Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for directors of public affairs in the United States
Are director of public affairs jobs in demand?
Director of public affairs job and salary trends over time
Director of public affairs jobs over time
Director of public affairs job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,840 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,797 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,754 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,605 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,491 | 0.00% |
Average director of public affairs salary over time
Director of public affairs salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $114,639 | $55.11 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $110,151 | $52.96 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $107,912 | $51.88 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $104,603 | $50.29 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $100,880 | $48.50 | +3.1% |
Director of public affairs jobs by state
Most common states for directors of public affairs
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 380 | 55% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 553 | 18% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 518 | 17% |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 506 | 13% |
| 5 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 567 | 12% |
| 6 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 531 | 11% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 317 | 11% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 674 | 10% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,339 | 6% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 584 | 6% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 487 | 6% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 65 | 6% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 60 | 6% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 59 | 6% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 986 | 5% |
| 16 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 505 | 5% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 472 | 5% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 300 | 5% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 226 | 5% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 32 | 5% |
Most common cities for directors of public affairs
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foster City | 2 | 6% | $134,401 |
| 2 | Washington | 4 | 1% | $130,131 |
| 3 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $100,187 |
| 4 | Lawrence | 1 | 1% | $121,144 |
| 5 | Portland | 1 | 1% | $98,136 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $105,559 |
| 7 | Charlotte | 1 | 0% | $119,022 |
| 8 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $91,476 |
| 9 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $101,119 |
| 10 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $126,900 |
| 11 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $127,663 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $134,604 |
| 13 | Wichita | 1 | 0% | $122,032 |
Director Of Public Affairs job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of director of public affairs experts
Northwestern University
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Saint John's University
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Morehouse College
Indiana University Northwest
Randolph-Macon College
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of South Florida
University of New Haven
Mississippi College
Neumann University
Evangel University
University of the Incarnate Word
Bellarmine University
Albright College
Belmont University
University of Oklahoma
Dominican University
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Clarke Caywood
Professor (founder group of IMC and PR in Medill) Joint Doctorate in Business and Journalism - Univ. Wis. MadisonNorthwestern University
Integrated Marketing Communications in Medill School of Journalism, Media and IMC
What experience really stands out on Director Of Public Affairs resumes?
Clarke Caywood: For recent college grads, writing and speaking experience to work with associates and clients. Strong grades in areas of value to an employer.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Directors Of Public Affairs in the next 3-5 years?
Clarke Caywood: A useful advantage would be to study or read about crisis management as a continuing policy and practice strategy and tactics.
Sherry Morreale Ph.D.
ProfessorUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Department of Communication
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Public Affairs?
Sherry Morreale Ph.D.: A very recent analysis of 82 million job postings uncovered a critical demand by employers for what often is referred to as durable skills (America Succeeds, 2021). By contrast to hard skills, durable skills, sometimes referred to as soft skills, comprise important professional capabilities (Leadership, Critical Thinking, Communication, etc.) and personal qualities (Creativity, Mindfulness, Fortitude, etc.) that last throughout a person's entire career. In this analysis, two key findings are:
-In the job postings, the top five durable skills were requested nearly four (3.8) times more than the top five hard skills.
-Also, Communication and Leadership were in the highest demand, requested by 50+% of postings. These two durable (soft) skills sets include the following specific knowledge and skills.
A third durable skill or competency identified in the job postings, closely related to Leadership and Communication, is Collaboration. The Collaboration knowledge and skills connected to Communication and Leadership are interpersonal communications, coordinating, teamwork, team-oriented, team leadership, collaboration, team building, cooperation, and virtual teams.
Nancy DiTunnariello Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorSaint John's University
Mass Communication
What soft skills should all Directors Of Public Affairs possess?
Nancy DiTunnariello Ph.D.: Be personable! During the interview process, individuals are so focused on being "professional" that they forget to show potential employers who they really are. YOU are what sets you apart from other applicants. Also, employers want to see if your personality is a good fit with the company culture and the colleagues/clients you would be working with. Plus, would you want to work for an organization where you have to pretend and assume a false persona all day?
What skills will help Directors Of Public Affairs earn the most?
