Why PR Is Not The Job For Me

I have come to a conclusion: after a 6 month internship in a French PR firm that specialises in fine foods and magazines, 2 weeks in a chic London firm that represents top-end hotels and some post-GCSE work experience with my cousin in beauty PR- I have finally decided that Public Relations is not quite right for me.

The world of PR is heavily stereotyped; lots of champagne, a variety of freebies, plenty of glamourous events in high heels and constantly having the opportunity to showcase your creativity. Although some of this may be glitzy, and PRs certainly all have a story to tell of that time they organised an event with a zed-list celebrity in a swanky venue in Paris, the other 99% of their time is spent being frustrated at ignored emails, annoyed at incorrect journalism and having to be overly friendly to an unresponsive client.

The working world demands routine, repetition and admin, but I can’t help thinking that sending hundreds of blankets emails with text book press releases to interns at crumbling magazines is a little demoralising, especially when the majority of those emails end up unread. The rise of influential bloggers has certainly changed this dynamic, there are now a lot more junk mail folders to send your press releases to, but unless your incessant emailing is paired with a creative marketing scheme or an original, and always expensive, advertising campaign, I found it difficult to feel like any impact had been made.

The feeling of seeing one of your clients featured in the press is certainly a thrill. However, even when you are successful in your promotion pursuit, the problem with PR is that it is virtually impossible to measure. The experts suggest that PR value is 3 times the value of advertising (if a half page advert in the magazine costs £1000, a half page editorial piece would therefore be ‘worth’ £3000). Yet, what I find frustrating is that to know if the writing on those pages transfers into the all-important words on the lips of consumers, well that is almost impossible. 

The intangibility of PR certainly contributes in a large way to my decision, but the fundamental turning point is that PR has deteriorated my appreciation of magazines and made me rather cynical about journalism. Journalists can copy and paste a press release straight into their article within minutes without even a full comprehension of the product. This leads to the products represented by the pushiest PRs who happen to be that old-friend-from-school or the most generous PRs (who can offer free trips to the Bahamas) having the largest word count in the press. Even the most inconsistent cynic would point out that this means that there is very little substance behind the statements. 

Even though I am highly dubious about the Public Relations-Journalist partnership, I can admit that PR has taught me a lot about business, networking and events. Although I have decided that it's not the career path for me, certainly at this stage, I won't deny that my experiences have been more than worthwhile.  

Office Antics - Year Abroad #4

My next article for Inter:Mission about the fun of an inappropriate office... 

Upon embarking on a 6 month placement in a French marketing and PR agency in Bordeaux, I was fairly confident of what to expect; lots of coffee-making, plenty of scanning and many embarrassing language-barrier moments. Officially only an intern in the ‘Community Management’ department (my job description in French … really), my expectations of tedious and trivial tasks were quite wrong.

It goes without saying that the communication issues were incredibly prevalent at the beginning of my placement, often leading to hesitant nodding in the affirmative to tasks even if I didn’t have a clue of the instructions. However, the scanning and barista tasks were few and far between. Instead, I was treated like a fully capable employee, reflected in every part of my life at the agency, except rather unfortunately, by my salary (a big thank you to the European tax payers, the Erasmus grant is a wonderful thing when your salary just about covers your rent). This means that although I only earn about 2 euros an hour, doing ‘real’ work means that I am getting to know my colleagues quite well. Perhaps too well.

An eclectic group of personalities, made up of more interns than full-time staff (no, I’m actually not joking), by the end of the first week I realised that formality was not necessary in this office. The telling moments included being added on SnapChat by more than one colleague in week 1, over-hearing someone in the creative department ask someone on the PR team if she was pregnant in front of the boss and a client (she wasn’t) and being offered something quite strong at our first work soirée. Needless to say I am always on my best behaviour, much to their disappointment and often pretend to find understanding French a little harder than it is.

Although my first few weeks were made up of memorable and fantastically inappropriate moments, my most amusing occasion in the office so far has to be the day when I stumbled across the profile of one of my colleagues on an online dating website (I know you’re wondering what I was doing on there myself, well you can read all about my online dating experiencein France in my previous article). Thinking of this as the perfect way to contribute to lunchtime conversation and get a foot on the banter ladder, I prepared to bring it up over a baguette-induced silence the following day. I perfected my speech, ensuring I had the right vocabulary to hand…their response? “Oh, of course we know all about it, our previous intern found him on there too!”

