27-3031.00 · Learning planner
Public Relations Specialists: a task-based learning plan
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
Explore the complete task inventory first →
Understand the profile before choosing priorities
The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 29 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.
| Skill | Importance / 5 | Level / 7 | Rating date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.25 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.12 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 4.12 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.00 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.00 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.12 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Coordination | 3.88 | 4.00 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Time Management | 3.88 | 3.88 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Persuasion | 3.75 | 4.12 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.50 | 4.00 | 08/2022 · Analyst |
Anchor the plan in an actual task
Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Interview applicants to obtain personal and work history
Level 6: Argue a legal case before the Supreme Court
How would you explain the task, audience needs and next step in a short conversation?
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references
Level 6: Serve as a judge in a complex legal disagreement
What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Be aware of how a coworker's promotion will affect a work group
Level 6: Counsel patients who are depressed during a crisis period
What perspective or concern might another person bring to this task?
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies
Level 2: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Write an email to staff outlining new directives
Level 2: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
What document would another person need, and how would you check that they could act on it?
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
Level 6: Write legal brief challenging a federal law
What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Work with others to put a new roof on a house
Level 2: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
Who would need what information, and at which handoff would timing matter?
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Allocate the time of subordinates to projects for the coming week
Level 2: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
What needs to happen first, where is the deadline, and what would you do if time runs short?
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Convince a supervisor to purchase new office equipment
Level 6: Change the opinion of the jury in a complex legal case
What evidence would help an audience evaluate your proposal without hiding its tradeoffs?
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for public relations specialists.
Level 4: Evaluate a loan application for degree of risk
Level 2: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
Which options, constraints and consequences would you compare, and what could change the choice?
Review the result
Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.
Keep your worksheet
Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.
Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.