Nancy DiTunnariello Ph.D.: One of the characteristics that help you earn the most is your experience when searching for a job. Employers like to see that you have previous experience working in the field - especially if you have been working with other organizations in the same market. For example, suppose you are applying for a job in public relations at an agency specializing in entertainment PR, and you have had other positions in entertainment PR in the past. In that case, the hiring organization knows you are familiar with journalists and already have contacts in this market. This is why college programs really REALLY advocate for internships in the field before graduation. Any way you can get experience in the field that you plan to go into helps provide you with references who can speak on your abilities in the field and help you work on skills you will be utilizing throughout your entire career. More experience often equates to more money.
Vicki Sauter Ph.D.
Professor of Information Systems and TechnologyUniversity of Missouri-St. Louis
Information Systems Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Public Affairs job market given the pandemic?
Vicki Sauter Ph.D.: The most important trend is that we are all going to have problems going back to work. We are accustomed to the flexibility, the clothing trends, etc. If that is true, employers need to look for self-starters and self-motivators who can be productive home workers.
In terms of disciplines, I think the new hot jobs will be in supply chains and cybersecurity. We have certainly seen the impact of breaks in the supply chains and breaks into our computing files. We will all need to think along these lines: "How can we be sure our computers are safe when many people are not very good at keeping passwords and other security mechanisms? Is your system secure?"
How have salaries changed over time for Directors Of Public Affairs?
Vicki Sauter Ph.D.: Students in IST and cybersecurity are increasing. Supply is low, and demand is high.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Public Affairs?
Matthew Lange Ph.D.: During the COVID-19 pandemic international trade was able to continue but tourism, study abroad, and in-person business negotiation all but ceased due to quarantine and lockdown restrictions. When our lives shifted online, certain sectors of the economy were crippled, while others continued remotely with adjustments.
As the pandemic subsides, we will face a different work environment now that many employers and employees have grown accustomed to online working/learning. While most German educators will return to face-to-face instruction, schools and universities now have a greater infrastructure for online education and potentially greater acceptance by learners and teachers.
For those in professional tracts who augment their careers with German language skills (think business students with a second major in German), renewed freedom of movement will allow employees to work in and travel to German-speaking countries once again thus opening up greater employment opportunities. At the same time, new possibilities have emerged due to the shift to remote work.
In addition to the COVID pandemic, graduates of 2021 and beyond will also find a stronger Germany within the European Union due to Brexit. After kicking the proverbial can down the road for years, a hard negotiation deadline forced the British hand at the end of 2020. As a result of the Brexit, the UK has lost its representation in the European Parliament, and we have already seen international corporations moving their operations from London to other cities such as Amsterdam, Dublin (presumably to keep English as the local language), Frankfurt, and Paris. Frankfurt is particularly attractive to the financial sector, because the European Central Bank is there.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Directors Of Public Affairs?
Matthew Lange Ph.D.: Specific credentials are often a prerequisite to a particular career path. In the field of education, primary- and secondary-school teachers need licensure in their state of employment to teach in public schools, and those requirements are covered in the undergraduate education program. If one moves to another state, however, the new state's Department of Education (or Public Instruction) has to grant new licensure in its state. In contrast, professors and instructors at the post-secondary level require no teaching credentials. Instead, the college or university stipulates a PhD, MA or even simply BA.
The vast majority of German majors/minors learn the language and culture to apply that knowledge to their primary field of study, most often in business or the sciences, to expand their work, study, and research options. Some opportunities have minimum language proficiency expectations, however. Instead of taking applicants self-evaluations of language proficiency (the term "fluent" means different things to different people), employers can rely on standardized tests such as the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) or Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), which were developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). German language programs aim to produce graduates with proficiency at the intermediate-high or advanced-low on the ACTFL scale, which ranges from novice-low to distinguished, since that is simultaneously the expected minimum set by the respective state Department of Education for teaching licensure. One can also look beyond the US border to various tests at the Goethe Institut, which evaluate the four modalities of listening, reading, speaking, and writing. These tests evaluate according to the Common European Reference Framework (CERF) that ranges from A1 to C2. German universities require B1 on the CERF scale to enroll directly in university.
Most important for a well-rounded education, of course, is a study abroad experience. By being "a stranger in a strange land" one develops negotiation techniques and problem-solving skills when dealing with linguistically- and culturally-ambiguous situations. Studies have shown that study and work abroad increases creativity and flexibility, which are crucial for personal and professional growth.
