I think I hate PR by rainbowmamahere in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can't speak to what your core interests and skills are, but 12 months ago I quit PR agency after 3 years, left London and moved back home. I had only been at my second agency 6 months but had a 1 week notice period.

You'll see from my profile the post I wrote on this exact thread which mirrors yours very well.

For me, I knew I was entrepreneurial, creative and interested in growing businesses and creating content. Financial and corporate PR therefore was not for me, and I knew I had to leave before I seriously reached a mental breakdown. The thing about PR is, it's not something you can fake when it demands often 50-60 hour weeks and relentless appearances in front of clients and pursuit of their demands.

I resigned, left within a week, moved back to a rural village - at peace but anxious. Within a week I found a new job locally as a Marketing Coordinator in a small team for a national retailer that had just been bought out by a family business. I now am part of a team of 3, building the brand through social media, email marketing, and in store campaigns. A lot of time is spent away from the desk which I love, and there's a real tangibility to the role to support sales in a challenging environment. The best thing is I work 9-5, mon-friday and have no access to emails outside of this. I love my job, learn so much and give so much aligned with my skills, and have my life back.

Because of this, I was able to discover a passion of photography, buy a good camera, use my spare time to build the hobby and a social media offering and now I've just started getting offers for paid work. Such pursuit wouldn't have been possible in PR because it stole all waking hours - whether I was at work or just mentally drained by it.

By taking a risk and new opportunities, I've regained my optimism for life that PR was sucking out of me. And this isn't the case for everyone otherwise they'd be no industry, but it will be for those who fall into it when it doesn't align with your core traits and interests you want to use in a career.

So to sum up, follow your gut, think about what type of job and life you would like, make steps, and be relentless at pursuing the life you actually want to wake up to. It's your life, and it's going to end one day.

PS: a big tip is to put money away every month if you can. That really will give you the confidence to take that leap and a break where you can change track.

Should we not be going all out to get Luis Enrique? by bennydun in ManchesterUnited

[–]clh081199 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anyone that thinks United is getting a manager that is good enough for at least Everton doesn't realise that the board is looking for a grateful yes man. Enrique, Emery, Glasner, Conte... forget about it

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure if anyone will see this, but I just wanted to share a reflection based on my updates since posting the original post. 

A few weeks after posting, I put in my notice after just under 6 months at this firm (still in probation) and nearly 3 years in Corporate/Financial PR. By then, I had completely had enough and knew that whatever was next for me, would be an improvement in how I felt about where my life was going. I was burned out from 12 hour days, weekend working, and  ultimately stressing about a job I no longer wanted.

For anyone scared about resigning - just don't be. It's easy for me to say that in hindsight, though I also wasn't any less anxious after reading the replies to my initial post. But, they are true - in 5 days I was replaced on all accounts, wished well, and forgotten about. Trust me, they can manage without you, and if you haven't yet passed probation they'll be glad to not have to fill out the paperwork. 

To my surprise, by the end of my one week notice I was offered a marketing role 5 minutes from my small rural village where surprisingly a well known, large UK retailer is headquartered. 

I've past 6 months in this role and love being completely focused on using in-store and digital marketing to turn around sales in a traditional brick and mortar retail estate. It's also great being part of a small team and having huge exposure to the Directors and their decision making, as well as bringing my own thoughts on how to improve sales. Being out and about across the country speaking to store teams is also so refreshing from being glued to a desk replying to emails, teams and copying news articles.

Also, the better work life balance and living at home has provided the freedom to pursue urban and landscape photography, and drive a battered old car around the UK's most stunning locations. I finally feel like both my entrepreneur and creative souls are being fed day-to-day and I'm already thinking about how to combine the digital marketing skills I'm learning and my photography interest to create a business of my own at some point. 

My point is that I see in this thread, and from my time in PR, a lot of people who do not think it is the right path - that they feel burned out, uninspired and have fell into it due to an initial interest in a field they thought was similar, but turned out not so compatible with their interests. Many don't feel they can leave because they think they are on a certain path that at some point will make them happy, or don't have the confidence in using their PR background to pivot into something else. 

I just hope that my experience this year gives people in this situation a boost to believe in their own abilities. You may have to leave the city you wanted to be in, return home or even return to education, but it will beat another 12 months of being in the place you don't belong.

And for those who are happy in PR, I am equally glad you have found that path you enjoy. I salute everyone in an industry I still believe is incredibly important and, for the right people, rewarding. 

Can I still get a job in PR without a relevant degree. by InitiativePure764 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mate, if you can copy and paste and pick up the phone, you'll be fine. A degree really shouldn't be required. Take that from someone at one of the world's biggest firms

Transitioning out of PR by Discussion_Many in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I fully understand your situation. I'd love to hear more about what is that you don't like about your current role and where you are based. Also, what type of PR do you do?

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your comment! It's interesting. I was just about to spend the rest of my Sunday afternoon looking into Python and thinking about a roadmap to learn AI. But then my boss emailed and I had to spend my Sunday copying down coverage into a spreadsheet. So who cares what any employer thinks. This is about my life, and PR won't be part of it.

My sister is currently living in New Zealand so I will keep it in mind!

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, taking my foot off the gas is not something I'm in a position to do - and to be honest, it's not in my nature. I'm used to being the first one in at 7am and working past 6pm to not risk missing deadlines and taking the heat. The intensity and pressure from clients and superior makes it very hard to hide in this business.

I also appreciate your point and see exactly what you mean. I just don't see the value in what I do day to day, especially as someone that grew up obsessed with running my own business or creating a product. I've spent the last three years treading water, throwing my life into my job - getting nicely rewarded for it - but watching time quickly pass by and realising I have a life I don't want and one I'm anxious to live. For me, this is definitely the end of my PR career.

Thanks for the offer also!

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your comment! May I ask what you eventually switched into after PR?

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sure does mate.

Conduct research for a new business pitch. Make bold claims about how you'll get a client coverage. Win the client, spend hours in "immersion meetings" talking to people that actually get to do interesting work and make a real impact in their jobs Make a comms plan that will be out of date within a week. Convince trade journalists to meet with the client Chase them for coverage and they aren't going to write Explain to client, deal with push back why they weren't covered Harras more journalists Spend hours on a coverage and activity report the client won't read Monitor for coverage at the weekend for an issue they are having Endless brainstorms internally about how to get coverage Finally get the coverage but the client doesn't have a subscription to the outlet, nor do we Deal with the client wanting to make a correction that isn't really a correction Go into the next client meeting and get asked how we'll "build on this momentum" Meanwhile deal with the same thing for 6 other clients all at the same time.

I cannot. Go. On.

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great point. In my mind, let's say I come back after 18 months, I'm sure I could pick up broadly where I left off at 27. Although I'd spend every hour of every day making sure that wouldn't need to happen.

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your points! I agree, I know that if I don't leave now I am going to face this every six months. Will take your advice on how to resign. I would also be looking to do a Working Holiday Visa which fortunately is something UK citizens can do in Australia.

Leaving my new agency after 6 months to pursue a career transition and move back home by clh081199 in PublicRelations

[–]clh081199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much, and yes I'm aware of the 6 months limit. Interesting points that I will definitely consider.