Piaras Kelly PR - Public Relations in Ireland

The PR profession in Ireland is in need of reform at entry level with entrants in the profession being exploited, underpaid and pretty much discouraged from pursuing a career in the profession.

When I sat my PRII exams at the start of May, I was shocked to see how many people were taking them, especially when you contrast that figure with how many jobs are available at entry level.

About half of my class aren’t pursuing a career because it either no longer appeals, they felt undervalued or there simply wasn’t anything there for them.

Not every company abuses people in entry level positions, but there are those that take advantage of people coming in for work experience. They effectively work them for free, giving them ‘experience’ until the next batch of slave labour turns up and the vicious cycle continues.

I know of people being offered non-paid contracts for more ‘experience’, working below minimum wage or being paid, but never seeing a contract. Is it any wonder that PR has such a bad name, especially when people who once studied it are now bad mouthing it.

Well what goes around, comes around. The firms in question are damaging their reputation within the industry, reducing their efficiency because of dissatisfaction within the workforce and weakening their offer by effectively throwing unexperienced staff to the wolves.