Dorothy Ige Campbell
Professor of Communication Emeritus, Founder & Former ChairIndiana University Northwest
Department of Communication
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Directors Of Public Affairs?
Dorothy Ige Campbell: A bachelor's degree in Communication is considered ideal for non-academic jobs. For undergraduate degrees, a Communication degree paired with a Minor (such as Business) can be ideal, and that has not changed. Those who wish to teach Communication in secondary schools often complete a four-year degree with a major in Education which stresses teaching methods and childhood development, with an emphasis in Communication. Courses in Drama and English also help secondary teacher preparation in Communication.
For graduate education and academic faculty positions in higher education, a Masters in Communication or a related field for part-time teaching for Junior College teaching of Communication courses is usually required. A Ph. D. is usually required for tenure-track, full-time faculty positions in Communication. Courses in statistical research, theory, then specialty Communication courses (such as Health, Religious or Strategic Communication, and so on) are usually required. At all levels, there is an increased emphasis on diversity in the curriculum.
M. Thomas Inge Ph.D.
Blackwell Professor of HumanitiesRandolph-Macon College
Film Studies Program
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Public Affairs job market given the pandemic?
M. Thomas Inge Ph.D.: When I graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1959, I was one of 600 students. I wanted to be a writer and literary critic, but the closest thing we had were majors in the liberal arts. Majors in English and Spanish opened my world view, but today more than 1200 view for places in the sciences and technology. Randolph-Macon has become a mega-college and conveyor of the latest information and research like no other in the United States. Books and language work side by side in laboratories and with computers to provide the best education possible.
"What can you do with a degree in the novel or medieval studies?" Just about anything if you attend a school that takes a full perspective on life.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Public Affairs?
Dr. Derek Johnson Ph.D.: Departments like ours are aware of the added challenges created by the pandemic and we've been taking steps to help our students find opportunities while also helping employers to overcome the challenges of continuing to provide needed experience. Given the uncertainty around in-person work, we've been trying to generate online internships that allow students to connect with employers in safer ways. At the same time as we address the current crisis, we are also working to address long-standing barriers to access that have limited work opportunities based on social status, geography, the ability to support one's self, and more. Virtual internships can help with that, but there's more work to do to make sure everyone has equal opportunity to succeed and to manage the crises we face.
What's a day at work look like for a Director Of Public Affairs?
Jody McBrien: If we look at a Spring 2021 graduate's work life, I have to say it remains highly unclear what the daily life will entail. Just last spring, we were all hopeful that we would move out of the pandemic later in 2020. But here we are, nearly a year after the beginning of this pandemic, and we are now fearing variants of the virus when we had hoped that a vaccine might allow us to move back to a more "normal" way of life by spring 2021. So it's just hard to say. I think that graduates need to be prepared for distanced jobs and technological savvy for the near future.
What technical skills for a Director Of Public Affairs stand out to employers?
Jody McBrien: Certainly, the technological skills needed in the present include expertise with managing work expectations through virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Given that new employees may need to work from home for several more months, self-motivation will be an important asset. Finally, given that distance work has now been a major form of employment for nearly a year, businesses will be needing to re-evaluate how work is done. There has certainly been a shift in how work is done, and many employees will have found that they may be even more productive from home. Employers will need to reconsider the importance of business sites and locations of their employees. They will need to be flexible in their thinking to consider arrangements in which their employees will be most productive.
What type of skills will young Directors Of Public Affairs need?
Matt Caporale: What type of skills will young graduates need when they enter the workforce in the coming years?
On the technical/hard skill side, young graduates are going to need to become more adept at remote and virtual work environments, including coding, programming, visual presentation, and data analytics/visualization. These skills were becoming more necessary prior to the pandemic and will only accelerate due to the changes in the nature of work and work environments the pandemic will cause. Big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence will only grow more important as well. Related skill sets such as data analysis, policy development, global supply chain management, social media content creation and management, design thinking, and the ability to build consensus among disparate groups.
More importantly it will be the soft skills and competencies that will truly determine the success of new graduates in coming years. As the world continues to become more interconnected, with automation coming in most industries, and manufacturing continuing to decline, the most sought-after skills will be those of global leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, design thinking, cultural awareness and understanding, and flexibility/adaptability. The post-pandemic global economy is going to need change leaders who can work with people of different backgrounds and perspectives, who can communicate to varied audiences, develop plans and policy, and change at a moment's notice. These soft skills will be the strongest currency for new graduates to develop and grow to succeed in their chosen careers.
