Grit Behind the Glamour: The Unexpected Reality of a Public Relations Career

By Tori Lindmark

Pursuing a career in public relations? If there’s one thing you can expect, it’s the unexpected. The industry is built on creativity, adaptability and a fast-paced work environment, which makes it enticing to young professionals. However, this excitement often comes with pressure; this field prioritizes relationships, abilities and results, and sometimes leaves individuals in a burnout rut.  

Burnout has become a common experience across the communication field. According to Provoke Media, 64% of communications professionals have experienced extreme stress or burnout within the past year. Tight deadlines, constant communication and multiple moving parts to facilitate a project or group demonstrate the high-impact nature of the job. However, in PR Daily’s "How to Avoid Burnout in PR," burnout is characterized by a deep investment in your role and a determination to succeed.  

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This pressure is often felt even before the full-time job begins. Students studying PR must manage their coursework — which mimics the typical workday — alongside internships, campus involvement and leadership roles, all while building a strong personal brand and network to attract future employers. While the college experience is invaluable, it can also feel overwhelming. For this reason, stress management is an integral practice to develop before severe burnout knocks on the office door.  

PR practitioners often face a similar challenge in the industry structure: knowing when to clock out of the office for the day. With campaign deadlines, consistent client communication and media monitoring all parts of the job description, the amount of work does not always align with the standard hours of the workday. The Public Relations Society of America found that 96% of PR professionals report difficulty switching off after work, highlighting how the boundaries between professional and personal time can blur. PR is a field invested in real-time communication and in staying relevant in audiences' eyes, highlighting the diligence and dedication of PR professionals when working with clients and their projects.  

Agency environments add another layer of pressure to PR's already relentless schedule. The perk of immersing yourself in this realm is that you can learn and refine skills rapidly, expose yourself to various cases and industries, and develop crucial relationships in the communication sphere; it also brings a level of intensity to your work each day. Surveys show that 75% of PR professionals working in agencies report high stress levels, often due to tight deadlines and the responsibility of managing multiple clients at once.  

Long hours, frequent rejections and evolving ideas are all part of the job description. As one analysis from PR Daily explains, PR professionals often work long hours and face ongoing criticism while trying to secure media coverage, which can gradually contribute to stress and exhaustion. On the other hand, this cycle builds a person's resilience and tolerance to stress, ultimately leading to stronger storytelling and media relations skills over time.  

Recognizing burnout is the first step to management and change. Signs of burnout may include constant fatigue, a lack of motivation or feeling disconnected from work that once felt exciting to tackle. When these arise, take note and act on healthy management habits. Harvard Business Review’s “How to Recover from Burnout” suggests that recovery begins with small intentional changes. Setting clearer boundaries, prioritizing time management and building a support system — both in one's professional and personal environments — can help limit stress buildup and offer guidance on how to proceed when workloads become intimidating. Reconnecting with what makes the work enjoyable and rewarding will reignite the spark.

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To note, burnout is not always an entirely negative feeling. As Forbes explains in “Burnout Can Be a Signal for Change,” these experiences can highlight when something is misaligned — whether it’s workload, expectations or personal goals. When viewed thoughtfully, burnout can prompt growth, reevaluation and the development of a more sustainable work-life balance.  

The beauty of the PR field is its ability to foster creativity and coexistence among brands and consumers. Burnout may be a reality in the industry, but it does not have to define it. When identified and managed effectively, it can serve as a turning point, allowing professionals to realign and continue producing work they are passionate about and eager to do, without sacrificing well-being.