by George Francis, Account Director
It’s fair to say my career to date has been somewhat eclectic. I started in PR agency, then spent a few years achieving a career dream by working for a football club (and launching the world’s greatest mascot), before returning to agency and eventually ending up in house at a technology company.
When I was thinking about the next step in my career, I hadn’t really considered a return for a third spell with an agency. So, when the opportunity to join Clark came up, I honestly wasn’t sure what to do. Lesley made a very good case though, and soon enough I was accepting the offer and preparing to step back to the PR coal face.
Like any new job, there were some first day nerves, but they evaporated pretty quickly and, before long, I was remembering what’s great about working in agency. Agencies sometimes get a bad rep as tough and stressful places to work, but they absolutely don’t need to be that way (Clark certainly isn’t). In fact, working somewhere like Clark is one of the best ways to hone your PR skills while working in a truly dynamic and fast paced environment. It’s an environment where you can learn everything you need to know about communications while being supported by a fantastic group of people.
Still need convincing that working somewhere like Clark is a great idea? I’ve put together five reasons why I think agency is a great experience for any PR professional.
1. You learn A LOT
When I first started in agency, I learned an unbelievable amount in a very short period of time. And that hasn’t stopped as I’ve progressed through my career. Even now, in a relatively senior role, I still pick up something new almost every day. It might be by working with a client in a new sector or finding a crucial bit of information on a media outlet or journalist we’re trying to build a relationship with. Constantly developing my skills and learning new things is one of the aspects of my job that I like the most.
2. You get to work with some really cool organisations
Why work with one business when you can work with four or five? I work in Clark’s tech team and, on any given day, we might be talking about AI, net zero, quantum computing or a mixture of all those topics. What’s more, you get to build relationships and become an extension of your clients’ own marketing teams. It’s fascinating, and you get to know lots about a huge range of different organisations doing different work across different sectors – it’s great for pub quizzes!
3. You’ll never do the same thing two days in a row
My idea of hell is going to work and doing the same thing day in and day out. That’s definitely not something you’ll find yourself doing at an agency. It might be organising a film shoot one day and writing an article about robot automation the next but it’s different every time you log on and that is great.
4. Getting to work with the most talented folk
You often spend more time with your colleagues than you do with your family so they’re a massive part of your life. In my experience, agencies attract some of the most talented, interesting and motivated people the industry has to offer, and I absolutely love working with them. From former journalists to hardened PR professionals, agency attracts the kinds of people you want to be working with, no matter what stage you’re at in your career. They’ll help you achieve your very best and you’ll stay friends with some of them for a long time.
5. Great experience
The overall experience you gain working in the fast-paced agency environment is incredible. From writing and pitching stories to budget management and training delivery, it gives you all the tools you need for just about any communications role. What’s more, you get the opportunity to really flex your creative muscles as you look for the best ways to distil, often very complex, topics into digestible media friendly stories.
So, there you have it. Five reasons why I think agency life is a great choice for anyone looking to develop their career in the communications industry. If you think it might be the route for you, then check out our careers page to see what opportunities are available at the moment. We’re always on the lookout for talented folk though, so, if the role you’re looking for isn’t on our site, drop us an email, you never know what might happen.