Is PR for me? A deep dive with the Spark team – Part 2

If you’re still wondering ‘is PR for me?’, here’s the second half of our blog post giving a deep dive into why some of our team members joined us from other industries and how they found the career switch. In part one we looked at two of our former journalists, but this time we’re widening the scope to hear from a former specialist recruiter and a technology/financial analyst.

Cat

What were you doing before Spark?

Before I entered into the world of PR and Spark, I worked as a recruitment consultant for a company that specialised in roles for rail signalling engineers.

Why did you decide to work in PR?

I had always wanted to work in a role that would allow me to be creative and be part of a team, so I thought PR would be the perfect fit. From a wider perspective I always have been interested in technology and wanted to play a part in the industry which is innovative, rapidly growing and front and centre of our everyday lives. Tech PR was definitely one for me!

What skills have you carried over?

I’m naturally quite a chatty person (just ask my colleagues when I’m in the office), so as a recruiter a big part of my role was speaking to candidates and clients over the phone, needless to say this was something I enjoyed and excelled at. Communicating is also a big part of PR, whether that’s interviewing clients and customers, so we can write a press release, or pitching a journalist over the phone. My time as a recruiter undoubtedly prepared me for connecting with journalists and building relationships.

What do you enjoy about working in PR?

I love that you can see your ideas come to life from start to finish. For instance, suggesting an idea in a team brainstorm and putting all the wheels in motion is a great feeling. As an example, thinking of an eye-catching media alert, then working with the team to draft the announcement, line up media targets, and eventually secure coverage is such a varied yet rewarding process. In these types of activity, I feel appreciated, and my colleagues value my input all the way through the process.

Hannah

What were you doing before Spark? I worked as a technology research analyst and financial analyst, firstly at Megabuyte and then at Investec Bank.

Why did you decide to work in PR? I really enjoyed discovering exciting technology businesses and wanted to use my knowledge of this area in my next role. I had also met lots of PR people during my time as an analyst – at industry events and from interviewing spokespeople – and they really sold PR to me!

What skills have you carried over? At Megabuyte, I spent a lot of my time writing – we published a daily newswire every morning and then throughout the month a variety of other longer articles and research reports. Those writing and editing skills were very helpful when I started creating PR materials such as bylines and feature pitches. At Investec, I learnt how to interrogate and research very thoroughly. Working alongside such a detail-oriented team also made me much hotter on my own attention to detail – something that has been very useful in PR, where details really do matter!

What do you enjoy about working in PR? To me, PR also required a wide range of skills, from technical writing and researching, through to client relationship management, coaching and pitching journalists. I think, in the right agency, working in PR makes you a well-rounded professional, and that has enabled me to successfully transition into my current role as operations manager.

We’re a rich tapestry! At Spark we’re always looking to bring people on board who can share different experiences and ways of thinking. So if you think PR is for you, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch!