‘Dos and don’ts’ from my first 30 days in PR

Avatar
Written by

I’m Millie and I started as an Account Executive at Stand Agency in April.

After graduating from the University of Leeds in June 2015, I moved back into my family home with the intention of plunging straight into a career in PR. However, being situated in the remote Wiltshire countryside, sandwiched between two farms and not much else, I was left with limited local options!

I’m sure many graduates out there can relate to the doubt, confusion and little bit of panic which quickly sets in once the warm fuzzy feeling of finishing your degree fades away.  So I decided to take action. I packed up and moved to the big smoke of London. This is where I found Stand, who were effectively my knight in shining armor by offering me my first job in PR.

Now one month into my role at Stand, it seemed like a good opportunity to share what I’ve learnt so far. So, in the form of a few ‘dos and don’ts’, here are my tips for those who are also starting out in their PR career:

DO give everything a go: From national sell-ins to helping with research for a new business pitch, be sure to embrace responsibility. Throwing yourself into all aspects of PR is an invaluable opportunity for you to learn, grow and develop your skills.

DO absorb everything: Be a total sponge and be aware of all that’s going on around you. You will learn a lot from colleagues so observe and take note.

DO be confident: Whether it’s sharing your ideas in a brainstorm, or picking up the phone and speaking to journalists, having confidence and having a voice will stand you in good stead.

DON’T panic: Allow yourself time to adjust to your new role and environment. You can’t expect to be crushing it on day one, so just be enthusiastic and do your best.

DON’T be afraid to ask questions: It’s an obvious one but not to be overlooked. It’s much more efficient to flag something you’re unsure of, than spend hours doing it wrong. No question is a stupid question.

Finally, and this one is pretty key here at Stand…

Absolutely DON’T forget to fill the fruit bowl: A banana-less office is no fun for anyone!

I have been welcomed into life at Stand with the extremely wide and open arms. I’ve learnt so much in this short space of time and look forward to all that is yet to come.

The future of payment – the revolution of mobility technology

Phasing out petrol and diesel cars and introducing EVs is a great option in...

More information

Claire Brady on Net Zero Hero Podcast

Some people think that ‘circularity’ simply means recycling, but it is so much more...

More information

Earth Day

Earth Day provides an opportunity to take stock of our progress towards addressing the...

More information

When it comes to making sustainability claims, getting it wrong can cost organisations the earth

According to Robin Hicks, “2022 was the year that policymakers started to take greenwashing...

More information

Less is more: How low alcohol brands are targeting their Gen Z consumers

Dry January may be over, but giving up alcohol definitely hasn’t gone out of...

More information

Beyond B Corp: Breaking up with Barclays 

Last year we became a certified B Corp, and to do so we had...

More information

Three takeaways from the IPCC’s ‘final warning’ report 

This week has seen the release of the latest IPCC report assessing the climate...

More information

Why we’ve introduced a 4.5 day working week

As the rulebook of the working week gets rewritten, at Stand we continue to...

More information

Stand shifts as we move into our second decade

I founded Stand with one simple (but typically ambitious) belief: that good comms can...

More information

So… has the pandemic set us back or propelled us forward?

Last week, just days after the restrictions in England were lifted, we hosted our...

More information

Wellbeing is not a one-size-fits-all approach

It’s safe to say that being plunged into multiple lockdowns across the past 18...

More information

Covid-19 has given us a harsh lesson in education inequality

Although ‘Freedom Day’ is here, Covid’s effects will, as we hear all too often,...

More information

The pandemic of inequalities

Last week, the Health Foundation’s Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery report made headlines, revealing that...

More information

Has the pandemic set us back 50 years, or will it propel us forward?

At its onset, Covid-19 was described as the great leveller. But the pandemic has...

More information

Pride 2021: Tokenistic campaigns just won’t fly anymore

June is Pride Month, a time for celebrating the diverse accomplishments, identities, and members...

More information