Every day is wildly different, I could be writing press releases, co-ordinating an event for our clients, or teaching a social media class. Our core objective is communication, how to effectively get across our client’s stories and brands. As well as the more traditional form of writing press releases we manage social media accounts and tend to do more and more communication through online platforms. We have clients across a range of industries from bakeries to international banks, so it’s nice to have that range to keep things interesting.
What do you think are the three most important skills to succeed in your career area?
A passion to tell good stories, confidence to communicate your ideas and most importantly the ability to write good copy!
Was this something you planned to do or did you change direction at any point in the past? If so, what was that and was it easy to do?
I was working as a fashion journalist, but gave up that dream when I moved back to Jersey shortly after university. I fell into working in trust for 14 years, but was always involved with writing in a corporate capacity. Three years ago I decided it was time for a change so I set up my blog Nineby5 to gather a portfolio of writing and started the search for a career that would involve writing. It wasn’t easy, firstly because the pay is so starkly different when you leave finance, and also because I found career options for creative minds in Jersey very limited. Eventually I stumbled upon the role at Direct Input, secured the job of my dreams and have never looked back.
What do you love most about working in your career area?
Getting to write every single day! Whether it is an interview piece or just preparing a brochure, I love the challenge of being able to make the mundane come to life and to create a story where perhaps one doesn’t exist. It is also refreshing to be part of so many success stories for our clients, we get to talk about so many great things happening in Jersey.
Are there any negative aspects of working in your career area that people considering it should be aware of?
I used to think the downside was that the salary isn’t comparable to a career in finance, but now I think that’s a very negative view point. If you are ambitious and driven enough I think you will be rewarded, who knows – maybe I’ll own my own PR company one day!
What training / quali cations did you undertake for your current role or are you currently undertaking?
I didn’t have any experience or qualifications in PR before I started at Direct Input so it is possible to cross over if you have talent. I had some limited experience in journalism and other than that had been self-taught over the years. Now I have the option to take a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for is specifically for PR professionals.
Is there any other information that would be of interest to someone thinking of this career?
I think if you want to get into writing, the best thing you can do is write as much as possible. After starting my blog, I started freelancing at a few magazines in Jersey and this opened a lot of doors and create further opportunities. In a way, my blog almost became an online CV for any prospective employers. I also found it useful to talk to as many people as I possibly could that were writers or who had careers involving writing.
