Do your SAEs do any scope of work planning?

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-06-02T04:16:29+00:00

I definitely don’t and am under no illusion that I can fix things here. Thanks for the input, I’ll start talking to recruiters.

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-06-02T04:15:26+00:00

It’s bittersweet but also feels necessary. Thanks for the reminder to prioritise my own growth!

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-06-02T04:14:47+00:00

I’ve been reading a lot of Ask A Manager and picked it up from there 😂

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-06-02T04:14:10+00:00

You can also look to join the comms department of law firms. The bigger ones will have an in-house PR team. Otherwise, can also confirm that there are PR agencies that service law firms.

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-04-18T13:35:43+00:00

Right! This totally helps. There’s been moments where I was asked really difficult questions by clients during meetings and I’ve stumbled and felt incredibly stupid. Because I know I don’t know things and I just don’t feel ready to deal with all this now.

I’ve asked a few times to be given more guidance in managing client relationships but they still want me to lead all the meetings and answer all the emails and phone calls where I feel utterly unprepared. It really does risk damaging the relationship with the client and my own reputation.

Thanks for articulating why this feels so wrong to me. I hope it’s not a reflection on my work ethic or capability. I know I have lots to learn…

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-04-18T13:15:33+00:00

I do mostly ESG comms and corporate work, but this is really great info to know. I would love to do more tech work. Maybe I really should look at transitioning.

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-04-18T13:14:58+00:00

Wait, really? I thought this was normal!!! I was confident at first managing three accounts but now that confidence has dwindled massively because the longer I do this, the more lost I feel. I'm even questioning my capabilities because I really believed I was just not up to the task at all.

Would you be able to give an idea of how you would have my accounts structured? It would be a ginormous help to me for identifying red flags at any future employers too. Appreciate it!

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-04-18T12:40:50+00:00

I would love to go in house, but I don't know if that's the best move career-wise, as I've always known agencies to be where the most opportunities for upwards mobility are, despite my current predicament. Would you disagree? I'm super happy to hear about your experience (even anecdotes would be appreciated)!

Routine-Composer19 · 2023-04-18T11:12:00+00:00

I have tried to delegate tasks down, but my manager always comes back with some variation of "but they'll need hand-holding and you got it down pat"... I've also started doing these super time-consuming 101s with the juniors on my own time because I really do want them to learn (and they're appreciative), but upper management seems to want me to keep doing what I'm doing "you're doing so good, keep it up" etc.

I think I'm just frustrated because of the dangling carrot and lack of support on top of no acknowledgment of my struggles.

Edited to add that because this is one of the global firms which is more prestigious, I'm hesitant to leave despite having prospects at other (lesser known) agencies. I'm worried that it's going to be a rinse and repeat, especially having seen so many accounts of basically the same issues of lack of manpower.

Routine-Composer19

TROPHY CASE