Torn Between Two Career's

There are two careers that I’ve been torn between over the last few years but luckily for me my major lines up well with both. Human Resources and Public Relations are both careers that I feel that I would enjoy but also careers that I feel I would be good at. Human Resources refers to the relationship an organization has with its employees. The day in the life of a Human Resources Manager is never the same, HR managers oversee benefits, compensation, employee relations, systems, workforce, training, recruitment, health and safety. Between 2016 and 2026 the employment rate for HR managers is predicted to grow about 9% which is around the average rate. In terms of education HR managers should have a bachelor's degree in something relative to the industry like business administration or human resources however liberal arts, communication or psychology degrees can also be of good value. Further education is definitely beneficial and can open more doors for a salary increase or more positions, however it isn't always required and tends to depend on the organization. The salary for a HR manager is on average $110,120 a year ($52.94 an hour). The lowest 10% earns on average $65,040 and the highest 10% earns about $197,720. For my personal future in human resource management I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity this semester to take an internship in recruitment which has been the first step into a possible human resources career. If I decide to go down the route of human resources I plan on staying with the company and learning as much as possible after graduation and then go on to get a masters degree in human resource management or a masters in business administration as I feel it will show my commitment and set me aside from other applicants. 

Public Relations on the other hand refers to the relationship that an organization has with the public. Their day to day duties can consist of writing press releases, arranging press conferences and other events, connecting with clients and creating newsletters. PR professionals need to have strong writing, verbal and presentation skills. In order to start a career in PR employers generally prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in a relevant field like public relations, marketing or communications. Employers don’t just look for someone with a relevant degree but also relevant work experience so starting out and getting that first job can be a little tricky. The salary for PR varies greatly on your location and experience in the field. Large cities like New York or San Francisco pay much much higher than others however the cost of living in a city like those has to be factored in. The average salary for a PR specialist is around $110,644 with the bottom 10% earning around $84,247 and the top 10% earning around $141,958. The growth rate for a public relations manager is expected to be around 8% between 2018 and 2028 which is slightly higher than the average. I currently have no experience in the field of public relations. It's just been a career that I’ve looked into previously and done my own research. If I decided to go down the route of PR my first step would be finding a mentor or someone I can talk to within the field either through ASU, online or through my previous or current job. I am set on going to graduate school within a year of receiving my undergrad as I understand that both of these careers can be very competitive therefore pursuing PR in graduate school is also a great option for me.