My Career Interest

When I graduate in December, I plan on exploring a career in public relations. I do not have a particular company in mind yet, but do know that I would prefer to work in a public relations firm rather than in an in-house public relations crew. I am currently submitting applications online to various companies in hopes of finding a job when I graduate. Public relations firms are hired by big corporations to save face when they make mistakes that can compromise their reputation in the community. Companies such as McDonald's use public relations firms on a regular basis. In the famous "McLibel" case, a group of environmental activists were sued by McDonalds over a pamphlet that called the company out on poor environmental practices. After the case, it was up to public relations experts to reassure their consumer base that McDonald's is an environment-friendly company that still has its stakeholders best interests in mind. I consider myself to be a creative person and would greatly enjoy the responsibility of thinking outside-the-box to come up with an image-building/repairing campaign for struggling corporations. Since deciding that this was the career for me, I have taken a public relations course at Northern Illinois University and joined an on-campus group called the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) that gives students hands-on experience in the field. I feel that both of these things will help me perform at a higher level once I obtain a job in the field.