I could not have asked for a better year abroad job, and I’m not just saying that through fear that my boss will read this article. My colleagues are patient with my language gaps and encouraging of initiative and responsibility. Usefully for me they don’t speak any English (except the mandatory Friends quotes) and they are rather keen to teach me both formal and informal French. Although I do make plenty of cups of tea every day, they are mostly for me and, as of yet I have never been asked to photocopy anything. 

Dangerous Domestics - Year Abroad #2

My second column for Inter:Mission, this time I decided to talk about moving in with strangers...

When you make the decision that you want to live with other people (rather than in a studio flat) on your year abroad, you put your hand into a lucky-dip of unknown personalities. You may create future friendships that are to last, or you could find yourself slap bang in the middle of disaster. When you decide, as I did, to live in an Erasmus flat where the people change every few months, you are multiplying that risk by 10 and adding a pinch of communication trouble into the melting pot too.

When I first moved into my 4 bedroom, ‘this’ll do’ apartment in Bordeaux, the first person I met was a lovely Austrian girl studying French in the city. We immediately hit it off, chatting about lots of things we had in common and about how beautiful Bordeaux was. Perfect, at least I’ll have one friend. Not so, she soon informed me that she was in her last week, and she didn’t fail to add that the other guy, a Slovakian, was an interesting personality.

She was right, the Slovakian guy was an interesting personality. Although rather charming, especially if you’re into the Russian/eastern European accent, I soon discovered that he was affording his travels through blogging. ‘How interesting, I like to blog too. What do you blog about?’ He has 100 webpages apparently, and one of the most prominent money-makers focuses on a lovely group of 5 English boys called One Direction. Ah. The second eyebrow was raised when I asked his age and he responded that it is a, ‘secret that even my ex-girlfriend doesn’t know’. Of course I headed straight to Facebook, (I’m slowly discovering that an obsession with Facebook stalking is a decidedly English attribute) and after much searching of birthday posts and graduation years, the most I could deduce is that he’s older than 33. He still won’t tell me.

The next to enter my flat of eclectic eccentricities was a French girl who couldn’t understand a word of French that either Mr Slovak or I said. Although I am well aware that my French is not perfect, it is at least comprehensible. Whether I was confused, insulted or mildly irritated, her bedtime of 8pm on the second evening told me everything I needed to know about the longevity of our friendship (or lack thereof). Even Slovak said he didn’t fancy her, and that’s saying something.

Despite the mystery of an Erasmus flat, I truly believe that my year abroad is designed for experiences like this and I love it. When else will I get the opportunity to learn about different cultures so intensely and be able to shout Britain’s praises to others? ‘The Olympics was just such a huge success, you see’. Also, my room has a lock. That helps.

You can find the original article on Inter:Mission Bristol here.

'20 Things 20-Year-Olds Don't Get' - A Response

I recently read the most fantastic article by Jason Nazar on Forbes about young people and their attitude to business. The no-nonsense style of the article was a change from the molly-coddled, spoon-fed and watered-down approach of treating young people in the 21^st century, especially by career professionals (Huffington Post recently argued, rather mockingly, that always being told we are special is ultimately making us unhappy). While I wouldn’t personally like to work under Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, Nazar’s example of the most valuable boss, being told off for my future mistakes before I make them could be useful. Business is not about Miss Honey telling us what to do and giving us a big cuddle if we don’t succeed, it’s about pro-activity and initiative. I imagine it’s also about having a thick skin too.

Nazar talks about the emergence of social media in the business world and its longevity, or lack thereof. Although many would be offended at his suggestion that ‘social media is not a career’, his point is clear. Social Media is unreliable and may disappear as quickly as it arrived. Reports suggest that Twitter has already reached the top of its graph and is now on the decline and even Instagram feels the need to introduce advertising to prevent social media mortality being a reality. As Nazar states, Social Media is a tool for marketing that should be adapted to other business, rather than be the business itself. Social Media is simple, it is isolated and above all, it is unreliable. Business may not be reliable either, but it involves interaction with people and the formation of business relationships that can’t be acquired from posting on a Facebook page a few times a day.

