Four things I’ve learned in my first few months in tech PR

I’m not the person who always knew they wanted to go into PR, or more specifically tech PR. In fact, I actually studied law at university, (very different I know). However, after getting some editorial experience in my final year, my eyes were opened to the idea that working in PR might just be for me. 

Fast forward to the present, I have now been at Spark for three months and have been absolutely loving it. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone! 

I’ve met many people who come from a number of different backgrounds, from journalism to recruitment, and didn’t initially know they wanted to work in tech PR. So what exactly is life like for graduates starting a career in tech PR? Here are four things I’ve learned so far:

1) Every day in PR is different 

You may have heard this saying before, but it hits the nail on the head here at Spark. Every day is different and that’s what makes it so exciting. I have gathered data from a Freedom of Information request on parcel theft in the UK, written an article on the importance of digital transformation in the public sector, and almost hijacked a breaking news story about Katie Price. No two days are the same at Spark and it’s what makes the job more interesting - especially if you’re the sort of person who can get bored quite easily.

2) It’s very rewarding 

Something that I didn’t realise about PR until I started at Spark was how rewarding it can be, particularly when you secure coverage. I am currently working on a number of different clients, and we have achieved some great coverage across both national and trade media. I asked Ashleigh, another one of Spark’s newbies, how it felt to get her client SaaScada coverage in The Times, and she said: ‘This was my first piece of national coverage, and I was over the moon. Seeing how much it meant for my client also made it feel even greater’. By hitting these targets, you can build good working relationships with your clients as well as journalists.

3) You don’t actually need to be ‘techie’

You may assume I have some form of experience working in the tech sector, but I haven’t. The good news is that you don’t have to be ‘techie’ at all. Don’t get me wrong, having that background knowledge is useful but it’s certainly not essential. All you need is the willingness to learn, and it will get you far. It also helps that the Spark team contains a wealth of expert knowledge about the industry, and they are always more than happy to explain complex IT terminology or share the recent innovation and trends in tech.

4) We have fun along the way

To be transparent, I already knew this before starting at Spark. From reading blogs about an action-packed summer teambuilding day to viewing Instagram posts about open air cinema trips and monthly cocktail Friday events, it was easy for me to tell I’d get a healthy work-life balance. 

Since starting, I’ve loved getting involved in the Spark bake-off. Over the last couple of months we’ve been taking 30 mins for ‘elevenses’ on Thursday mornings to sit, chat, eat, and rate competitors baking skills. I’m sad the contest is now over as it was one the highlights of my week – you can read more about it here. Sadly I didn’t make it to the Grand Final this year, so clearly a bonus fifth thing I’ve learned is that I need to up my baking skills in the coming year.

Just the beginning

My first few months at Spark have been full of excitement and countless learning opportunities. I can’t stress enough how fast it’s gone already, and I believe that comes down to enjoying the work I do and the people I work with.

If you’re like me and enjoy a varied work life, working within a growing industry full of innovation, while being surrounded by a supportive team, then Spark might just be for you.