So I’ve always known that I want to work in an agency setting. For me, it’s a no-brainer. A small agency is where I see myself working best. This isn’t anything to do with the small-fish-big-pond debate I had a few months ago, as what I just said would totally contradict my previous thoughts.
Working in an agency setting gives a more personal feel for me. I think clients feel more personally looked after and that the rewards are much more fulfilling. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure working for large corporations like Google, Microsoft or Coca-Cola would be a dream, but a company like that is too big for my liking, which seems to make up for lack of community in amazing employee perks.
Saying this, we all know that if Diet Coke ever came knocking on my door with a job offer that I’d take it without a second thought. But that is my only exception. Perhaps.
Most of my PR work experiences and internships have been at agencies. The only time I worked in-house was for an insurance company, and although I loved the job and the people there, I know internal communications will not be my lifelong career.
How to choose an agency in your perfect sector
Agency work is what I want to do and the career I want to follow, but I have one problem. There’s a PR agency for every sector you can think of; travel, fashion, music, beauty, hospitality, food and drink, interior design, celebrities, etc. etc.
So how do I go about choosing the sector that I want to work in?
We all know the saying: ‘do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ but what if you love a lot of things?
I love travelling as I try to go to as many places as I can. I love fashion as I religiously read Cosmo and Glamour every month as well as follow hundreds of brands and blogs on social media. I love music as I studied it at GCSE and A Level, have been playing and singing all my life and have been to enough concerts to last a lifetime. I also love food and drink (sometimes a little too much) as everyone comes to me for recommendations of where to eat in Liverpool since I’ve eaten in 90% of the restaurants.
How do I choose what to specialise in?
I’ve had experience in fashion, retail, music and events and I loved them all. I am currently interning in celebrity management and will be working in beauty for a year, so I’ll be seeing how that goes.
A really random one that I would love to try my hand at, is working at a modelling agency. Looking after models and getting them booked with huge brands, magazines, TV adverts, that kind of thing.
I think the only way I can choose for definite what sector I want to work in, is by getting as much experience as I can. The more I get a taste behind the scenes, the more likely I will know if it’s for me. Whatever sector I end up working in, I know that securing coverage and being successful for the client will be incredibly rewarding and make my job worthwhile.
I have a few years left before I graduate to find my feet and focus on the sector I want to work in for the rest of my career. Or I could start my own agency and cover every sector under the sun – that wouldn’t be too hard, would it? On second thought, maybe I should give it another ten years or so before I start dreaming about that.
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