Intense consolidation has spurred a freelance boon for healthcare PR professionals. Sudden openings because of corporate restructuring, terminations and transfers are spelling immediate opportunity for seasoned communicators who want the flexibility of short-term assignments.
In fact, healthcare assignments have become one of the hottest industries for PR Power, a temporary staffing alliance between the Cantor Concern executive search firm and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), to place candidates. In the past two years, healthcare has comprised 25% of the New York-based search firm's client requests, says Jeffrey Prince, PR Power's director.
PR Power, which fills temporary assignments in PR, public affairs and corporate communications nationwide, is a viable alternative to full-time work especially for healthcare communicators who want to have the freedom of choosing campaigns and projects.
Pharmaceutical expertise and media relations savvy are in high demand, says Prince.
Lucrative Compensation
Short-term PR work doesn't mean cut-rate pay. Compensation for PR managers averages $50/hour, according to Prince.
Freelancing has proven to be more lucrative than full-time work for Anne Howard, a New York PR consultant with high-tech and healthcare expertise, who has used the Cantor Concern for the last four years.
Given the attractive tax incentives granted to independent contractors, Howard says she's earning more than she did as a senior account executive working full-time at an agency. Additionally, freelance work improves quality of life, Howard says. She often can work at home and spend more time with her son. Other benefits include:
- Choosing projects that are most compatible with her PR strengths - strategic planning and campaign development;
- Avoiding office politics; and
- Being challenged by new and fresh assignments that expand her career portfolio.
But the downsides to career freedom include conveying to clients her level of expertise and finding assignments that require campaign strategy instead of writing press releases.
Howard says these problems usually occur when she works directly with clients as opposed to using search firms like Cantor Concern.
Howard is currently working on an American Foundation for the Blind assignment for Marcus Communications, a New York-based agency set up by the Cantor Concern. So far, she has completed 20 assignments for the executive search firm. (PR Power, Jeff Prince, 800-PR1-JOBS; Fax, 212/397-7700; email: [email protected]; Anne Howard, 718/643-6554)