Day in the Life of a PR Agency
By Patricia Arribas, Director at PRLab
There’s no better way of learning about the PR industry than hearing talented professionals talk about their experience. Brittany Straughn from CONE Communications, Haley King from CTP, Meredith L. Eaton from March Communications, Michael Byrnes from Matter, Liza Taney from Fleishman Hillard, and Monique Kelley from Weber Shandwick joined us this past Monday for our panel discussion, “Day in the Life of a PR Agency.” During their time with us, they shared their experience in the field, what their daily lives at the agency look like, and valuable advice.
For you to get a head start on your PR career, here are the key takeaways from the discussion panel in three parts:
- Agency Life
When you work at an agency, every day looks different. As clients come and go, or projects change, there is always something new and exciting going on. You learn to expect the unexpected and you face challenges constantly which gives you a lot of space to grow. While working in-house gives you a chance to explore the whole picture and the business side of the industry, working at an agency will allow you to work with many clients and on different projects. This is an advantage because you will be able to experience the many sides to public relations and chose where you fit in.
When you are just getting started working at an agency, don’t undervalue yourself no matter what position you currently hold. If you are at a meeting and you have a thought regarding a project that is being discussed, speak up. Let your superiors hear your voice and get to know you. Being an intern/entry level employee doesn’t mean you can’t have great ideas!
- Job Search
Agencies will need to hire people depending on the volume of work they have. If an agency suddenly wins three new clients, it will immediately be on the lookout for new people. Don’t be afraid to contact an agency at multiple points in time asking about any open positions. Things change really fast, and even if they don’t have a job now, something might open up next month.
If you are invited for an interview, don’t focus all your attention on answering questions correctly. Make sure you are also asking thoughtful and insightful questions yourself that show the interviewer that you are interested in the company, and you want to learn more about them! Saying you have no questions at the end of an interview is like saying you don’t care.
- PR Tips
When doing media relations, always be mindful of your pitch. Do your research; find out exactly which outlets are publishing about your subject and which journalists are writing about it. By avoiding pitching irrelevant articles to journalists, you will establish healthy relationships that will help you in the future.
Read the news. Stay up to date. Know what is going on in your industry, and in the industries of your clients. If a crisis hits, you must be the first to know!
