Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations Professionals
Formal Description
“Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations analyse, develop and implement communication and promotion strategies and information programs, analyse advertising needs and develop appropriate advertising and marketing plans, publicize activities and events, and maintain media relations on behalf of businesses, governments and other organizations, and for performers, athletes, writers and other talented individuals. They are employed by marketing and consulting firms, advertising agencies, corporations, associations, government, social agencies, museums, galleries, public interest groups, and cultural and other organizations, or they may be self-employed. Agents such as entertainment, literary and sports agents are included in this unit group.” (NOC 2021)
Sample Job Titles
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
Actor, Artist, Athlete, or Author's Agent
Advertising and Promotions Cooridinator
Advertising Campaign Organizer
Communication Specialist
Development Officer - Fundraising
Event Marketing Consultant
Fundraiser
Marketing Consultant
Media Relations Officer
Museum Educator
Press Secretary
Public Affairs Officer
Public Relations Specialist
Publicist
Social Media Coordinator
Student Recruiter - post-secondary education
Typical Employment and Education Requirements
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
- A university degree or college diploma in business marketing, public relations, communications, journalism, museology or a discipline related to a particular subject matter is usually required.”
- “Practitioners in public relations may require an APR (Accredited in Public Relations)”
Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
- Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
- Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
- Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.
Related Categories
Here are a few other categories that might interest you:
Related Sectors
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
Academic Program Connections
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:
Indigenous Studies Learn More
Students will expand their awareness and understanding of Indigenous culture, which will support cultural sensitivity and ethical marketing in the field.
Society, Culture & Religion Learn More
Studying society, culture and religion enriches students ability to communicate effectively and ethically in diverse contexts such as branding, messaging, sponsorships and campaigns.
Work & Labour Studies Learn More
Examining how gender, race, class and culture impact work experiences enable students to understand their audience and clients.
Social Psychology Learn More
Students learn empathy, cultural sensitivity and a strong grasp of human behaviour, cultivating the ability to excel in messaging in various contexts.
