Ask the expert: Future in PR beckons

Q. I am still at school and am trying to find out what degree I would need to study for a career in public relations or promotional work. Do I need a degree in public relations?

A. I've checked with career and academic advisers at the University, as well as colleagues in the industry. Their advice is fairly consistent.

First, there are many pathways into a PR career; as you have a few years before you begin tertiary study, you might want to invest some time in interviewing managers in existing PR firms to see what they are looking for, as well as gaining information from the PR Institute of New Zealand.

Degrees and diplomas in public relations do exist, but many advisers would suggest that you not narrow your options so quickly; you'll probably have many careers in your life; your studies provide the foundation for that.

The PR professionals that I spoke with had their initial degrees in arts and humanities, political studies, marketing or journalism, as well as information technology (many with double majors or conjoint degrees) and then had gone on to specialise in public relations.

Almost everyone I spoke with emphasised that your education must be complemented by developing personal skills in oral and written communication, personal presentation, time management, teamwork, project management. Many of these can be developed through part-time and volunteer work.

If you really want to test your fit with this potential career, you might seek some of that part-time or volunteer work in PR-related roles.