Time flies...
And I am actually just starting to wonder where I'll be in 5 years from now. 10 years. 20 years.
Yet, there is a more important question I should ask myself before imaginating the future. That is: where do I WANT to be, in 5 years from now. 10 years. 20 years...
As a matter of fact, I am now at the end of my Public Relations studies curriculum. I already know my future job will "have something to do" with managing the image and public profile of an organisation, person, group or brand. I already know I'll have to challenge myself everyday, and I know I'll spend about as much time with Medias in my professional life as with my wife in my personal life. This is a choice I already made. The choice of Public Relations, the choice of CO-MMU-NI-CA-TION.
Now, thanks to PR 300 (Consultancy), I have learned more about some of the options I will have once I'll be a gratuated student: either starting a career in a Public Relations Consultancy, or starting a career in a company or organisation's in-house Public Relations department.
Both have strengths and weaknesses, career opportunities and limitations, benefits and handicaps. The work of Katharina Wolf, PR Career Progression - The gap between traditional research and the UK industry's perception (2005), does a great job in helping to understand the differences that both path implied.
As for myself, the internship I am currently involved in raises many questions to my mind. I had the chance to work in a French Public Relations Consultancy during previous semesters, and with this new professional placement experience in an in-house communication department, I can now start to take a step back and think of what I learned and experienced, and in which position I felt the most happy and comfortable.
For instance, if in-house Public Relations departments provide less important (or at least, less evident) career opportunities, they also - theoritically - have the benefit of a less stressful schedule and flexible hours. Consultancy practictioners also feel the frustration of not being part of an entire project, but just part of some of it elements.
Conversely, Consultancy practictioners have more networking opportunities, better and numerous career evolution possibilities. Consultancy work is also referred to as an opportunity to gain a wide range of experiences...
Thanks to PR 393, I think my choice is getting more and more defined as my placement comes to an end. For the moment, I feel like starting my PR career as an in-house practitioner is the choice I want to make.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember - I believe - that it is not impossible to change a career path and going from consultancy to in-house, and inversely. However, Katharina Wolf (2005) in her above cited work, mentions that it is still easier for Consultancy practitioners to move to in-house positions than the contrary, especially when they have arrived at a certain point of experience in their career.
I think I'll still need a few experiences to build-up my final opinion and take a final choice regarding my career path. But this placement and unit has helped me, in bringing me new questions and I am grateful for that.
Now... What about you? Where will you be in 5 years? 10 years? ...20 years? Think about it.
And I am actually just starting to wonder where I'll be in 5 years from now. 10 years. 20 years.
Yet, there is a more important question I should ask myself before imaginating the future. That is: where do I WANT to be, in 5 years from now. 10 years. 20 years...
As a matter of fact, I am now at the end of my Public Relations studies curriculum. I already know my future job will "have something to do" with managing the image and public profile of an organisation, person, group or brand. I already know I'll have to challenge myself everyday, and I know I'll spend about as much time with Medias in my professional life as with my wife in my personal life. This is a choice I already made. The choice of Public Relations, the choice of CO-MMU-NI-CA-TION.
Now, thanks to PR 300 (Consultancy), I have learned more about some of the options I will have once I'll be a gratuated student: either starting a career in a Public Relations Consultancy, or starting a career in a company or organisation's in-house Public Relations department.
Both have strengths and weaknesses, career opportunities and limitations, benefits and handicaps. The work of Katharina Wolf, PR Career Progression - The gap between traditional research and the UK industry's perception (2005), does a great job in helping to understand the differences that both path implied.
As for myself, the internship I am currently involved in raises many questions to my mind. I had the chance to work in a French Public Relations Consultancy during previous semesters, and with this new professional placement experience in an in-house communication department, I can now start to take a step back and think of what I learned and experienced, and in which position I felt the most happy and comfortable.
For instance, if in-house Public Relations departments provide less important (or at least, less evident) career opportunities, they also - theoritically - have the benefit of a less stressful schedule and flexible hours. Consultancy practictioners also feel the frustration of not being part of an entire project, but just part of some of it elements.
Conversely, Consultancy practictioners have more networking opportunities, better and numerous career evolution possibilities. Consultancy work is also referred to as an opportunity to gain a wide range of experiences...
Thanks to PR 393, I think my choice is getting more and more defined as my placement comes to an end. For the moment, I feel like starting my PR career as an in-house practitioner is the choice I want to make.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember - I believe - that it is not impossible to change a career path and going from consultancy to in-house, and inversely. However, Katharina Wolf (2005) in her above cited work, mentions that it is still easier for Consultancy practitioners to move to in-house positions than the contrary, especially when they have arrived at a certain point of experience in their career.
I think I'll still need a few experiences to build-up my final opinion and take a final choice regarding my career path. But this placement and unit has helped me, in bringing me new questions and I am grateful for that.
Now... What about you? Where will you be in 5 years? 10 years? ...20 years? Think about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment