Choosing A Career in Public Relations for New Mums 

Are you still recovering from the birth of a child? If so then congratulations! Like many new mothers, you probably haven’t really had time yet to sit down and think about your next steps, what with being preoccupied with mom duties. We are fortunate to now be living in a world where a new mother can still pursue a career and where unfair assumptions about her ability to be a mother and a professional are not nearly as widespread as they once were. That’s not to say that things will be easy; raising a child is hard work and, unfortunately, there are still some sexist assumptions that are far more widespread than we would like them to be.  

One advantage modern women have is the advent of online degrees. Online degrees were once seen as something of a joke, certainly not a serious line of academic pursuit. This has changed though now that a lot of reputable institutions offer online courses and the degrees students come away with have real world value on par with their traditional counterparts. Being able to study from home and with flexible hours means that the modern woman can fit her studies around parenting responsibilities. The role of fathers in a child’s first years has also changed with the times and women are no longer expected to handle most of it on their own. 

Female Friendly Environment 

Public relations is one of a growing number of fields that favours female applicants. In fact, around two-thirds of those working in public relations are female and a little over half of those in senior positions are also female. Of course, neither men nor women should feel obliged to select a career path just because it is seen to favour their gender, but it is sadly the case that for women, entering a profession where they are a clear minority, can be stressful and challenge our self-confidence. The public relations industry is widely regarded as one of the more equal industries, not just in terms of the gender split but also in terms of salary differences. 

Career Progression 

The more egalitarian nature of public relations is reflected in the fact that both women and men seem to progress equally well. Men ever so slightly outnumber women at the very top of PR firms, but because middle and lower management are mainly female, women can and do rise through the ranks with relative ease. 

Study and Work While Parenting 

When it comes to obtaining the necessary degree to enter the world of public relations, online courses represent probably the best option for new mothers. An online masters in public relations can be taken as a full-time or part-time course, meaning that new moms can learn at their own pace. After obtaining an online public relations masters, there are then a number of great jobs one can apply for which can offer flexible working hours, or in some cases, are work from home jobs; ideally suited to new parents. There are now a number of renowned universities, including George Washington University, that offer such courses. 

Having children isn’t the obstacle it once was between a woman and a potential career. We have yet to achieve true gender equality, but important progress is being made all the time and now is a better time than ever for new mothers to embrace both motherhood and a career simultaneously.

***Guest post ***