Working in the midst of a global pandemic is stressful. Working from home can be stressful. Starting your first job post-college, while working from home, brings on its own set of challenges. Beginning any job comes with a learning curve. It’s natural and expected and takes time to understand the way your new company works. Here are a few things I’ve learned in my first month of working in PR at NRPR Group.
Communication is key
While I knew about the importance of communication before this job, working at NRPR has reinforced how important communication really is. Working at an agency means you need to understand the marketing strategies of each client you are working with and their underlying goals and values. Check in with other team members who have been working with the clients, they’ll be able to help you. You just need to speak up and communicate what you need or want to know. There is nothing wrong with asking for help.
Study Your Clients
Along with communicating with your team about what you need, take the time and really study your clients. Look at their social media accounts and their website. Research the CEO and higher ups of the company. Find trends in their content, colors they use, study their syntax. This way, you’ll be familiar with the clients before talking with them and understand their brand more.
An added hint? Take notes on what you find while evaluating the clients to help you notice the trends you find.
Take Notes
The transition period at a new job often means there will be countless meetings. Meetings to meet your clients, meetings with your boss. Taking notes will allow you to process all the information at your own time and pace. If you are trying to do something new, you’ll be able to come back to the notes you took and see the walkthrough you learned about previously. These notes will come in handy and you’ll be glad you took them.
Give Yourself Leeway If You Don’t Get Something Right, Right Away
I know it’s easier said than done, but giving yourself space to get things wrong and do assignments incorrectly is how you learn. Maybe a project wasn’t explained fully or you have to do extra research before beginning a project or you just do something completely wrong, that’s okay. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Starting a new job can be stressful and not everything will go your way the first time around. This is part of being in the workforce.
At the end of the day, starting a new job will come with pressure. However, you should be proud of yourself for getting the position and take a moment to let that sink in. You proved yourself in the interview process, and now it’s time to prove yourself through the work you produce and submit. Make your company glad they hired you and make a difference!
Samantha is a PR and Marketing Assistant at NRPR Group.