What Can I Do With a Major In Public Relations?

• Ad Club
• The Association for Women in Sports Media at the University of Georgia
• International Association of Business Communicators - UGA Chapter
• National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) –  UGA Chapter
• Online News Association / Society of Professional Journalists at UGA
• Pandora Yearbook
• Paw Print Agency
• The Professional Entertainment & Sports Association (PESA)
• The Industry (Entertainment and media student organization)
• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
• Rouge Magazine
• Talking Dog Agency
• The Red and Black
• Women in Sports and Events (WISE) – UGA Chapter
• To find additional clubs and organizations, go to the UGA Involvement Network
• UGA Mentor Program
• Connect with your Career Consultant

Knowledge/Skills Needed in this Industry

• Strengthen verbal communication skills by taking speech communication courses and engaging in public speaking opportunities. Develop persuasive communication skills to learn how to pitch and "sell" your ideas.
• Enhance writing skills through additional coursework or by writing for a publication such as The Red & Black.
• Obtain part-time job, internship, or volunteer experience within an area of interest or at a public relations firm, newspaper, TV, or radio station. Public Relations is a competitive field, and related experience is essential to entering the industry. Start by gaining experience in campus clubs and organizations or a part-time job, and aim for a career-related public relations internship the summer before your senior year at UGA. 
• Learn to work well with teams. Demonstrate enthusiasm, interpersonal skills, teamwork, integrity, organizational and communication skills, and good judgment.
• Develop strong computer skills including experience with Excel, Canva, and some familiarity with the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, etc.). LinkedIn Learning is a great, free resource to learn to use these programs.
• Gain experience with social media marketing (using platforms such as TikTok, X, and Instagram) and social media analytics (using programs like HootSuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social).
• Become proficient in online advertising services such as Google AdWords. Consider enrolling in New Media Certificate courses to gain understanding and proficiency in digital media such as coding, new technology, and social media.
• Develop the ability to work under the pressure of deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Students interested in the accounts and management side of public relations should consider taking at least one course in marketing, business management, accounting, and/or finance. Try to become proficient in Excel before you graduate.
• Create a portfolio of writing samples, ad campaigns, marketing strategies, graphics, and ideas. Share your work digitally to market your skills for job opportunities via a curated, professional social media profile (Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Docs, etc) or a website you create using a platform like Canva, Issuu, SquareSpace, WordPress, and Wix.

Campus Involvement, Domestic Field Study and Study Abroad Opportunities

• Participate in organizations such as Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), AMA at UGA, Talking Dog Agency (a student-run, full-service advertising agency), or PawPrint Agency (a student-run advertising agency serving non-profit clients).
• Students interested in pursuing careers in the creative industry are encouraged to enroll in the UGA Summer Studio Creative Portfolio Program, a partnership between Grady College and the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Students participate in a four-week program to formulate ideas, build technical skills, and produce work for their creative portfolios for work in advertising, public relations, graphic design, social media content creation, and related communication industries.
• Participate in a Grady study abroad or field study program to gain experience in your field in the U.S. or internationally. Options include visiting the Cannes Lions Festival and internship programs in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. 

Network

Networking is an important part of job searching in the communication industry. You can use resources at UGA to build a professional network. 

• Join the UGA Mentor Program and request a mentor
• Attend events with alumni speakers and panelists. You can find events on the UGA Career Center website calendar and the UGA Career Services Grady Career Services Update listserv emails.
• Create a LinkedIn profile and use the Career Insights tool to find UGA alumni in your field. Introduce yourself to them and ask to meet with you for an informational interview. 
• Join LinkedIn Groups such as Advertising and PR at UGA Grady College, PRSSA, University of Georgia Alumni Association Group (UGA), University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni, and other groups related to your career interests.
• If you’re interested in working or interning for a specific company, visit that company’s website (open jobs are typically posted on a "Careers" page), follow them on social media, follow their profile on Handshake to see when they visit campus or post an event, and connect with UGA Alumni who work there on LinkedIn.

Additional Internship and Job Search Tips

• For additional information on internships and job opportunities, look out for emails sent every Tuesday on the Grady Career Services Update listserv. If you are not on that listserv, sign up for the Grady job leads listserv here.
• Follow @UGAGradyCareers on Twitter for timely job postings and career advice, run by the Grady College Office of Experiential Learning and the UGA Career Center Grady College Career Consultant.

• O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.  
• My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.  
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.  
• Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.  
• Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.  
• UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.  
• Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance. 
• Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.  
• Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.

GENERAL  

• Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)  
• LinkedIn (this popular networking site also has a job board!) 
• Idealist (non-profit jobs) 
• USAJobs (federal jobs) 

MAJOR-SPECIFIC

• Council of Public Relations Firms 
• CreativePool 
• Digital Media Jobs Network
• Entertainment Careers 
• Journalism Jobs 
• Marketing Hire 
• Media Bistro 
• National Association of Black Journalists  
• National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) - UGA Chapter
• Nation Job 
• O’Dwyer’s PR Services Report 
• PR NewsWire
• PRSA/Georgia Chapter 
• PRSA JobCenter 
• PRSA Silicon Valley 
• PR Week Magazine 
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA National) 
• Society of Professional Journalists 
• Talent Zoo 
• T. Howard Foundation – Diversity in the Media 
• WarnerMedia (Formerly Turner Broadcasting)

• Online News Association
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA National)
• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
• Women in Sports and Events (WISE)