What happens to the student/career woman who is so passionate about the company she works for that nothing (I mean nothing) takes priority? Well it turns out no matter how much you love your job, when it starts affecting you in ways you couldn’t imagine, it’s time to take a step back and consider the options.
Let me explain the situation…
I started working with Liberty Resources back in November 2008. Liberty is an ASX-listed energy company focused on the commercial deployment of clean energy projects world-wide. It’s an emerging industry that has attracted a flurry of attention, particularly in Queensland, in the last 12 months. The projects will utilise proven technology that will revolutionise the production of energy. We developed an animation that explains the process and the opportunity that you can view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=678wRieNyG0
In June 2009, and I was promoted from an administration position to Corporate Communications Manager – managing everything from investor relations material, to the website to our community consultation program. It was my dream job, and the opportunity came so much sooner than I had anticipated!
So I decided to complete my PR 393 unit at Liberty. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt while completing this unit is that juggling work and study is not always the best option.
I have found that working full time in a communications role has been incredibly valuable as I can implement the skills that I learn in lectures and tutorials into practice…sometimes on the same day! I’ve also found that studying as you work keeps your mind active and you’re always up to date with the latest PR case studies.
However, over the past couple of months I’ve found that juggling a job with study is very difficult to effectively time manage. How do you prioritise your assignment when there’s a meeting with Richard Branson to prepare for? (Seriously)
I’m actually leaving Liberty at the end of next week to move to Karratha. Partly because my partner moved there four months ago, and partly because I’ve recognised the need to slow down and assess where I’m going. My next three blogs will be about the handover I’m doing with my colleague Alex.
I’ve grown so much since starting with Liberty almost two years ago. However, the most important lesson I’m taking away from my time at Liberty is that sometimes you need to make a decision that is in your best interest. There will always be another job, another opportunity. If you’re passionate about what you do and you’re eager to learn, these opportunities are more likely to present themselves.
I’m sure there are many students, especially being in the final year of study, who find themselves in the same position. To you, I say this – you and the people around you are more important than any job.
Bec
3 comments:
Dear Bec,
Your path is really impressive and makes me wish for a similar one! I was wondering if you find it hard to manage the communications department and thus have people working under your leadership when you have not yet graduated. Did you feel that they doubted your professionalism and expertise sometimes?
Another question would be about the completion of your internship. Since you are the leader of the communication department did you find it hard to question your work during the internship but also the things you had completed before while doing your recommendations for you report? I personally find it hard but useful to be objective and say of how something you did could be improved.
I hope you enjoy yourself in Karratha,
Best of luck,
Alix
Hello Bec,
I’m glad to have read your post because I can relate to it. You have spent lots of your energy in this firm as you were passionate about it and I can feel this through your writing. While I was doing my placement I did many extra hours to go over the regular standard of what my organisations expect from their employees. I wanted to impress my supervisors and this is how I found myself staying after hours, sometimes very late in my office, to do the best I could. My manager found out and made me understand that I could do a very good job while still working during normal hours. Indeed, after observing her way of working, I realised that I was staying over time because of lack of experience and organization. But in my two last months (I did a three month placement) I tried to be effective in the normal hours and did a quite good job. This also helped me for my last semester as a student. For example, at university we have more time than we would have in a real company to write a brief client. As I am finishing my degree I want to prepare myself for the real workload that I will face in my future employment.Due to this, I was much more organised for my university semester to reflect the work ethic in the real world. .
The main message of this comment is that in despite of being passionate there is a moment when you need to step back and really ask yourself if this extra time and work is necessary to get a good result. Often, it is not the quantity of work that matters, but the quality; I have found that quality is easily achievable with correct time management, "Time management skills enable people to make the most of the time they have to maximise potential success and achieve a healthier work life balance"(Le Page 2010,1).
I’m also very impressed by your journey in this company. Do not regret leaving, you gained an experience out of it. It’s good to think about yourself and allow yourself a break. I’m sure you will have a very good career.
Keep me up to date with your professional adventure. Best wishes.
Melissa
Le Page,K. 2010.Effective Workplace Time Management Skills.http://personal-work-habits.suite101.com/article.cfm/effective-workplace-time-management-skills (accessed June 3, 2010).
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