Would we ask to go home if this happened?
Image: WeBlogCartoons

His comment, ‘Stop hiding behind your computer. Business gets done on the phone and in person.  It should be your first instinct’ is of particular relevance to my generation. We don’t pick up the phone anymore and many don’t even bother with email. In order to contact the Graduate Recruiters for the Big 4, it seems as though my comrades simply head to the Facebook page and add a comment to the long list of obvious and unnecessary questions before them. The way I see it, hiding behind our computers is making us anonymous, uninteresting and ridding us of all initiative. Asking questions has its time and place, but working something out for yourself is invaluable.

While I don’t agree with everything Nazar says, such as his rejection of tweet reading, the overall essence of his article appears to be a comment on laziness. Lack of networking, hiding behind social media and sending blanket emails; it is all easy. Picking up the phone, meeting business professionals and taking responsibility for our own mistakes may be tough, but it is rewarding. The Co-Founder of Docstoc has certainly persuaded me of one thing, there’s a lot more to business than sitting in front of a computer.

I urge you to read the original article, ’20 Things20-Year-Olds Don’t Get’ on Forbes.

Are We Obsessed With Social Networking?

A month of working for a communications agency, a brother whose job is a YouTube channel and a flatmate who makes a fortune by blogging about One Direction has all led me to believe that perhaps social networks have taken over our lives. I do love a good Facebook stalk/Twitter troll/Instagram snap as much as the rest, but maybe we should take a day off every now and then. Don’t you occasionally miss the good old days*? 

This wonderful cartoon sums up exactly what I mean:

Image: Wrong Hands: http://wronghands1.wordpress.com/

(*Good old days= 2 years ago)

Creative CVs

With the necessity of work experience, top grades and extra-curricular activities required in abundance on your CV, we are constantly being told what we need in order to stand out. However, what if we don’t have all those extra bits and bobs that the careers advisors go on about? I stumbled across Charlotte Olsen, from Norway, and her inspiring CV and I think she might have just struck gold. 

Image: Behance/Charlotte Olsen

Although only a self-promotion task at university, I don’t think many employers would throw this CV straight in the bin. If it’s a creative job you’re looking for, then why not offer something more original to employers? A hedge fund manager or a high court judge might not appreciate such a wacky idea, but in an ever-modernising world, showing your ability to think outside the box will definitely get you noticed.

Want to work in fashion? Maybe try this one...

Image: Bored Panda

A bit of a tech genius? Try this one... 

Although sending a chocolate bar, t shirt or QR code/video might be a little far-fetched in reality, the idea of spicing up your CV to make it more attractive does sound like a good idea, provided you are sure you have the right audience. 

The 5 Websites I Check Every Day

Image: PicGifs

Now that it has become second nature when I enter my room to turn on my computer, almost as often as I turn on the light, I have come to realise that there are certain websites that are part of my daily routine. With easy access from my toolbar and extravagant Virgin internet, I have no choice but to waste a certain amount of time each day finding out what is going on in the world. I find myself allocating ‘procrastination slots’ each time I sit down to work, fully in the knowledge of the inevitable website wasting adventure upon which I am about to embark…

Facebook. So obvious that it barely needs mentioning. This is not just to be found on my toolbar, but as my homepage as well. Even when I don’t have my computer on me, I have a portable Facebook checker in my handbag in the form of my phone. It is embarrassing, time wasting and unnecessary but I’m fairly certain that this is one of the more relatable ones. Stop judging- you know you do it too!

 

Daily Mail TV&Showbiz Online. So I thought Facebook was embarrassing? It’s completely addictive to find out whether Lady Gaga has put on some weight or whether the cast of Made in Chelsea attended some premiere. However, after a good few minutes of horrendous judgements, I feel so guilty that I move onto website number 3…

 

BBC News. Once I have discovered what is going on in the celebrity world, it’s time to even out the balance and find out what is actually happening in the real world. However, if I can’t quite face anything too thought-provoking, there’s always the BBC entertainment section that can fill up my gossip quota.

Twitter. Now I would consider myself a twitter newbie, but people keep telling me stories of friends finding jobs through tweeting and being contacted by incredible people so I think I should stick with it. Also, it’s a great way to find out what is going on around you, especially in a university. I found out the Queen was in Bristol last week through the Twittersphere…

Student Beans. This is definitely another guilty pleasure, but one that never fails to make me laugh. If you haven’t spent time on this site, do not hesitate and head over right away. Think FML and Uni Confessions all mixed into one. After a tough day of lectures (or when feeling guilty about not having gone to any) hearing stories of other students doing unimaginably stupid things will cheer you up no end. 

Image: BalooCartoons

How to Avoid Wasting Time at University

Drinking too much coffee can cause a latte problems...

So we all have been partial to the occasional iPlayer/4oD moment when there is nothing you want to do more than catch up on some TV show that you don’t really care about. But for me, I always feel a bit guilty afterwards, like there must be some other activity I could be doing that would be less, well, lazy. I have come up with some examples of ways to waste time without necessarily feeling like you’re wasting time...

People Watching. Why not head over to the nearest *insert coffee shop name here*, find the perfect window seat and have a good stare? You’ll feel more proactive potato than couch potato as I’m pretty sure Costa/Caffe Nero/Prêt A Manger will make you change out of your pyjamas. Take a pretentious book to pretend to read and enjoy the staring as people go by completely clueless of your antics. If you’re feeling particularly bored, why not head over in the early morning and catch a glimpse of last night’s gossip walking home?

Social Media. Okay, so I know that spending a few hours on Facebook is a classic procrastination technique, but why not mix it up with a bit of Twitter/Google+/LinkedIn/Blogging and you’ll feel like you’ve spent the entire morning devouring all the web has to offer. Also, by putting LinkedIn in the mix, you are totally enhancing your career prospects, obviously.

Timetabling. Feel like you just don’t have the time to do all that you need to do? Print off 5 copies of your timetable and fill in when you are going to do which bit of work depending on which nights you go out. Let’s say you’re planning a mon/weds/fri (Bristol lot: Bunker, Dorma, Lounge?) why not create a timetable for working that doesn’t involve the mornings afterwards. That way you’ll be so totally organised when it comes to the timetabled hangover and already have found a time to do your stupid essay. Definitely not a waste of time. 

New Experiences. Write a check list of random things you want to do before you leave university and put it up on your wall (length of list depends on amount of time wanted to be wasted writing said list). Examples include: attend a free session at pole dancing society, go a week without spending any money or persuade the Sri Lankan society that you’re from Sri Lanka. 

How to Avoid Being the Subservient Intern

When applying for work experience or short internships in an office, we all know that however fantastic an opportunity it is, we will be expected to make endless cups of tea (or coffee, if you’ve secured a place in a particularly fashionable company) while photocopying 100 pages of something dull all while you organise the entirety of their intern inbox. Well, having done two, two week slots of internships this summer and discovering that I genuinely wanted to be useful, here are my top tips for persuading the company (or just the most junior person who is currently teaching you how to scan and then email it to yourself) that you’re capable of much more.

1.       Do your research. It may sound obvious, but knowing their ethos is not enough. A sure way to impress on your first day is to know their clients, their history and any important people in their company who helped make it happen.

2.       Make suggestions. At one of the agencies I was working at, I noticed that their website was littered with typing errors. Apparently I showed initiative in offering to make corrections. I was very happy to discover that this appeared to impress them- which is always a nice feeling.

3.       Be proactive. If you hear mutterings in the wind of an onsite meeting or a conference call, muster up the courage to ask if you can join. You will feel much more included in the company (and you won’t have to flip the kettle on for at least an hour).

4.       Network. Although you’ve probably been assigned to a specific department or area of the office, don’t feel that you are unable to circulate occasionally. You never know, someone downstairs might be your brother’s girlfriend’s dog’s uncle (or they might just find you impressive and offer you experience in the future).

Whatever the work you’re doing, make sure you feel valued. When you arrive you are just forgettable free labour to them, but a bit of (that magic word) initiative and you don’t have to stay that way.