So apparently PR is the 2nd most stressful career

April 20, 2011

So you may have seen a report on Twitter doing the rounds, that details the most stressful careers in the US.

Now as a PR I don’t mind brand developed reports, as long as they are impartial, well researched and provide clarity about how they arrived at their conclusions. I’ve done a few myself and they’ve generated positive press and consumer responses.

However, CareerCast.com‘s report seems to avoid all of these things and ends up being an object lesson in self serving link baiting (which is why I’m putting no follows though all the links in this article.) According to their ‘research’ into 200 professions, PR comes second to commercial airline pilot as most stressful. How do they define stress? According to the recruiter, uncertainty about job stability and work life balance are the key indicators.

With paramedic coming an enviable ninth, am I the only one that finds the whole thing slightly offensive, while a missed deadline or a low turnout event can be a bit nerve-wracking it’s not a life and death situation.

The survey also appears to miss out on a plethora of other ‘stressful’ careers for the sake of a headline that’s relevant to their audience – bomb disposal expert, asbestos remover, crocodile farmer, Marine, hostage negotiator and President of the United States of America are notable by their absence.

Anyway judge for yourself – and PRs, please stop with the self serving reports, it’s stressing me out.

Top 10 most stressful professions:

1. Commercial airline pilot

2. Public relations executive

3. Senior corporate executive

4. Photojournalist

5. Newscaster

6. Advertising account executive

7. Architect

8. Stockbroker

9. Emergency medical technician

10. Real estate agent

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