Working in communications and marketing jobs such as public relations can give graduates the opportunity to work with customers in a variety of industries, providing them with fresh challenges every day. Jason Vida, a director of public relations with a bachelor's degree in communications, said getting in to the career can involve patience and persistence. But once candidates get their foot on the career ladder - often through an internship - there are "so many fun things to work on" from communicating with consumers to pitching stories to journalists for companies in any number of industries. "That's what makes public relations fun for me - juggling the different types of industries," he said. As well as delivering communications, the US Department of Labor says public relations specialists are often involved in areas such as interest group representations and conflict mediation. DOL figures from 2006 show there were 243,000 public relations specialists working in the US and the sector is expected to grow by 18% in the decade to 2016. Average earnings for those working in the profession in May 2006 were $47,350, with variations based on location and job details.  |