Bex joined firstlight last month through our Brightlights trainee programme. Here she reveals her 4 top tips for future trainees.
Having had no experience in a PR work environment before I started my traineeship at firstlight, I was apprehensive as I knew I had a lot to learn. However, I feel that I have hit the ground running since my very first day, something that wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable support of everyone in the team. As the anniversary of my first month at the agency looms, I have been reflecting on what I have learnt so far. Here are my top tips for anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of PR.
Become a sponge
As soon as I started, I was assigned accounts, and received a whistle-stop tour of all things clients. This wasn’t as scary as it sounds – the close teams you work with on these accounts are always more than happy to help, and will spend as much as time as you need to consolidate anything you are unsure of. firstlight also offers ample training, allowing you to officially learn the ways of PR. Take the time to ask as many questions as you like – this is a great way to learn rather than sitting at your desk unsure of what you need to do or how you should approach something. The people around you only want to see you succeed, so don’t be afraid to use their expertise whenever needed. Become a sponge, and soak up as much as you can.
Read, read, read!
Shortly after joining, I quickly realised the importance of reading the news daily, and how the media becomes your new best friend. Familiarise yourself with the variety of sources out there, and start to think about where your go-to morning news read would come from, based on writing style and content as well as where the publication aligns itself. The way that I receive and react to information in the news has completely changed since I first started, and proves to be an invaluable asset in my day to day work tasks. Furthermore, not only is the content often interesting, but I was surprised at how much knowledge I could transfer into my daily conversations even if it wasn’t necessarily client or industry specific.
Confidence is key
Don’t doubt yourself! Starting any new job in any sector can be daunting, but be confident in your abilities. You will learn a lot, and will likely get things wrong along the way, but confidence and enthusiasm are key. As long as you are trying your best and are able to convey that, then you are on the right track.
Have fun!
Most importantly, be prepared to enjoy yourself and have fun. As long as you work hard, you will be rewarded with fun socials and make lots of new friends to help settle you into PR life, and make the most out of your exciting new career path.
