Pursuing Your Passion Will Lead To Success, According To San Francisco PR Director
Crafting a message and building a strong public image is of the utmost importance for businesses operating in San Francisco, especially with more than 80 public relations firms located in the city. Public relations managers typically command a high salary in San Francisco, and entry-level positions typically require at least a bachelor's degree in public relations, business or other related fields. For a glimpse into whether a public relations career sounds appealing, Stephen Schmitz, an account director with Calhoun and Company Communications, shared a bit of advice with job seekers.
What is your background and level of education?
"I was the student who always wanted to be in public relations. I've always been a vociferous consumer of news, and it just seemed like the industry I wanted to be in. I've read the New York Times daily for years, partly because knowing what's going on in your community, country and abroad is vital to being able to connect with people who aren't already your friends and neighbors.
Growing up in the South and spending summers in Spain, I was introduced to wine early on. After graduation from LSU, I moved to New Orleans, where spirits to that city is what wine is to Napa/Sonoma; and being at the center of this truly incredible city with an exploding food and cocktail scene just ingrained in me that this is what I want to be doing."
What type of services does your company provide?
"At Calhoun & Company Communications, we help our clients, typically wine and spirits producers, formulate and implement communications strategies to reach a target audience."
What career advice can you share with those thinking of entering your line of business?
"The great thing about public relations is that it touches every industry. Maybe you love clothes and seek out a role in-house with a designer, or have an affinity exploring the latest apps and devices and go to work for one of our city's incredible technology companies; the opportunities are almost endless. I'd advise someone to find what interests them and look for a job that puts that passion to use. If there isn't one, create it. If you can demonstrate to a company or organization that you bring an invaluable set of skills, they will take notice."
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.
