Whether you’re a PR executive, junior designer or marketing
professional just starting out, working in a large agency can be a
daunting experience. You’ll often be thrown in at the deep end and
expected to juggle lots of different clients each and every day. You’ll
also be placed with lots of people at your own age or level, all
fighting and competing for promotion.
As you’ll be keen to work your way up the career ladder and get a
bigger salary, the following helpful tips will show you how to get ahead
in your agency job.
Speaking from my own experience, I’ll show you how to stand out, deal
with other colleagues, boost your skills, prove your worth and impress
your boss. Because if you don’t put the effort in or play the ‘agency
game’ the right way, you risk being overlooked and stalling your
potential. Here are my top 10 tips on how to get ahead in your agency
job…
1. Fulfil the desired role objectives
So you’re looking for promotion and want to become a PR account
manager? Or a senior designer? Search for these types of jobs online and
get to know what’s expected in these roles. Make a list and aim to
tackle each requirement before your next appraisal. Seek out training
opportunities if you need to, and put yourself forward for jobs that you
normally wouldn’t need to.
2. Prepare for appraisals
Appraisals are quarterly or biannual reviews of your career progress.
It’s a fantastic chance for you to prove yourself and potentially
secure a promotion. Don’t see them as a time for your boss to tell you
where you’ve been going wrong. Prepare for them. Take that list of job
role requirements that you’ve been tackling, and ensure you write down
any examples of things you’ve done to fulfil those requirements. Your
boss is only human and is likely to forget some of your achievements –
so ensure you keep track of your progress.
3. Go beyond your job role
Bosses are always hugely impressed by people who go above and beyond
their job description. This means you should look at ways to boost your
own skills and extend your helpful role within the agency. For example,
is the agency struggling to employ a social media expert and you’d like
to get involved? Volunteer to train for the role in your spare time.
Take online courses, buy books on the subject and then, when you’re
confident you can move into that area, tell your boss!
4. Understand office politics
Aside from striving for that promotion, it’s important to be a team
player and to get on with everyone in your agency. Office politics
always exist, so you should learn how to play the game. Identify the
political activity in your agency and use it wisely to further your
career. Read my Tips on
How to survive office politics.
5. Do everything your boss asks of you
There are always jobs we don’t like doing. But don’t let things slip.
Tackle all of your workload efficiently and effectively – even the jobs
you hate! This will show you’re responsible, reliable and ready for
that next promotion. Get organised by using time management tools, task
lists and ensure you keep on top of your inbox.
6. Volunteer for those things that everyone else avoids
Does the agency have a big client that needs 1,000 marketing mailers
placed into envelopes? Volunteer to help! By showing dedication like
this, you’re demonstrating how much you care about the agency and that
you’re a team player.
7. Win clients for your agency
Know someone who’s looking for a PR agency? Set up a meeting with
your boss! Think you can bring someone in who is looking for a re-brand?
Do it! If you’re winning your agency new clients, you’re boosting their
revenue and also cementing your value within the company.
8. Volunteer to go to pitches
Pitches can be scary things when you first start out at an agency.
They involve going to see a potential client with your colleagues to
pitch and try and win a new account. Don’t avoid them! Ask to be
considered as part of the pitch team. The more pitches you attend, the
more you’ll boost your pitching skills and be seen as an asset to the
agency.
9. Make yourself indispensable
Become known as the type of person who always likes to say ‘Yes’ and
is happy to embrace new challenges, no matter how big or small. Become
the ‘go-to’ person for reliable problem solving. Become someone that
your agency couldn’t do without. Be an asset rather than a hindrance.
Ditch any ego and be prepared to pull your sleeves up and work very
hard. By having this can-do attitude, you’ll become indispensable.
10. Don’t be invisible, get noticed!
You could produce amazing work, put in the extra hours and be a
success with all your clients – but all that doesn’t mean anything if
your boss hasn’t noticed. Make sure your boss
does notice you.
Stand up and be counted! People rarely get promoted for just doing their
job – it’s the people who also get noticed that get ahead.
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