Stepping into my first PR role as a PR assistant has been both a nerve-wracking and exciting experience. After transitioning from my previous role as an Editorial Assistant, I was eager for new challenges. But knew there was much to learn.
The shift from editorial work to public relations has brought its own kind of creativity and pressure. There’s so much variety in the work, and no two days are the same. There are always more clients to meet and new places to explore.
Now, after a couple of months in the role, I’ve had time to reflect on my journey so far. How my editorial background has shaped my approach to PR, what I’ve learnt so far and the skills I’ve started to develop.
My editorial background
My role as Editorial Assistant helped to improve my attention to detail and sharpened my ability to spot errors. This previous experience has come in handy when writing blog posts (like this one!). Also, crafting captions for social media posts and proofreading work written by colleagues.
The writing skills I developed have helped me be able to easily adapt my tone and style to suit a variety of businesses and audiences.
Although I was used to writing, editing and proofreading, PR uses content in a different way.
I have found that it’s not simply about writing content well. It is about carefully crafting engaging content that serves an important purpose. There is often slightly more pressure behind each piece of content, with its intent being to maintain the positive image of a client.
What I’ve learnt so far
From my very first day, I have been learning a great deal. From writing blog posts and filming content to planning social media posts for clients, each task has enabled me to gain a range of new skills. I have been working both in the office and out and about.
Some of the video content I’ve captured has been turned into TikToks and Instagram Reels for clients, which is something I’ve really enjoyed doing.
Creating visual content has been a refreshing change from what I was used to as an Editorial Assistant. It’s rewarding to see how effective these videos can be.
I’ve learnt that PR is much more creative than I originally expected. A great deal of thought goes into coming up with ideas for content, as well as then executing the idea and creating a social media or blog post based around it.
I have been thoroughly enjoying getting to showcase my creative side. I have learnt that all ideas are welcome, as everyone brings fresh perspectives to the table.
The skills I’m developing
Transitioning into PR has pushed me to grow a new set of skills, whilst also allowing me to build on the ones I already have.
As mentioned previously, I have been developing my writing and video editing skills, but I have also learnt skills such as scheduling content for clients on various social media platforms. This is a crucial skill in the PR industry and is used every single day when managing all accounts.
As I have been working on content for multiple clients, I have also been working on my time and project management skills. This is to ensure that I allow enough time to finish all the work I have been tasked with and spread my time evenly between clients.
This role has taught me the importance of staying flexible while still keeping things structured and balanced. These are skills that I know will continue to serve me throughout my PR career.
I can’t wait to learn even more in my role as time goes by and develop my skills further.