Three months into my first full-time job
It feels like 2021 is slipping by very quickly, and for Chloe Price, the last three months have really flown by. Black Vanilla’s newest recruit has jumped into the deep end to learn the PR ropes at Black Vanilla.
We spoke to Chloe to find out how her first three months in her Junior Account Executive role went, and if they were anything like she had imagined!
Q: How did your degree set you up for the PR industry?
A: In the summer, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Brighton. One of the joys of studying these subjects is that they are so broad, covering a vast spectrum of topics and themes. My degree helped me, preparing me with some of the skills needed to join the PR industry, but it’s definitely been a huge learning curve since.
Q: How was the transition from university to full-time employment?
A: A month and a half after completing my degree, I started at Black Vanilla as a Junior Account Executive. These past three months have been a busy period, and I’ve had to adapt all the skills I learnt at university, whilst getting to grips with the PR industry.
Working in an agency, I feel, has been the best place for me to start my career. Different clients all require different aspects of PR support, and as a result there is such a variety of tasks to do day to day. I’ve had to adapt and expand both my communication and writing skills so that I can deliver great work for all clients.
Q: What have you learnt since joining BV?
A: Coming in as a junior has meant that I’ve had to start with all of the basics. I’ve learnt different aspects of the role including how to structure a press release and issue it to the media, as well as tailoring social media posts to the different platforms. But one of the most important things I’ve learnt is that it is vital to stay organised. I thought I was an organised person, but since starting at BV, I’ve had to take that to a whole other level. With multiple clients and projects, you have to keep a lot of balls in the air, so to speak. But that is one of the things I love about the agency – there is so much going on, there is never a dull day in the office.
Whilst I have undoubtedly learnt a lot about the industry, I have also learnt a lot about myself and my place in the working world. I’m really interested in CSR activity, and I love seeing how a business interacts with charities and organisations. Two of BV’s key values are impact and collaboration, and I’ve found it really interesting to see this first-hand and to get involved.
Q: What advice would you give to someone transitioning from university to the PR industry?
A: I spent over half of my time at university working from home, sitting at my desk in the corner of my student bedroom, because of the pandemic. I’ve been so lucky to start a role in person and I know others will be keen to jump straight in. My advice would be to understand how long the adjustment takes, and to be kind to yourself. University lectures and 9-5 are very different.