and plan well
• Both, diplomatic and empathetic

You have varied choices of qualification to enter this field. You can pursue bachelors, preferably in mass communication and then study a master’s in public relations. A PG diploma course in public relations can also be considered. Most of the time what is needed is education and an internship to get some practical experience to break into the field. You can consider the below prospects

Advertising agencies or Marketing companies (as a communication professional)

• In IT’s as Technical Communication or corporate communication specialist or even as a personal secretary to the CEO
• Several PR professionals pursue a course in photography or visual communication along with their PR course and get placed with filmmaking agencies in Mumbai.
• TV channels or news channels
• You also be hired into sales or business development positions
• You can also start your own website or advertising company

Hotel management industry has a great need of PR professionals. They are quite in demand in IT companies like Infosys, Wipro and HCL. Top advertising companies like J Walter Thompson India, Mudra Communication Pvt. Ltd., FCB-Ulka Advertising Ltd. Re-diffusion- DY&R and Ogilvy and Mather are always on the lookout for PR professionals.

The PR practitioners are well paid; however, the range of compensation depends on the individual qualifications and experience.

It would be advisable to select colleges that offer courses in mass communication, as these institutes facilitate coordination with proper media professionals as well. All the best!!

I will finish my B Sc in biology physics and maths next year. Can I become a nurse? - Bandana Roy, Banjara nagar

Nursing is a noble profession and ideal for the one who is compassionate and ready to serve the diseased and the weak. The profession needs one to be ready to work under stressful conditions for long hours. Once you finish your graduation, you can opt for the GNM (general nursing and midwifery program which is a three and a half years diploma course. You need to clear your 12th with biology, chemistry and physics.

This course helps in preparing general nurses hold first-level positions in hospitals and other such places. If you want to go in for an advanced qualification in this field then opt for B.Sc. Nursing (Post Basic) program, which is a two-year regular course or a three-year distance course. The eligibility is 10+2 and GNM whereas for the distance learning program, it is 10+2 + GNM along with two years of work experience. You also need to be registered as a nurse.

After the post certificate BSc, you can apply for a master’s in nursing with specialisation like:

• Hospital Nursing
• Home Health Nursing
• Industrial Nursing
• Military Nursing
• Orthopedic Nursing
• Pediatric Nursing
• Public Health Nursing
• Psychiatric Nursing

You can get enrolled into the ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife/health worker) course. It is an 18-month diploma course for which you have clear atleast class 10th. In this programme, training is provided to nurses on how to take care of health related needs of people living in rural areas especially children, mothers and old people.

With a GNM, you will be eligible to obtain a job as a nurse in any medical organisation. However, you will have to first get registered as a certified nurse with the nurse’s council of your state.

By:shehre banu