A public relations customer service manager can be best defined by taking a look at each part of the title. This position is exactly what it looks like. Companies have combined public relations and customer service jobs into one job. A manager would have to be the person who is experienced in all these areas as well as in management. One ad requesting an entry–level person in the marketing, public relations, and customer service area requested a motivated individual ready to learn all aspects of a new business. This company wanted people with great attitudes, strong work ethics, and a desire to succeed. This position was hiring someone to work in the areas of customer service, assistant management, public relations, and sales.
Office jobs like these new entry-level positions represent the new trend of businesses to combine many of their positions into one position that could be done by anyone with a high school diploma. This position does not even require experience to apply, though experience will never hurt you.
The corporation mentioned above, Legacy Events, Inc., is a non-profit organization which does a unique job. They offer:
- Safety education products
- Prevention tools
- Child recovery aids
A marketing firm that works against drug abuse is advertising for several positions. Here is the list:
- Marketing
- Promotions
- Events Coordinator
- Public Relations
- Customer Service
- Management
Professional requirements call for applicants to be:
- Immediately available
- Outgoing and personable by nature
- Comfortable interacting with consumers
- Excellent in communication skills
- Goal oriented
- Team players
- Capable of maintaining a high level of enthusiasm and to enjoy working with teens and young adults
- Able to take and follow directions
Top candidates will be:
- Reliable
- Entry-level (great for college graduates or soon-to-be graduates)
- In search of a career
- Interested in all areas and willing to cross-train
- Great with customer service skills
''A public relations department is necessary when businesses need to present themselves to the public. Employees in public relations work as advocates for businesses, non-profit associations, universities, hospitals, and other organizations. Their goal is to build and maintain a good image with the public. As managers depend on public relations for direction while formulating strategy for their future programs, public relations specialists represent the company to media, community, and consumers. They can also be found on the government level, building relationships with politicians for interest groups and doing conflict mediation. Public relations workers do more than represent their company to the public; they keep a feel out for attitudes and concerns consumers, employees, and public interest groups have. It is a public relations employee’s job to establish a relationship with journalists for newspapers, magazines, radio, and television.'' It is the job of public relations to influence public opinion.
Sources: ''Occupations,'' Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2006.
That is a big job, but this information encompasses the entire realm of duties. This could be why companies are training teams to get the jobs done. When one employee’s duties overflow, another employee whose workload is light can provide support to the high-volume job. Does it not seem to work like that in many offices, where one person is overburdened while another has relatively few responsibilities?
Here is a look at customer service jobs. They are jobs designed a little differently for the industry in which a person works, but here are some basics that are true throughout the industry.
- A customer service representative learns who the customer is and what he/she typically orders.
- A representative knows the customer by name and eventually becomes familiar with him or her.
- The representative can look up accounts and make suggestions to help the customer take advantage of specials.
- Solving customers’ problems is the key to success as a representative.
- Processing orders for clients and correcting errors on an account assigned to a representative is essential.
- A good representative keeps the client aware of pricing, changes in service, discontinuance, and shipping.
- The representative corresponds with the customer on the phone or in person and communicates by letter if necessary.
Here is the final part of the title: ''manager.'' This means it is a manager position and the managing aspects of the job include overseeing public relations and customer service. Since there are no real salaries to view for such a new position, one would conclude the position takes home a manager’s salary. Depending on experience or education it could be anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000. This is an exciting time as new careers are appearing and companies are willing to train and cross-train.