What experience really stands out on Director Of Public Affairs resumes?
Matt Caporale: In a nutshell, hands on and applied experiences stand out the most. What employers truly seek is not just what you know and what you did, but how you did it, where you did it, to what outcome, and what do you offer now because of those experiences. This isn't new, but employers are increasingly looking for details and level of specificity to a student's college experience - buzzwords won't suffice any more. The experiences that stand out are ones students can actively quantify and showcase success, hard skills, and soft skills.
These types of experiences include traditional experiences such as internships, research projects, study abroad, and campus leadership. But they more often now include diverse perspectives, interdisciplinary experiences, and roles in which students make a focused impact on the organization in which they served. Employers seek well rounded candidates with hard and soft skills; so, the experiences that stand out will need to be diversified, skill focused, and impactful.
For students in international relations, these experiences will include traditional internships and study abroad, but also Model UN, policy research and development, multi-cultural experiences (local and international), and data-based projects.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Public Affairs job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Phyllis Seawright: Based on what our grads this year are doing, it appears that the market needs people with technical and writing skills. Social media is only as good as the writers and thinkers who create it. Our graduates are building web pages and social media platforms, PR and marketing plans. A graduate trained in media and people skills can find a job in this changing marketplace.
Dr. Alfred Mueller Ph.D.
Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Communication ad Digital mediaNeumann University
School of Arts and Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Public Affairs?
Dr. Alfred Mueller Ph.D.: The pandemic is the single greatest disruption of American life we could ever have imagined. I predict that more workplaces will allow for telecommuting from home, businesses will retain some of the services they set up to address the pandemic, and health will be our primary focus for the next decade as the long-term effects of COVID are realized. As someone who sees opportunity in obstacles, I want to think that a graduate with an entrepreneurial approach will be able to take advantage of many of these cultural shifts. The Biden Administration will likely address student debt, but there are still many financial issues surrounding housing that have to be sorted out. So the next five years will be much more addled than anything we have seen in recent memory, but the end of the decade should see a return to prosperity.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Public Affairs?
Melinda Booze: Undoubtedly, the pandemic will have an enduring impact in ways that we can't yet identify. One trend that seems counterintuitive but has been consistent both prior to and during the pandemic is graduates who start their professional lives as entrepreneurs. Even those who ultimately were hired by employers were persistent in creating their own content to showcase their work before employment was certain. -Melinda Booze, assistant professor of communication, Evangel University.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Public Affairs job market given the pandemic?
Michael Mercer: I think the job market might continue to be tough going into 2021. Until the vaccine is widespread many of the industries hard hit by Covid will have a slow recovery, and I would not be surprised if there is a tentative approach to hiring. However, many businesses have learned how productive employees can be when working remotely, and they have also discovered the cost savings when people work from home. I would predict that more jobs will be able to offer work-from-home options than before the pandemic.
What experience really stands out on Director Of Public Affairs resumes?
Stacie Shain: To me, real-world experience always sets one graduate apart from others. There is also plenty of research that supports this.** Any experience a student can gain doing real projects for real organizations is a bonus because it shows students can translate what they have learned in a classroom to a project for a business or nonprofit. It shows students can do the work when there is more than a course grade on the line and when many people will see their work and not only a professor or classmates.
In our program, all majors must complete at least one internship, and we encourage our students to complete more than one so they get different experiences. This not only builds their resumes and hones their skills but also allows them to learn what they like - or don't like - doing. Some students have been set on working in a particular field only to change their minds after an internship and decide they want to do something else.
Our marketing communication minors are required to take a practicum in which they work for a student-run agency doing work for area nonprofits. They are responsible for the client meetings, production, deadlines and client satisfaction. The projects range from graphic design to writing to social media planning to website design to video production. All of their work will be used by the organizations, so having these projects in their portfolios and on their resume showcases exactly what they can do. The students earn credit and get to show the work in their portfolios, and the nonprofits do not pay for the projects. It's a true win-win situation. Students may complete more than one semester in the practicum, and that gives them a wide range of work samples in their portfolio. I've known several students who had jobs before graduation, and they all said their work for clients helped them get the job because they already had professional experience.
