vox-popPRcareers

1. Can you describe what a junior executive would do at your agency, KMR?

KMR Communications, Inc is a beauty, health, fitness and fashion PR firm based in New York City with clients worldwide. Since we are a boutique agency, junior account executives are exposed to every facet of our business. Junior account executives work under senior account executives and assist or execute on the following: devising media pitches, media monitoring, arranging media desk sides, assisting with event planning. All junior account executive activities are supervised by senior account executives and KMR’s management.

2. When you first started out in PR, what things about the industry in the US were different to how they are now, i.e. were internships important?

I have always felt that a quality internship was and is of the utmost importance. Although learning in college is necessary, it is still not the “real world.” For graduating seniors, having as many internships on a résumé is really a way to stand out from thousands of other graduating seniors. It enables a recent college graduate to bring something tangible to the table for a prospective employer. In this depressed economy, having this advantage is more important than ever.

3. KMR specialises in beauty and lifestyle clients. Did the recession hit as bad as the media would have us believe for creative industries like PR, that depends on consumer spending?

Yes, of course the recession has hit the PR industry and continues to. Because PR is a discretionary expense, obviously a company is going to make sure their rent is paid before engaging or keeping a PR firm. On the flip side, companies who remained financially stable realised that a depressed economy was and is the right time to engage a PR firm to help ensure the growth of their business.

4. KMR is based in New York. Can you give my UK audience an idea of what the PR industry is like in New York to work in?

Like London, New York is a sophisticated, competitive and fast moving environment. Those who want to succeed in the world of PR must be appropriately aggressive, articulate, think outside of the box and have a real go getters attitude. I always say that a career as a publicist is not for those who are shy! As a CEO, I value the employees who constantly think of new ideas, keep up with technology and help me to have our firm distinguish ourselves from the competition in terms of prospective clients and the media.

5. Lots of graduates these days are using Facebook and sharing their lives on there. Do you as an employer care if your employees have active social media lives on Facebook or Twitter?

What my employees do on their on time is their business as long as they are conducting themselves in a way that is ethical and lawful. As professionals and members of my team, I would always want them to be cognisant of the fact that the internet of facebook is not a “private journal” and not to post things that would not befit a professional.

6. Social recruiting on Twitter is taking off in a big way. Would you use this method to recruit for your teams?

I am in my late 30s so I guess I am old! I personally don’t see the benefit of Twitter although I do assign tasks to my younger staff members who are more adept and in tune with this than I am. I am a big fan of recruiting and networking on facebook and the company also has a facebook fan page.

7. Looking back on your career, what do you realise now about PR that you wish you knew when you started?

That is such a hard question to answer because the nature of PR has changed drastically since I started. When I began there was no e-mail, no internet, no facebook or Twitter or blogs and websites to promote to. Since the entire way in which we communicate has changed since I began in the business, I can’t say I would really change anything. I would advise those breaking into the business to network as much as they can and to take any chance for a door that opens and be willing to start at the bottom and work their way up just like I did. I do find a bit of arrogance among some recent college graduates who come to a company with a “what can you do for me” attitude rather than one that has a bit more humility and shows the employer what he or she can do for them.

As told to Kagem Tibaijuka.