PR: It's not just a job, it's a life

Wow! I have been in Ogilvy PR for just over a week, and it has been an amazing experience. After the previous disappointment of not receiving any work, I have been overloaded with different projects for different clients.

In the past week, I have been working on the following:

- Competitive review for a global energy company.
- Compiling briefs and coverage for a large banking organisation.
- Researching middle eastern airlines and obtaining contact information.
- In depth research on a substantial data network.
- Researching newspapers for prospective entries for a new food client.
- Ringing around computer, home entertainment magazines / newspapers promoting a competition for a home cinema projector.
- Continued work on the "Summer School Project".

It has been a busy week, and the first time in ages I have got home and literally collapsed in exhaustion. This is something both my Dad and Uncle find quite amusing considering their long working lives. However, it is a shock to the system. Never have I worked from 9-5.30 / 6 with little restpite. Furthermore, with the 8 hour student week, it is not surprising I struggle with the transition to 35-40 hours.

This afternoon, I am getting an in depth presentation on an introduction to PR and also get to contribute to a meeting on the oil company. This is a little daunting. Being relatively inexperienced, and sitting with those who have been in the industry for a notable amount of time, I do not want to feel out of place. However, I look on this experience as not only a challenge, but a way of learning off experienced professionals. The way they speak, body language and the way they interact with others. It is an exciting period for me at the moment, but my eyes are struggling with the 8 hour computer day! Think it is time for a Red Bull to increase my caffeine intake!

Now I am working PR, living PR and sleeping PR. It is a industry which instils that process.....

Coming to an end

My first 5 week stint at Ogilvy has come to an end, and I am ready to start a new chapter. The anticipation of where I will end up is something I can't wait for. I am just hoping and praying that I will get to spend this second 5 weeks in the Public Relations part of Ogilvy. I feel this would be beneficial to my personal development as a Public Relations practitioner at Leeds Met.

I received my feedback session today, marking my progress in the last few weeks. I was a little disappointed with this. I was told that I had lost my initial enthusiasm which I had begun the job with. Although I agreed with this, for long periods of time I wasn't actively involved. How do you determine enthusiasm, when you don't have work? Furthermore, there is a stage where enthusiasm is pestering / annoying, and I didn't want to resort to these means.
Although I think over the 5 weeks my enthusiasm has faded, I believe that your boss/manager/mentor should instil their enthusiasm into you.

Proactivity is the key, and in hindsight maybe I was a little too apprehensive about this word. But I feel that proactivity improves with familiarity, experience and knowledge. I know it is a weakness, but it is something that I will endear to work on in the coming few weeks, wherever I end up. People have to understand that I have just began my studies, and I need more guidance than those who have finished / nearly finished their degrees.

I look back on the last 5 weeks with both positives and negatives which I will draw upon. But I feel both have been useful. Taking onboard constructive criticism and turning it around in my next chapter at Ogilvy is my ultimate aim.

Be ENTHUSIASTIC as a leader. You can't light a fire with a wet match!