What does a PR & Communications Officer actually do?

The short version

PR and comms officers manage what the world thinks of an organisation — writing press releases, pitching journalists, running campaigns and, occasionally, putting out reputational fires at 8pm on a Friday. When it works, it's a genuine buzz; when it's quiet, it's coverage reports and media lists.

The pitch: you get paid to write, talk and think, the work is varied, and senior comms people who can steer a company through a crisis are seriously valued. The catch: junior pay is modest, competition is fierce, internships are still often expected, and AI now writes most of the first drafts that used to be a junior's apprenticeship — the industry is hiring fewer juniors and expecting more judgement from day one.

Entry routes that actually work

• Degree + internships — any subject; it's the work experience, not the degree title, that gets you interviewed.
• PR agency graduate scheme — structured, brutal, brilliant training; network follows you everywhere.
• In-house comms assistant — charities, councils, NHS trusts hire directly; saner hours, public-sector pensions.