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Firms like Finsbury, Kekst CNC, and Gladstone Place Partners have carved out a lucrative place in public relations, working on high-stakes crises like WeWork and big mergers like Disney-Fox.
These firms seek out people who thrive under pressure and have an appetite for business and risky work.
Insiders at these firms explained what it takes to get hired, from common questions asked during the interview process to writing tests.
Firms like WPP s Finsbury, Publicis Kekst CNC, and Gladstone Place Partners, occupy a profitable niche of the agency world: Strategic communications, which involves crisis, litigation, financial, and other high-stakes public relations.
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Boutique firms with 25 or fewer employees and annual revenue below $10 million form the backbone of the PR industry.
For clients, boutiques can offer low costs and senior-level attention.
Insider identified 18 top boutique PR firms across categories, including finance, tech, and luxury.
While big firms and holding companies make headlines, smaller firms form the backbone of the public-relations business.
Boutique agencies can specialize in categories like travel, fashion, or technology or take a generalist approach with clients across segments.
For agency owners, staying small offers benefits like manageable overhead, personal involvement in client work, and ability to choose who to represent.