Here's how you can spot valuable transferable skills for a career in Public Relations.

- Strong communication skills (written and verbal) - Relationship building and networking abilities - Strategic thinking and problem-solving - Crisis management expertise - Creative storytelling capabilities - Proficiency in digital media platforms

Of course, this is the most valuable skill in the world of PR, but recognize that it doesn't come naturally to a lot of people, so if you have it, lean on it. Understanding: - What kind of message an audience wants - How to simplify in a way that gets people's attention - How to present in public - How to write - How to create content All of this is valuable in every industry, and especially PR.

Once you attain a certain level of seniority, you're going to want to put energy towards strategic thinking. I find it's at the "manager" and above levels. If you're a director, you should be doing this more than 50% of your working time. If you're VP level or higher, this needs to be 90% or more of your job.

This is a double edged sword. There is, of course, no doubt that having strong relationships in the PR world is key. Where I find there is a misunderstanding of the role that relationships can have in PR is the belief that comms practitioners are able to call up their friends in the media to get a story placed. While a relationship will help a journalist pick up the phone when you call, a bad story will never make it through a reporter's screening process. What PR people have is an ability to pull out and build interesting stories from their clients and brand partners. And they know what kind of stories resonate with the media.

Are one of those people who was never satisfied getting the "Because I said so." explanation to your "why" questions? To me that indicates you are open minded and want to know and share the real story and why it should matter to others. That is PR thinking. That outside the box alchemy of being able to distill market wishes and engineer wanna be speak down to real news and information that engages, enlightens and activates people. PR should never settle for less than the honest representation of the client, its services, goods or events. If working on the message doesn't stoke your burners then you aren't working on the real news. PR is not for everyone, but everyone appreciates good PR. Those who think creatively be it, and do it.

This is the main difference between the people who exist in the PR space and those who truly thrive. As more and more voices emerge on platforms, and media becomes more and more concentrated (and under funded) the only way to stand out is with creativity. So, if you can think creatively and capture a bit of real estate in your audience's mind, you're going to go far in this field.