Favorite Parts Of Working In The Public Relations Industry As An Account Executive
Meredith, a Public Relations Account Executive, finds the industry fascinating, enjoying "the behind the scenes of how a story gets written," building relationships with journalists, and the travel opportunities. The ability to "see it from the start line...to the finish line," creating successful partnerships and client satisfaction, is particularly rewarding.
Public Relations, Journalism, Media, Travel, Client Relations
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Meredith Sestito
Public Relations Account Executive
Luxury Hospitality Public Relations Agency
Loyola Marymount University
Communications
Hospitality, Restaurants & Events, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Public relations professionals work behind the scenes to shape narratives and influence how stories are told in media, playing a vital role in the editorial process.
2. Building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists is crucial for success in this field, providing opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.
3. The public relations industry offers diverse travel opportunities, allowing professionals to explore new places and immerse themselves in different cultures while working.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your industry?
The public relations industry is really fascinating. Before working in public relations, I didn't know much about the editorial process or that public relations people even existed. It's interesting to see the behind-the-scenes of how a story gets written and how vital our job is.
I've heard journalists say that publicists and journalists go hand in hand; they're like siblings, and one really needs the other to get their job done. This aspect of the editorial process really interested me. I grew up reading magazines and have always been a big reader, so I enjoy working in that space.
It's also fascinating to talk with veteran journalists who used to work in newspapers. Hearing about everything they've accomplished in their careers is incredible. You have the opportunity to foster close relationships with these journalists, considering them professional colleagues and even friends. I really like how you can build and maintain great relationships in this industry.
On the travel side, I love traveling but don't get to do it as much as I'd like. Having a job that allows me to travel for work is a big plus. I've traveled internationally with my past agency and all over the nation. With my current agency, I've already visited four new states. I like keeping track of the states I've been to.
Without being in the travel industry, there are many things I would never have learned about. I've learned a lot about the travel space, how hotels work, and what it takes to get events or partnerships up and running between hotels. We work on bringing partnership ideas to fruition, seeing them through to the end at the hotel.
For example, a clothing brand might have a pop-up at a hotel, or a specific brand could be carried in the spa. They might create a treatment around it, or partner with a local attraction for a package for hotel guests. It's interesting to see this process from the initial conversations all the way to guests booking and enjoying these offerings.
Finally, making our clients happy is very rewarding. It's great to send through a beautiful, multi-page story that we've worked on for months, and then have the client acknowledge it and be happy. There can be a lot of effort that goes into creating these stories, but at the end of the day, the client is overjoyed. Our job is to promote the hotel and bring as much awareness as possible. When we make them happy and they know we're doing our job, it's a really satisfying feeling.