‘I’m in PR’
It’s one of those phrases which is casually thrown about, and everyone responds with a nod but doesn’t really know what you do day to day. Some have visions of Bridget Jones, some imagine you as a champagne drinking Ab Fab character and when people hear you work in a marketing agency, they assume you’re a salesman, cold calling every day.
So after a year of working as a PR Executive, let’s set the record straight about this misunderstood profession.
A bit about you?
I’ll start with the basics, I’m not a Jones and I don’t like champagne!
I started Shorthose Russell in March 2015 after interning through my university years both at magazines and in-house for fashion brands in London. Wherever I went, I would be in touch with PRs asking for samples and sending over press releases and always wondered if the grass would be greener – it was!
What have you learned?
- I can juggle! – Not literally but I never thought I’d get on at an agency. No matter how organised I am, I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to have a wide ranging and varied knowledge of different clients in different sectors. Now it’s second nature and keeps me on my toes!
- Learn the big things in the small places – Whether that’s being at an agency where you don’t get lost in the noise of hundreds of employees or finding your most important snippets of info on a little known blog, big isn’t always better.
- Don’t take it personally – when you are contacting lots of different people there will always be someone you catch on a bad day or in the wrong moment. Don’t take it to heart, it’s not personal and it’s a waste of time letting it play on your mind.
- Common Sense – something that you can’t be taught but is key to working in PR! If the opportunity is there, go with it and likewise if something doesn’t feel right, investigate.
- Be a sponge – A piece of advice I was given in my first year of uni and something I have applied to everything since. Read around your subject, fellow colleagues at Shorthose are great sharers and often send out articles and information to keep my knowledge in check.
The best bits?
For me, the best thing about working in this field is seeing the results, whether that is a fantastic double page destination spread in a national newspaper or watching in real time as bloggers tweet and Instagram their weekend away. It is measurable and a tangible outcome for all involved.
The variation as a PR Exec is also something I love, I’ve had the chance to get involved in organising events like the Bernard Matthews Youth Awards, prepping for the UK’s largest two day county show and being a part of video campaigns for Visit Norfolk.
