Solo public relations is a unique career choice that many young professional women are pursuing because of the various advantages that is presents. However, with the advantages come disadvantages that must be considered before entering the realm of solo public relations. In “The pros and cons of the solo PR life“, Arika Hanson explains what to expect when working in public relations on your own.
There are three main advantage that she explains in the article when working in solo public relations which makes it appealing to young women trying to balance a family and a career. The advantages are flexibility, ability to say no, and the creative freedom that it enables. Being a solo public relations professional you are your own boss. You have more control over when and where you work. You are also able to say no to clients that you don’t want to work for. Lastly you can promote your client in your own way. Working within a corporation can be restricting for creative individuals, being a solo public relations professional allows you to be as free and creative as you want (Hanson).
Looking at the disadvantages, Arika mentions two which stood out to me. The first being the perceived lack of legitimacy, and the second being downturns in the business (Hanson) . These two disadvantages are the reason that I could not go into solo public relations.
The flexibility, and creative freedom are incredible advantages that very few jobs can offer, which is why a recent study found that 1 in 10 independent contractors would not return to a traditional career (Crane). However, personally for the me disadvantages outweigh the advantages. I want a job with benefits, healthcare, and security. Solo public relations cannot provide this, which is why I could not see myself as a solo public relations professional.
Crane, K. (2012). #PRin2012: Solo PR Pros – The Professions Secret Weapon. PRSAY. Retrieved from http://prsay.prsa.org/index.php/2012/01/23/2012-pr-industry-predictions-solo-practitioners-on-the-rise/
Hanson, A. (2011). The pros and cons of the solo PR life. Retrieved from http://www.arikhanson.com/2011/09/20/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-solo-pr-life/
Taylor cameron 