Stephen Murdoch
Through the years, I have had the pleasure of working with many young PR practitioners. As a part-time lecturer in the field of PR and a vice-president of a PR agency, I have worked hand-in-hand with some very talented millennials.
Now, I bet you think I’m going to rant on this generation. Well, I’m not. Like generations before them, Generation Y is facing its own set of unique work-related challenges: lack of jobs, heavy competition and much more.
For those young PR practitioners who are fortunate enough to secure their first PR job, congratulations. You should be proud.
But, as with most jobs, there will come a time when you will want to seek career growth. And guess what? That’s a good thing. If another opportunity comes to strengthen your PR skills, jump at it.
What’s the most disappointing thing that millennials do when they leave their first PR job? For me, and the many I have spoken with in the industry, it’s their lack of communication.
Here are some tips to make the transition somewhat easier for millennials who leave their job:
Keep in touch
We don’t have to talk every week. That being said, I’m always up for a good chat as it relates to the PR industry. But please don’t contact me when you want a reference and we haven’t spoken in years.
Say thanks
It’s not hard. If someone scores you an interview or acts as a reference, thank them. It’s a small gesture that can go a long way. There’s nothing more frustrating than hearing they scored the new gig and never even picked up the phone to say thanks.
Don’t bash
Whether you work for a start-up, agency or a blue chip company, remember, folks run in small circles. If you meet the new hire of your old company, don’t rant about how crappy the position is. Remember, you held that position once and hopefully took great pride in your work.
Be transparent
You don’t have to hide your next career move. Once you update your LinkedIn profile or send out that tweet, your former colleagues will know. Be forthcoming about your plans and keep those working relationships intact.
When all is said and done, it serves you no good to leave with a dramatic job-quitting story. Hopefully, these four tips will save you from losing valuable networking connections. It’s possible to quit your first PR job gracefully if you take the right steps and avoid certain pitfalls.
Stephen Murdoch is vice-president, public relations at Enterprise Canada. He can be reached on Twitter @canadianprguy
