The annual list of most stressful jobs is making the rounds and some of my public relations colleagues are carrying the fact that “public relations executive” was ranked by CareerCast as the 6th most stressful job as a of badge of honor.
Here’s the full list, beginning with most stressful job:
Enlisted military, military general, firefighter, airline pilot, event coordinator, public relations executive, senior corporate executive, newspaper reporter, police officer, taxi driver.
Outside of the entertainment factor, the annual listing isn’t very meaningful, really. You can read more about the methodology CareerCast uses for its ranking here. To me, the comparisons are apples and oranges. For example, an airline pilot charged with transporting 300 souls in a metal vessel travelling at 600 MPH and at 38,000 feet, or an urban firefighter sprinting into a burning apartment building while everyone else is running in the opposite direction, have stress level factors PR people can only imagine.
And it’s ridiculous to think that a big city police officer, who’s pre-work routine includes donning a bullet proof vest and a loaded pistol, has a job that’s less stressful than the PR guy who’s pre-work routine includes reviewing email, checking the charge on his smartphone or taking one last look in the mirror before dashing off to a meeting at Starbucks.
Not to downplay the PR profession by any means. It’s a fantastic occupation, one that has been my bread and butter for more than 25 years and like any job where demanding, paying customers and deadlines and rejection are involved, it has its fair share of stresses. But it doesn’t belong on the same list as enlisted military, firefighters or police officers. While we’re at it, add nurses and school teachers to the list but remove event coordinator, corporate executive and newspaper reporter (I was one early in my career and while I was almost punched out by an intoxicated town councilor, I was never put in a position to save lives like our heroic first responders are).
Let’s leave taxi driver on the top 10, though. Cabbies put themselves in harm’s way every time a new client steps into their ride, especially when it’s an overly caffeinated PR person who just got word that his story idea was just rejected by the WSJ and his smartphone is about to die.
What It Takes | Jim Barbagallo 
Hmm…I’ve worked in six of the top 10 most stressful jobs listed in the article: Military, firefighter, police, reporter, event coordinator, and PR exec. I’m surprised “international aid worker” isn’t on the list, given how frequently they get verbally abused, physically attacked, wounded, raped, kidnapped and/or killed.
I agree with your contention, but must caution that one position’s stress cannot be compared against another’s. I’ve been in harm’s way many times (mostly in my military life), but just because someone risks her life does not make the stress she experiences on her job worse than the less-deadly stress others experience in occupations that don’t involve life-threatening work.
Yours is a good point and a good reminder, Steven. And thank you for your service!