Internships and working for a student-run agency will help students build those soft skills, too. They must collaborate, they must learn to work in a team setting, they must solve problems as they arise, and they must think critically about the projects and how they will complete them. Research shows that students with hard skills will get interviews, but students with soft skills will get the job and keep it ** because businesses value soft skills and not every applicant has them.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Public Affairs?
Stacie Shain: I am a very optimistic person, and I believe the enduring impact will be positive. The graduates from 2020 and 2021 have learned to be flexible, agile, resilient, and persistent. They have overcome obstacles that no one predicted, challenging them to complete not only a lot of the coursework from their final semester(s) online but also to grapple with the personal challenges that the pandemic caused.
Finishing college is not easy in a traditional setting in a "normal" academic year. But add in a change in delivery systems, quarantines that took away social and academic support systems, and psychological and financial hardships created by the loss of socialization and jobs (many students work in service jobs such as restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and retail stores, many of which were shuttered during the spring and summer), and you have an unprecedented college experience. Because these students graduated under such conditions, they are well-prepared for whatever happens along their career paths. They've already shown they can navigate through change, adapt to and overcome obstacles, adjust in adverse conditions, and still complete tasks and accomplish goals.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Public Affairs job market given the pandemic?
Heidi Mau Ph.D.: An increased ability to work digitally is an immediate trend in the job market - to be nimble communicators via digital tools and online interactions with colleagues and clients. This trend was already happening before the pandemic but has now accelerated as an important part of an overall skill set.
There seems to be an increase in positions calling for digital communications and content management for small businesses as they seek to move parts of their businesses online and to increase their digital communications with clients and community during a time in which local, face-to-face communication is more difficult.
What skills stand out on Director Of Public Affairs resumes?
Heidi Mau Ph.D.: Skills particular to industry needs and unique experiences that help a candidate stand out continue to be important to highlight, but what is often forgotten is the emphasis on strong communication skills needed for all professions - written, verbal, visual, and digital communication skills. These are skills that continue to translate across all industries.
Proven skills in advocating and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion are similarly important across all industries. Being able to speak concretely about actions that positively impact these areas is of particular interest and stand out on a resume.
Skills that highlight the ability to think critically, problem solve, be productive without supervision, and also to collaborate and work with teams - these are skills that continue to be important across all positions. Solid skills in interpersonal and applied communications can greatly enhance these abilities, which are important both within the field and across industries.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Directors Of Public Affairs to find work opportunities?
Heidi Mau Ph.D.: Communication as a field is uniquely malleable - it has its own industries and can also be a component within other industries. Because of this, there is work that can be found in unexpected sectors and locations. It is a field that is constantly evolving, which is exciting. There are opportunities to move into more established positions, into evolving positions that are finding their foothold, and into potential new positions we are unable to even predict yet.
Bonnie Riechert Ph.D., APR
Chair; Associate ProfessorBelmont University
Department of Public Relations
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Public Affairs?
Bonnie Riechert Ph.D., APR: Current college students are responding to enormous challenges such as functioning in hyflex classes, and many of them are finding the focus, the resilience, and the motivation to adapt and succeed. The pandemic undoubtedly will have an enduring impact on graduates as employing organizations continue to reinvent themselves for a changing economy. Students who can manage the stress effectively and give full attention to their objectives are the ones who advance, and those strengths will serve them throughout their career.
What type of skills will young Directors Of Public Affairs need?
Bonnie Riechert Ph.D., APR: Creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills will always be important to employers; new graduates can demonstrate these skills in semester-long projects. Communication and professional skills are crucial throughout a successful career. Continually evolving digital technology skills also are required. Career management should include a commitment to life-long learning. Global and intercultural awareness and fluency will continue to become increasingly important in organizational community building and public engagement. Business literacy - the understanding of organizational issues - is an important skill that many new graduates lack. Research skills are valuable to employers - can this individual ferret out relevant information on which to base informed decisions?
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Public Affairs?
Bret H. Bradley Ph.D.: Yes, without a doubt. Major traumatic events have lasting impacts on those who are affected. The coronavirus pandemic will be a traumatic event for those who graduated from college in 2020. The "Conservation of Resources Theory of Stress" (Stevan E. Hobfoll) argues that resources play a major role in stress experiences. The pandemic put a major blow on a lot of things in life, such as life itself (death), health, jobs, finances, opportunities, relationships, education, entertainment, regular routines, time with family or friends. Also, people handle stress differently. For example, research shows that people with high emotional stability (one of the "Big Five Personality Traits") deal with stress better than people low on this trait. Social support has long been shown in scientific evidence as a primary buffer to stress.
