Advertising & PR

Some of the important skills one must consider in a Public Relations work are -
Social Media Skills - Public Relations practitioners should have knowledge about various social media channels currently in use. As different channels have varying impact on the public and people you are appealing. There is a different strategy when using different platforms. A good PR person not only constrained with the platform of use but how to use each platform to its the fullest potential.
Research Skills - One needs to work with numerous kinds of clients in a wide variety of fields. To serve each client well, the person must be able to come up to speed on the clients brand, industry, and market very quickly.
International Perspective - One must have the ability to think from others frame of mind. Individual need to develop international and multicultural perspective, recognizing that not all people think in the same ways. Cultural symbols and icons vary. Tastes vary. A message that works well for one group of people might alter for another. A good PR person appreciates and rationalize these differences and can research different audiences as needed. Ability to converse in multiple languages is an advantage.
Time Management - Public relations specialists must be able to handle multiple clients and assignments, all of whom expect to be considered important. Mastering deadlines and prioritizing tasks is a must. Its a fast-paced, multifaceted job, and no one has time to lose paperwork or mix up names.

A doctoral degree is the final step to master a particular stream or subject through research and detailed study of all aspects. A Ph.D degree in mass comm. and that too on the subjects of corporate communication and public relations can be pursued from any university which has the valid approvals of UGC and other bodies.
However, when it comes to the quality of research guidance there has to be a smart and correct selection.
A number of Universities offer Ph.D in India. There are private universities as well. It is suggested that, it may not be a matter of corporate communication or PR but the quality and reputation is more important. Any university, with a good standing and faculty can do the best in the mentioned domain of media.
IITs and IIMs have humanities Ph.D seats and along with them
JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia, DU, Symbiosis, BHU, and other reliable names of Indian higher education are to be chosen for the purpose.

The hierarchy or the organizational set up of an advertising agency keeps both these profiles and do have a different scope of work as well as a profile for them.
A copywriter is a person who writes. This writing is of scripts of jingles for audio or video advertisement. This may be the text of a printed advt. material. The copywriter is responsible for composing the concept and bringing the words that make the best impact and create a brand of the advertised product.
The art director is the person who does an altogether different but comprehensive work than a copywriter. It is the art director who designs an advertisement of print or audio or video.
The art director is primarily the leader of the set up of shooting set where a TV or video commercial is shot. This way, a copywriter is someone who composes things in sync with the Director and Art Director's Concept and plan.

You can gain entry into advertising or PR industry by doing MBA in Marketing as advertising and PR are the main components in its syllabus but this is not the only way to get into this industry. Instead, you can pursue a Bachelor's degree in mass communication and apply for jobs in advertising or PR firm, whichever interests you. If you are a graduate in some other stream, you can pursue a post-graduate Diploma in advertising and PR and then apply for jobs. Having an MBA degree is not a prerequisite criteria for being an advertising or PR professional. Some of the best colleges in India that offer a post-graduate Diploma in advertising and PR are:
1. Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi
2. Mudra Institute of Communications, Gujarat
3. Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai
4. YMCA Institute of Mass Media Studies, Delhi
5. Amity School of Communication

If you have good communication skills and love to interact with different people, public relations is a great career option. In order to pursue a career in public relations, you can either pursue a Bachelor's or Master's degree in mass communication, or you can take up a specialised Diploma course in public relations and Corporate Communication. The syllabus of the PR course is quite comprehensive and can not be pursued through distance learning mode. One needs to develop certain skill-set to be a successful PR professional that can not be earned through correspondence. Hence, I would not suggest you to pursue a course in Public Relation and Corporate communication through distance learning. You can rather pursue the course from some of the top colleges Xavier Institute of Communication, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, YMCA Institute for Media Studies & Information Technology.

Final Cut Pro is the leading editing skill software which has more demand abroad than in India. There are jobs and good salaries as well but the number is less because some easy softwares are preferred over this here. The scope is good abroad.
Why I mentioned scope is because the reason of doing higher studies or going for a job depends on whether you are interested in going abroad for jobs in FCP. Not just Hollywood but TV Channels and web series world allows good work good jobs.
Hence, my submission is to go for a job because FCP will demand on field practice.
However, if your aforesaid certificate is not able to get you a job and that is an entry level course only, then of course, higher studies will be needed to gain skills.
Job seems a more sensible decision because there will be an opportunity with you to pursue some media related or mass communication degree through distance or part-time.

An advanced certificate (Considering it as something done from a reputed place as well as after graduation).
The answer that I gave for PG in Advertising Management prospects abroad and in India seems appropriate here:
An M.Sc in advertising management is a very popular-innovative as well as the less taken domain of studying mass media or mass communication. While doing the course, one learns how to see the need, plan, use the USP and create USP of the product in hand. The management of advertising of a particular product is to be done to see the impact. Along with this, the question demands response to career prospects for public relations. Public relations, on the other hand, has similar notions. The jobs that can be done abroad or in India after pursuing an M.Sc advertising management as well as a Public Relations Management degree are:
1. Teaching
2. Research
3. Job in a News Channels
4. Consultancy to get the Advertising Campaign done of a brand
5. Public Relationship Agencies
6. Event Management
7. Counsellor and Trainer
The above profiles can be developed for a job in the Advt. Management space.

A Diploma in Public Relations (Ideally a Post Graduate Diploma) shall help in getting Good Jobs through added Skills of Communication Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Corporate Communication.
Public Relations is much in demand as there are mandatory departments in all multinational companies as well as in small enterprises, even Universities and PSUs have these departments. It is always better to have the academic credential to claim a good job.
The guiding paragraph is as under:
Public Relations Management and Corporate Communication are the rising domains of careers because the corporates are finding it tough to reach the world without skilled professionals who make the best of communication.
The hiring is not just restricted to the offering by the Information and Public Relation Department. Any ministry or department that is dealing with people, has a need for someone with a Master's degree in mass communication/public relations, etc. These jobs are offered for the role of Public Relations Officer and have ample scope for the eligible people.
ABROAD: Corporate Communication and ADV/PR Management is one of the preferred domains in Mass Media abroad. The PR Agencies have lot to do there and have an active role in Media.

An advanced certificate/course can be taken as a specialisation in advertising management. Please refer to the answers that convey and guide in detail about this:
M.Sc in advertising management means it is a Post-Graduation and that too in one of the most complex areas of mass media and marketing in the present age. This is also stated that advertising as a specialisation remains one of the strong areas of learning.
Parallel courses must be done with care and proper selection.
Along with the Master's degree, some MOOCs - Massive Open Online Courses –
1 A Certificate in a popular language/foreign language that shall be used in your works and place.
2 Content writing and proof reading.
3. Web development and digital marketing.
4. Music and sound mixing basics/audio production.
5. Web-based writing, social media, etc.