Many public and private structures have press services - offices that work with various categories of the public. Many representatives of the journalistic community regard the work in the press center as a career growth and an opportunity to apply their practical correspondent skills in the practice of the service for interaction with the media.
Most often, people with journalistic experience become employees of press services. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to get the coveted place in the press center can be to start a career in the editorial office. In addition, in specialized organizations, industry experience is valued: construction companies attract engineers to work in the press center, the Ministry of Health - doctors, etc. This is due to the fact that specialized organizations, along with journalistic knowledge, value competence in industry issues.
The specialization of a company or organization is of great importance. If the activities of a potential employer are related to international relations and contacts with foreign recipients, then proficiency in additional languages plays an important role.
Regardless of the industry focus of the organization, the spokesperson must have the skills to work with legal documents and contracts. Interaction with the media often requires the conclusion of a contractual relationship and a spokesperson must be able to draw up and conduct an initial examination of commercial contracts for the publication of information.
In addition, the press secretary must have an impeccable oral and written speech, be equally confident in the official business and news writing style. These skills will be developed through special courses on the development of public speaking skills and competent compilation of news and journalistic materials.
An effective route to becoming a spokesperson is to write a resume with an emphasis on skills, quality, and experience in journalism or publishing. An advantage can be the experience of service in PR-structures and in the marketing sphere. Knowing the weaknesses of a professional portrait, it is necessary to find out what skills inherent in the press service specialists need to be developed. An additional advantage can be the ability to work with photo and video equipment.
Summing up all this, it should be noted that the position of a press secretary, like any administrative service, requires a candidate to possess a number of skills, and the higher the level of the employer's claims, the more thoroughly the applicant for this position must prepare himself for work.