What type of skills will young Directors Of Public Affairs need?
Bret H. Bradley Ph.D.: The pandemic rushed the transition to virtual work, but this transition has been happening for at least 20 years. I suspect that the pandemic will have lasting effects on how 2020 graduates work. That is, I suspect new work habits and routines from the pandemic may persist well past when the pandemic is over. I had a virtual meeting with 25 colleagues on Zoom last week. In normal years past, we would spend $15,000-$25,000 to get together at a hotel for two days and work together. This year we did "pre-meetings" with small groups over 2 weeks, then a 4-hour meeting with the whole 25-person team. COVID forced this on us, but, we will absolutely use virtual tools more in the future because of it. Also, the value of social skills has long been on the rise. In some of my research on organizational teams, we discussed how the changing nature of work has increased the need for collaborative skills, AKA soft skills. In a hugely impactful article in a top economics journal, David Deming at Harvard University found that the labor market increasingly rewards social skills. He showed that, between 1980 and 2012, jobs requiring high skills levels of social interaction grew by 12 percentage points as a share of the U.S. labor force. Math-intensive, but less social, jobs-including many STEM occupations-shrank by 3.3 percentage points over the same period (The Growing Importance of Social Skills in the Labor Market, David Deming, 2017, The Quarterly Journal of Economics). This is remarkable because it's during the PC and internet explosion. The rise of tech jobs, the information (read 'Data') age, and emphasis on STEM! For us social scientists, it makes perfect sense: the world of work increasingly demands social skills, like teamwork, collaboration and negotiating. This is a major trend in the world of work.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Public Affairs job market given the pandemic?
Jamie Shaw: Employers have been asking more and more for "self-starters" since so many are working remotely. We are not passing each other in the hallways to ask quick questions, so it is imperative that employers feel like they can trust their teams to be independent while working from home. In addition to this soft skill, technical skills continue to be in-demand.
What type of skills will young Directors Of Public Affairs need?
Aubrie Adams Ph.D.: Workplaces in the past didn't necessarily require employees to present themselves well online because so much of their everyday interactions occurred in person. As we continue to rely on digital tools for both our workplace and social lives, graduates will need to know how to portray personality, sociability, and professionalism using technological tools. Basically, they'll need to work on their digital impression management skills.
This can be challenging for someone who doesn't consider the ways in which interaction is inherently different online in comparison to face-to-face. When we communicate face-to-face, we often draw upon an assortment of nonverbal communication tools that most of the time we don't realize we're using to help deliver the intended meaning of our message. For example, if you meet someone new face-to-face, you can convey friendliness simply by smiling. When communicating over email, all of the nonverbals we've grown accustomed to using face-to-face become harder to convey.
The good news is that researchers have been studying this phenomenon for decades. My favorite theory that looks at this issue is Walther's (1992) Social Information Processing Theory. Walther basically claims that it is indeed possible for our digital communication to be just as good for developing interpersonal relationships as face-to-face communication is. The only differences are that (1) it may take a little more time for interpersonal relationships to be conveyed and built online, and (2) our face-to-face cues need to be thoughtfully translated into appropriate digital cues. For example, instead of a face-to-face smile, we can include an emoticon like : ) or an emoji into our text to convey friendliness.
Essentially, graduates will need to be aware of this issue and have to be a bit more purposeful in conveying "who they are" in their digital interactions. This may require more time and extra effort, but with practice, people can become just as skilled at conveying personality, sociability, and professionalism digitally as they are in face-to-face interactions.
What experience really stands out on Director Of Public Affairs resumes?
Aubrie Adams Ph.D.: I don't think the pandemic has played a major role to change what kinds of skills, abilities, and experiences employees look for. Of course, it's always good to be able to show that one has experience performing tasks related to the job position they are applying for, but one type of experience I know I always personally look for and encourage in my students is simply participating in "above and beyond" experiences that show that they are engaged community members. Participating in clubs, organizing events, donating time to philanthropy: all of these experiences help show that a graduate has done more than just the bare minimum to get by. It always helps to show a future employer that they participate in purposeful ways to stay connected with a broader community in some way.