What Your Favorite Halloween Candy Says About You: PR Edition

We’re back with another edition of the series no one asked for: “What your ‘insert something tied to Halloween’ says about you: PR edition.” The first installment was all about costumes, and the second focused on decorations.

This time around, we’re giving you a piece you’ll really want to sink your teeth into…because it’s all about what your favorite Halloween candy says about the type of PR practitioner you are*. Whether you’re a die-hard Reese’s Cup fan or a connoisseur of all things sour, you won’t want to miss reading this essential contribution to our modern discourse.

So, my fellow PRs, here’s what you’re signaling to the world through your favorite Halloween candy…

Snickers: You’re a PR traditionalist who loves the nuts (intentional) and bolts of the job. When your client is working on an announcement, you’re practically giddy to propose a press release, and to encourage your teammates to conduct phone call follow-ups on your media outreach. You believe processes exist for a reason, and you can’t relate to Snickers’ ad campaign “you’re not you when you’re hungry,” because you’re a regimented advisor who rarely strays from your routines—including mealtime.

Twizzlers: While a Twizzler’s primary function is for eating, it also makes for a great straw, and it has many other practical (Halloween-related) uses. If your favorite Halloween candy is Twizzlers, you’re someone who’s known for finding ways to be flexible, and to creatively and effectively buck against the status quo—without full-on defying it. You might propose a company blog post rather than a press release to announce big news, or suggest a campaign activation that’s slightly out of your team’s comfort zone, but still has a lot of familiar elements.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: You’re a collaborator at heart who understands that magical things can happen when you combine forces. You’re no stranger to proposing a “quick brainstorming sesh” among colleagues, and you’re always thinking of ways to leverage existing resources to bring something truly spectacular to life, whether that’s through influencer and celebrity partnerships, unique events, or other approaches.

Skittles: Skittles’ “taste the rainbow” campaign is essentially your motto. You have a lust for life and passion for PR. People are drawn to your colorful energy, so it’s no surprise that you’re also a networking pro who was practically born for the conference circuit. As someone who enjoys variety, you’re the type of person who knows a little about a lot of different topics – from PR campaigns to pop culture and politics – which makes you a great conversationalist and a seamless networker. You know how to work a room, and importantly, how to get your client into the right rooms.

York Peppermint Patties: You exude professionalism, which immediately makes clients trust you. You’re also not afraid to tell it like is. Much like a quick burst of minty freshness, your POV is always appreciated and worth sharing. It might not be what your client wants to hear, but it’s definitely what they need to hear. Also, you have shiny, perfect hair. No, I won’t elaborate.

Sour Patch Kids: You embody the candy’s “first they’re sour, then they’re sweet” campaign. While many PRs are intimidated by reporters, for you, it’s the other way around. Reporters know that while you’re always happy to play nice, you can easily switch to bad cop if your client isn’t being treated with the respect they deserve. You’re also a reporter whisper, capable of making even the prickliest reporters fall in love with your clients—and, by extension, you. And as said whisperer, you’re always in-the-know about reporters’ latest moves (to and from new jobs).

M&Ms: You’re a PR generalist, and a good one at that. Much like M&Ms, whenever you’re added to a project, you elevate it. You take it from a regular sugar cookie (which is great!) to an M&M sugar cookie, which is great on an entirely different level. From pitching reporters to drafting social media posts, and from event planning to drafting awards submissions, you’re someone who’s comfortable rolling up their sleeves to get the job done, whatever that job may be.

Starburst: You’re a C-suite comms person. Similar to how every Starburst gets its own wrapper and is then encased inside another wrapper, you’re someone who takes pride in spending time with individual senior leaders to help them build a unique thought leadership program—one that dovetails nicely with the broader corporate strategy. You’re skilled at providing individualized attention to each executive, and at helping them navigate and carefully select from each opportunity placed in front of them.

Kit Kats: You’re adept at building easy rapport with clients, always remembering to ask for details about their weekends and children and hobbies. You’re also the social butterfly of your team, and the one who’s most likely to organize a fun outing with clients and colleagues when your team needs a break. If there’s a cool bar or restaurant within a several-block radius of wherever you are in a given moment, you’re the person who’s already checking Resy before someone even suggests going to a second location.

Lollipops: While the answer can vary widely according to the type of lollipop you prefer (Tootsie vs. Blow vs. Dum Dum, to name a few), generally speaking, you’re someone who loves crafting narrative and campaign strategies and getting to the bottom of what makes your clients unique. You’re a planner, and you savor any opportunity to create a plan months in advance, as it allows you the necessary time to dive into the nitty gritty details and every facet of your PR strategy. You understand that good things come to those who wait—and plan meticulously in the meantime.

You Don’t Like Candy: Obviously, you’re a dentist. Yet on second thought, if you’re a dentist, candy can be good for business. So I’ve changed my mind: you’re actually a lobbyist for a fruit company. This is the only logical explanation.

You Only Like Candies with Orange Wrappers: Have you considered applying to work at Prosek Partners? 😊

Happy Halloween!

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*Note: This post was written in good fun. It is a reflection of the author’s thoughts, and not of Prosek’s opinions as a firm.