Today CNBC posted a countdown of the most anxiety-inducing professions in America, sourced from a CareerCast.com survey. Aside from the outrageous omissions of corporate lawyer and Andy Dick’s personal assistant, it’s a well-reasoned register of vexing vocations. A cursory peek at the subject matter would tempt one to believe the listed jobs are day-in, day-out nightmares that no one would possibly desire. Not so it seems: “a number of the most stressful jobs are considered highly sought-after positions, and workers frequently undergo rigorous and costly training for the chance at one of these careers.”
Here is CareerCast.com’s summary of what makes PR a particularly stressful career and worthy of the number eight slot: “Public relations specialists make speeches and give presentations, often in front of large crowds. Because it is a highly competitive field, specialists must work quickly and creatively to meet deadlines. In addition, some PR officers are required to interact with potentially hostile members of the media.”
While the above responsibilities don’t come without a fair amount of pressure, expectations and artful navigation of occasionally unfriendly human interaction, I think it’s what makes this career fun. Call me crazy, but I suspect the fast pace and inventive, on-the spot thinking might be part of the draw for many of my colleagues. Furthermore, I’m a firm believer that competition breeds creativity in all disciplines.
What do you think? Are you a PR stress junkie or just stressed-out?