is public relations/events management hard to break into?

Lollipop95

I really want to study PR with events management next year (would love a job in public relations) but I've heard both fields are notoriously hard to breaks into. This scares me and puts me off doing the course so I'm looking for advice and some guidance. I've been told by teachers in school numerous times that I'm an excellent typist and should think about a secretarial type course and I do have hospitality studies as a second option on my CAO. But a teacher also told me to study the PR if it's my dream -
which it is. But the thoughts of being jobless isn't very appealing. Any thoughts as to what I should do?

MagTuired

Hi Lollipop. Can't say I'm the best qualified person to answer you query, but as you have yet to see a reply I thought I might share my limited experience. I've been working as a freelance writer/PR person for about three years now, mainly writing press releases, web content and other stuff for various clients here and abroad. I came into it by a few twists and turns (I didn't study PR or marketing) so I can't say much about the more traditional route. I also do work at arts festivals some summers, which is brilliant craic and lets you build a very diverse set of skills that would serve you in nearly any other profession. At the moment I don't make enough money to get by on my freelance PR work alone, but I have been gaining valuable experience that should give me a foot in the door at an agency or a larger company's communications office. If I was more committed to being a freelancer, I could probably live off of it, but truth be told, I prefer working with others and a team-based approach.

I think if you are really passionate about it, you should go for it - I don't think there's an industry out there that people will tell you ISN'T hard or nigh on impossible to get into. I rarely find that kind of talk worth listening to, even if some of the people dispensing that advice mean well (as few as they might be). Even if somebody else has had a bad experience in an profession or industry, it doesn't mean that you can't go out and find a place that works for you.

Some of the most successful people I have met in my life got there by ignoring the people that told them they couldn't achieve what they wanted. Sure, they had to have common sense and 'be realistic' in that pursuit - but also crazy enough to relentlessly pursue what they wanted to do, no matter the odds.

As long as humans exchange money for goods and services, there will be a need for some form of public relations - be it in the guise of a marketer, blogger, communications officer or even another position, which like a sales job, would benefit from PR skills. Sure, you might not find the perfect job in Ireland right now, but thanks to the internet, you can work for clients anywhere in the world once you get good enough, or if you like, go abroad and in search of greener pastures. The skills you learn in PR work are highly adaptable, because at the root of it, some form of communication lies at the heart of almost every interaction undertaken by human beings.

There are challenges - specifically finding out how people communicate now, what works, and what doesn't, but you can always find a way through a bit of trial and error and brainstorming.

And hey, worst comes to worst, you'll know how to sell yourself to an employer if you ever decide to switch professions .



Again, I'd say go for it, and good luck!