Best PR Agencies to Work For

So you’ve found your perfect career — it’s in public relations! But as anyone in the industry will tell you, not all PR agencies are created equal. When considering the best PR firms to work for, you’ll want to think about the client list and industries you would be representing, of course, to ensure they align with your interests. But there are many other things to consider when searching for the best PR companies to work for. You’ll also want to look at features like employee perks and compensation, how the company treats team members, and whether or not your values align in regards to work-life balance, so you’re not only doing work you love, but you’re set up to succeed in your career.

When it comes to employers, Zapwater Communications consistently ranks among the best PR firms in the world to work for. Combining a superb client list (including some of the top travel destinations in the world), employee perks and bonuses and a dedicated commitment to a healthy work-life balance, Zapwater has proven again and again to be not only among the best PR agencies for client work, but also one of the best PR agencies when it comes to employee satisfaction. It's evidenced by numerous awards, a range of news coverage, low employee turnover and glowing reviews on career websites.

Here are a few reasons that Zapwater is widely considered one of the best PR agencies in the world when it comes to employment.

Best PR Companies to Work For

When it comes to employee satisfaction, Zapwater repeatedly ranks among the best PR agencies in the world to work for. With offices in three of the most fun and exciting cities in the country — Chicago, LA and Miami — the company’s reach is far and wide, with clients across five different categories: consumer, travel, fashion/beauty/lifestyle, hospitality, real estate and design. Zapwater’s standard employee offerings, listed below, help make it one of the best PR firms to work for.

Flexible, Approachable Work Model

Zapwater PR appreciates that your job and your life should work in harmony. So we offer a hybrid office model, allowing team members 40 work-from-home days to use per year. The Zapwater schedule also includes year-round, work-from-home Summer Fridays, so team members can recharge their batteries by logging off a little earlier (or at least logging on from the comfort of home) at the end of a busy and exciting week.

Respect for Industry Demands

Knowing that your cell phone is essentially a public relations lifeline, Zapwater pays for employees’ cell phones, ensuring team members have the best and most current technology to make communication as seamless and stress-free as possible.

Long-Term Compensation

Zapwater PR wants to set you up for success, both now and in the future. Not only does the company provide competitive compensation, but we provide superb health benefits and retirement packages, allowing you to take care of yourself now and after your PR career is behind you.

Travel Perks

One of the things that makes Zapwater stand out as one of the best PR agencies in the world is that travel is a core value. It’s reflected in both the client roster as well as the approach to employment. Team members have the opportunity to work in any of the Zapwater offices on occasion, and also have the opportunity to participate in the Travel Lifestyle Network office exchange program, where you get to experience a life in a different office around the globe.

Work-Life Balance

Client demands are important. But client needs can’t be met by an exhausted and overstressed team. Zapwater PR believes in a healthy work-life balance, providing time and space for employees to rest, recharge and pursue passions outside the office — including flexible schedules and ample vacation time. The result? Team members who are more creative, more driven and more excited to tackle their projects.

Superb Client List

Zapwater’s client list alone makes it one of the best PR firms in the world to work for — especially if you’re a travel enthusiast. Clients include must-visit travel destinations — think Finland, Baja California Sur, Montreal and the Dominican Republic — and top-tier hotels and resorts around the globe. But they also represent unique consumer brands, fashion and beauty clients and some of the most exciting design and real estate companies in the industry.

Best PR Agency Awards

Zapwater PR has won more than 250 prestigious awards for our client work and PR campaigns from organizations across the country, including PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards, Bulldog Reporter Media Relations Awards, PRSA Los Angeles Prism Awards, the HSMAI Adrian Awards and so many more. While these clearly demonstrate that Zapwater is one of the best PR agencies in the world, the awards that mean the most to our company are the ones that honor us as one of the best PR agencies to work for.

Here are a few recent nods:

PRovoke Media

We’ve been named “Best North America Agency to Work For (Boutique)” by PRovoke Media for several years running, most recently in 2022. As an industry leaders in the world of communications and public relations, calls the “best and most voluminous category,” and they’ve chosen Zapwater Communications based on our mission to “empower and advocate for the well-being of employees through a variety of programming, policies and educational opportunities.”

This PR industry publication annually surveys more than 5,000 employees from over 60 public relations agencies to determine the best PR companies to work for. We’re proud to have been recognized by this industry publication as the Best Agency to Work For within the US for eight of the last 10 years. We’ve also earned the coveted Best Boutique Agency to Work For multiple times.

PR News

One of the industry’s leading publications, PR News also named Zapwater Communications as one of the 50 Best Places to Work in PR, where we were listed alongside some of the best and brightest agencies in the US.

Best PR Agency Office

In the public relations realm, it’s essential to have face time with your colleagues for productive brainstorms, creative collaborations, all-hands-on-deck projects and team bonding. So you might as well enjoy where you work. Zapwater PR has received press coverage for having a modern, fun, tech-savvy and exciting office space — including an article by Crain’s Chicago Business that dubbed it one of the coolest Chicago offices to work in.
Here are a few highlights:

*The space features chic, modern design with a dose of comfort. Wooden beams and pillars blend with exposed brick, creating a space that’s rustic yet industrial, and warm and welcoming. Multiple communal spaces make it easy to gather with coworkers for creative collaboration — or just a little companionship while at work.

*Knowing that some of the very best ideas result from putting our heads together, a comfortable conference room — complete with a wooden table and faux antlers — features a giant chalkboard to help facilitate productive brainstorming sessions.

*Inspiration comes from coworkers every day, but it also comes in the form of past successes. Around the walls of the agency, numerous PR awards sit next to framed photos of public relations victories and favorite moments in the agency’s history. It’s a visual at-a-glance representation of what makes Zapwater Communications one of the best PR firms in the world.

There are a lot — a lot — of PR firms out there. So when you’re trying to determine the best PR agency for your lifestyle, communication preferences, career goals and interests, make sure you take a good look at Zapwater Communications.

We’re always scouting for talented team members, and if you’re interested in working at one of the best PR agencies, we’d love to hear from you!