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Four years ago to the week, I landed my first full-time gig as a bright-eyed eager graduate, ready to take on the world. With a head full of career references (Roxy Jacenko, Kelly Cutrone and Samantha Jones), I couldn't have dreamed bigger than that first day of updating my email signature to reflect "Emma Dignon, Account Manager, Rhetoric PR".
As my career slowly ticks from 'young professional' to 'still young but a whole lot more professional' four years in, it's nice to reflect on the things I've learned along the way (with one of the best pieces of advice I could give you is 'if you want to quit - fucking quit').
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| PR is in fact, all cocktails and schmoozing |
From worrisome graduate to PR pro to sexual harassment whistleblower to agency owner to Fortune 500 internal COVID comms creator to now, finally, back at the same university in which I first secured my degree, I would hope that some of the people who are taking their first steps into media, comms, PR or marketing, could potentially learn a thing or to from me - your successful, proudly bisexual, Fireball-shot taking pro of a Business Bitch.
I've created my 40 top tips for those trying to navigate the (since covid hit, literal hellscape of an) employment scene in Adelaide. Before you read on, connect with me on LinkedIn here so I can see your cute new profile pic - btw, you look gorg in that professional headshot girly.
Here goes nothing...
My 40 pieces of unsolicited advice four years into my career
2. Say yes, figure it out later. YouTube, Google and LinkedIn Learning cover almost everything known to woman.
3. There are NO stupid questions. People who shame you for clarifying don't know what the hell they're doing.
4. Create your own personal brand. Become recognisable for the work you do further than just your output.
5. Your work doesn't need to be your life if you don't want it to be. Shaping your career around a fulfilling life out of the office is fine. Stop shaming yourself for not wanting to be the CEO or that your hobby hasn't turned into a side hustle.
6. Don't hold your tongue. If you have something to add to the conversation that you're unsure of the reception on, say it. You'll either receive further education or you'll start a talking point.
7. Corporate jargon is wank. There are a million different acronyms and sayings for basic tactics or processes. If you're confused: ask. Also: a presser, media kit and an MR can all stand for the same thing in different people's minds.
8. Find your uniform. Even for a self-professed fashionista, I prefer to spend my time working than pawing over what my clothes for the day are. Steve Jobs had the right idea, no matter the meeting a full black outfit can do no wrong.
9. In your first job, you won't get a car park, adequate pay or a Christmas bonus. Don't get me wrong, you SHOULD. But entry-level jobs give you much, much more in terms of learning that you can bring as leverage for your second job. Speaking of the job journey. Chill out on where you think you should be in your career. Life happens and 16 year old you would still be proud.
10. Do not take every piece of advice on board - listen to them as everyone will have something to teach you, but be selective when considering and implementing that advice.
11. Perfect your LinkedIn profile. No selfies. Wear a blazer and get a photo of yourself on your laptop at a coffee shop. Break down the tasks you've completed in the past at old jobs and prove your worth. Connect with people in your industry. Connect with the people you'd be competing for jobs with. Use LinkedIn to its maximum capacity.
12. People who say to chase your dreams probably have never had to worry about being homeless. Be realistic in what you need and if a few shifts at Subway every week while you work on your career is what you need to do to survive, do that.
13. Don't join a fucking MLM.
14. Ask people who have done the damn thing out to coffee. Be specific in what you want from them when you ask (Hi, I'm an up and comer and I'd love to pick your brain about xxx), make it as easy for them as possible (set up around their office and send them your questions in advance), pay for the goddamn coffee and use the education to make the most of the situation (write up a LinkedIn piece? post about it on Facebook? Mention them in a Uni project?). Don't take it personally if they're not what you thought they'd be.
15. Don't bullshit. We can see straight through it. If your profile spouts success but there are no tangible details on why or how, we'll know you're a fraud.
16. Download Grammarly. It has saved me and will continue to save me, as a comms professional who still can't spell necessity.
17. Make mistakes. Own up to it while bringing a solution to the table, fix it and never do it again.
18. When you have a dick co-worker, they most likely have so much more going on than you know. Take the high road, practice empathy, and if all else fails, email HR. (On that note, HR is there to protect the business. There's nothing wrong with picking your battles because in reality, you cannot trust them).
19. If you ask the same question in three different ways, you will get three different answers.
20. If you don't get a response. Follow it up. You'd be surprised at the response rate.
21. Fill your career by being mentored by strong career women. But identify the gaps in equity. Cast your net out wider when hiring to find people who might not initially think the role is 'for them'. If your field is predominantly women, find other genders for interviews. If your company hires the same contractors every time, take a chance on someone with a different story who might have not yet had the same opportunity to build their portfolio. You're in a position to change the world and hear a voice outside of your echo chamber. Personally, I only hire non-caucasian or queer contractors (because the recommendations I receive are pretty much all white dudes).
22. Success is less about talent and more about application.
23. You know all about your friends' successes, you don't know in-depth bout their failures. Think about that next time you read that Facebook post and give yourself the same empathy.
24. Show your worth. Add tasks to your job description. Educate your team on what you know. Then write it all down and bring it to your performance review.
25. Good enough isn't good enough. Coasting will get you passing recognition and median pay. If you want to shine, you will have to go above and beyond. I'm not saying that's good or bad, but within the current job-seeking landscape, you have to be realistic that highly experienced people are your competition and you have to prove your worth.
26. Creating agendas, prepping materials before meetings, and quick reports post-activity are never wasted extras.
27. Think like your boss. Reverse engineer what they need and deliver.
28. If you're passionate about change, the best way you can accomplish that is from the inside. Get the job that gives you the power to go 100% green, have a gender balance on boards and put in policies to protect your employees.
29. Don't leave your special coffee mug in the communal dishwasher. You'll never see it again.
30. Always be upskilling. Certificates, conferences, tutorials, reading, or even just taking the time to understand why someone has a certain view.
31. Be wary of people who spend more time telling other people how to kill it for money instead of actually killing it.
32. We are all derivative. But the world doesn't know where we pull our creativity from most of the time. Build on it and make it your own; it's called innovation.
33. You can achieve great things without a budget. Nearly every project I've ever completed has been made with no money behind it.
34. Just because you know your worth, doesn't mean the world does.
35. VOLUNTEEEERRR!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't stress this enough. Volunteering contextualises a lot when you start getting paid for your work.
36. Put your goddamn twitter on private.
37. You can have up to 5 coffees a day without it being detrimental to your health.
38. Learn how to master meetings. Agendas, an overview of how it's going to run at the beginning, giving space for two-way communication, clarifying anything that people in the room might not be across, sending actions through email when it's over.
39. Your work will never be perfect. It should be free of errors, but perfect never leaves the office.
40. Give back what others gave to you. Mentor and spread knowledge.
So... any of these tips make you go, "Omg Emma, you're so right!", or "why did I think of that before"? Drop me your best career tip down in my comments and keep this list growing (so that, next year, I can steal take inspiration for my top 50!).