On of my favorite bloggers, Todd Defren, wrote a post to help agency folks avoid the “hamster on a wheel” syndrome. It’s easy for junior- and mid-level PR people to get stuck in a rut, especially if they’re performing not-so-glamorous tasks, like creating media lists or tracking clips. We all have bad days (or even weeks!), but during my 7+ years in agency PR, I don’t recall ever feeling like I was running in place, not progressing toward my overall career goals. But, I think that’s because I took control of my career — helping to shape its direction, instead of just waiting to see what would happen.
As Todd pointed out in his post, we’re all responsible for motivating ourselves. We can set our own professional goals — like getting that major placement or expanding our professional networks. While those benchmarks are valuable, is that enough to keep you from being bored? Not necessarily.
Here’s what I’ve found works event better: Get involved. Every town is ripe with non-profit organizations or grassroot movements providing incredible services to the community. Frequently, these gems are so caught up in the day-to-day work that they forget to promote their good deeds. That’s where you can step in. Find a cause that you’re passionate about and offer your services — whether it’s writing, design, media relations, fundraising … it’s all important! And, while you’re spending your time doing good, you can sharpen your skills and fast-track your career.
Seriously — it works! At my first PR agency, I had the opportunity to get my feet wet working on political campaigns and public affairs. And I LOVED it. I knew that I wanted to further develop this skill set, so I reached out to some local political leaders and began volunteering for political campaigns. I was willing to do anything — from cold calling voters … to stuffing envelopes. (Good thing I don’t mind the taste of envelope glue!!) Then, I got involved in an exciting campaign and went from being volunteer knocking on constituents’ doors during the primary … to the campaign manager during the general election — for the youngest woman ever elected to that city’s City Council no less! As a young 20-something, I couldn’t have asked for better hands-on experience. And, the lessons learned from that experience helped me immensely in my “day job” … then and now. Instead of being relegated to just grunt work, I brought value to the team — probably sooner than someone who didn’t take the extra initiative to strengthen their skills. Sure, I still performed the mundane tasks — sometimes things just need to get done — but I also had significant client interaction, prepared talking points, and wrote mailers way sooner than most people in comparable positions.
Even in this uncertain economic time, you are still in control of your own career. Seek out ways to develop new strengths. I told you my approach — what do you do to sharpen your skills and avoid the hamster syndrome?
Photo credit: .faramarz