Think about this idea and ask yourself the following two questions:

1) Is career success the most important thing in your life?
2) Are all successful people ambitious?

The new pecking order

PR is one of the most cut-throat industries in the world. Much like an actor has to audition for a role and impress the director, a PR is as good as their latest role, which is in this case, a campaign. Ambition is an important part of being successful because it shows you have the drive to succeed.

Let’s face it, the job market is absolutely vicious at the moment. I can see this myself through my work for vox-popPRcareers: from the dozens of PRs I interviewed for features to the jobs I source for the Twitter feed, finding a job in PR is going to take more than just being talented. Many business leaders talk about how execution matters more than your idea: this is completely weaved into the fabric of successful PRs. From the many brilliant PRs who have been interviewed for vox-popPRcareers, one thing is painfully clear: if you are not ambitious, you are not going anywhere in this industry.
Ambition in all forms can be dangerous though: Julius Caesar suffered for his ambition, as jealousy spurred people to betray him. In a PR world where coverage means everything, graduates will do well to focus on executing for their clients.

Make an impression by being an ambitious person who delivers, not disappoints.

Job title: Marketing and Communications Assistant

Salary: £16,500 per annum, pro rata

Location: Clandon Park & Hatchlands Park, near Guildford

Contract: Part-time, 2.5 days a week; fixed term for two years

Reference: NT10/05866

 

About the role

 Clandon Park is one of the country’s most complete examples of a Palladian mansion, with a superb collection of eighteenth-century furniture, porcelain and textiles. Built in the 1750s for Admiral Boscawen, hero of the Battle of Louisburg, Hatchlands Park is an intimate mansion set in informal grounds. We want everyone to enjoy these two special places, to get involved with them, share in their stories and love them as much as we do. Enthusiastic and creative, you’ll help us to do just that, raising the profile of both Clandon Park and Hatchlands Park.

 

We’ll look to you to develop an exciting range of promotional and marketing activities.

You’ll build strong relationships with the local media and organisations to promote everything from property events to community engagement activities to learning and volunteering. In everything you do, whether it’s a press release, a local press ad or a new webpage, you’ll inspire, enthuse and engage people in the region. You’ll constantly look at new ways to reach out to them too. And as well as keeping all web pages accurate and up-to-date, you’ll make sure that we’re making the most of social media, the likes of Twitter and Facebook.

 On one of your three days you’ll focus on marketing and communications for the Hinemihi project. Hinemihi is a Maori meeting house which stands in the gardens at Clandon Park. It’s the only house of its kind in the UK. Again, you’ll raise its profile and tell its story. Importantly, you’ll develop, coordinate and post content for a soon-to-be-launched Hinemihi website.

 About you

With your natural way with people and passion for history and heritage clear for all to see, you’ll inspire everyone in the region to get involved with these two magical places. And we really do mean everyone – we want people of all ages, from all walks of life, to enjoy Clandon Park and Hatchlands Park.

 Understandably, you’re going to need proven communications and marketing experience, coupled with confident communication skills, in writing and in person. You know how to speak to different audiences too, tailoring your message as appropriate. And you’re well-versed at writing clear, targeted communications, whether it’s articles, websites or newsletters. It’s also important, because of your work on the Hinemihi projects, that you’re willing to learn about Maori cultural protocol.

 About us

Here at the National Trust, things are changing – and fast. We’re putting all our energy into making sure every single person who comes into contact with us has an unforgettable experience. Whether its colleagues, visitors or volunteers, we believe that this begins with engagement, involvement and a sense of belonging.

Make sure you sign up your CV here for many other PR jobs by clicking here.

Petya N. Georgieva (pictured left) is an account executive at a PR firm in Bulgaria. In this feature, Petya gives us an insight into the Bulgarian PR scene.

7am-9am: My day starts earlier, around 7:30 or 8:00. Then I check my emails, Twitter and Facebook accounts and listen to podcasts on my way to the office. The very first thing that I do at work is media monitoring, I am responsible for a media monitoring in English, so I have to summarise topical articles in Bulgarian language which are important for the client and translate them as a short summary in English.

11am: Until 11 o’clock I am already done with media monitoring and news reading (this includes checking the press, internet sites), and I have checked my office email and answered to emails. Then I start planning my day and organising the tasks which should be done. If there is something important which is concerning the clients and the campaigns I work for, I immediately start with it. If I have to send press releases, I usually choose this time of the day because it is a good time for the media and the journalists to react.

Noon: This is the time for active work and tasks to be done. This includes coordination with clients and partners, maintenance of social media accounts, and a lot of phone calls and emails, brainstorming and other creative work. During this time, I find several free minutes to catch up with Twitter and current news. For example, at the moment I am working on the concept of a campaign which is lasting during the whole year and currently I spend my afternoons updating, actualising and organising the activities we are going to do from September to December.

17hrs: If I’m lucky, I leave the office around 18:00. Of course, there are times when I stay at the office until the evening but now it’s August and we are not so busy. Usually I continue working, I work on my blog at home in the evenings. In addition, some of this work may include updating my personal knowledge and reading more about PR, marketing, advertising, amd social media. I am addicted to the internet and social media and it is difficult to separate me from my Blackberry so I spend a lot of time reading. As a PR person I know that there is not a strict working time for this profession, what’s more, this is not a profession but a lifestyle. So I actively try to combine my social and personal life with my working life.

Photograph courtesy of Petya N. Georgieva.

The American Dream is a funny thing.

In the past, individuals identified it, worked toward it and then held onto it if they were lucky enough to achieve it. Nowadays, Gen-Y dances to a different tune. Our “American Dream” is ever-changing. We constantly search for new adventures.

And in a field as diverse as PR, the opportunities for new experiences are limitless.

American PR practitioners can work in agency, corporate, government and non-profit sectors. Finding the right fit at that level is difficult enough, but then we have to factor in the various niche directions. Do we want the entertainment and celebrity scenes? How about technology, education or healthcare? Then there are always sports and the arts.

And don’t even get me started on picking the right place to live and practice the profession.

The choices are enough to make a PRs head spin and it’s even more challenging for Generation Y. We simply haven’t experienced enough to know what we want. So we keep our eyes, ears and minds open and hope to figure it all out sooner rather than later.

A friend of mine recently said: “Older generations needed a reason to leave their jobs. But Generation Y needs a reason to stay.”

She’s right. We could be happy one day and restless the next. One thing is certain: the PR industry will always have something for all.

The key trend from this data is that senior PRs are being recruited and looked for. This chart shows that there are less junior PR roles being advertised than there are senior roles.