Unknown 0:00
Today is a panel session. So we've got three speakers in and Wirthlin comms PR
marketing to talk about their experience, but also all previous JOMAX students, which is
awesome. So this is how today's session is going to go. Each of our speakers is going to
have about five minutes to talk about career history to date. And then once we've done
that, it's really over to your audience to ask him questions that you have about what the
panel have said and also any questions relating to kind of getting into marketing comments.
And PR one thing I would say if everybody I didn't realise if everybody could turn their mics
off, while Pamela speaking, that would be absolutely fantastic if you wanted to any cameras
on so we know that we're actually talking to people rather than just ourselves. That would
also be lovely. And if you think of any questions, as we're going along, feel free to pop
them in that chat. And then we can ask them later on. Is that okay with everyone?
Unknown 1:02
I'm going to tables awkward silences. Yes.
Unknown 1:07
Awesome. Okay, so panel. Are you ready?
Unknown 1:10
Yes. No. Anyway, advisors are referee at a glance, gladiators Scott Johnson. Yeah.
Unknown 1:22
It was a very nice night and
Unknown 1:27
it's still a challenge. Challenge TV if you're interested. Yeah. So okay, so let me just
introduce the panel briefly and then we'll get started. So we've got Robin Pritchard, who
was from Shell to come right. There was a way Robin.
Unknown 1:39
Hello, hello. And then we got Katie darling from Welsh Government.
Unknown 1:45
James Williams from transport for Wales. Right. Awesome. So first up, we've got Robbie,
so over to you.
Unknown 1:52
Thank you very much, Chris. Yeah, so my name is Robbie Pritchard. I'm the
Communications Manager. Charter Camry.
Unknown 2:00
I like a lot of you I completed an undergraduate degree in Journalism, Media and Cultural
Studies at Cardiff University.
Unknown 2:09
With a focus then on PR so I sat on quite a few of the PR modules, spin and spin and I
also did communicating causes as well which is obviously you know, heavily linked with
what I ended up doing with my career.
Unknown 2:26
Before then going on to do an MA in international public relations and Global
Communications Management also at Cardiff as well which is, you know, like a fantastic
practical course for anyone who's interested in getting into PR. It really just sort of set you
up with, you know, sort of a lot of practical skills on what you'll need to do in a future career
in PR.
Unknown 2:50
I think yeah, throughout this time I wanted to, in university, I always wanted to work on
causes and campaigns. So for food sector or charity work, which is what I ended up sort
of doing as soon as I left university then I started an internship at a comms agency in
Cardiff called co chaired communications, which they have a lot of different clients but they
also have a lot of big charity. So they work for, for instance, comic relief, and National Trust
whales. So I worked as a PR assistant on the Red Nose Day campaign, and also on a
number of campaigns then for National Trust whales, publicising their many different
events across Wales that
Unknown 3:42
ultimately, I can show you know, if you will, you'll sort of find this and other people will have
different opinions, but I think agency work just really wasn't for me. It's very, very fast paced.
Unknown 3:54
I felt like the impact that I was having on the charities that I was working for, ultimately,
perhaps wasn't, as was a bit too vague and hard to quantify, I think so. What I really wanted
to do then is work for one, one organisation and work on one cause and specifically that
cause homelessness and housing emergency so last when I applied to the role a charter
company then
Unknown 4:19
for those of you don't know shelter, kemri is a well, we were the national charity. We've got
partners in England and Scotland as well. Charter UK and charter Scotland. But we're an
independent Wales charity, and we exist to defend the right to a safe home in Wales and
fight the devastating impact that the housing emergency has on people in society. So that's
our kind of tagline or blurb. What that means in practice, really, is that we campaign to end
the root causes of homelessness, and we advocate on the path of people that were in
housing troubles or, you know, perhaps homeless themselves or are on the risk of
becoming homeless basically, through a advice service that we run all over Wales for free
advice, service, and also bass, a legal advocacy service as well. So we represent people
in court who perhaps, you know, don't have the defence to do sell themselves, and eviction
proceedings and other sort of housing related issues in court that I've been there for years.
So I applied for communications officer then I moved on to communications coordinator,
now foot manager. So my role really is quite wide and varied. I think people who are
interested in going into comms in, in charities, as you know, and Welsh charities which is
often quite small, should be aware that it's a very varied role and you will be required to
know like lots and lots of different skills and just sort of knock in with everything really. So
my role involves everything from web design to brand management, design of like creative
assets for social media and printed leaflets and everything really.
Unknown 6:12
But a lot of what I do is around making sure that the shelter company brand is used
appropriately by all of our employees across Wales, and also in line with shelter in England
and Scotland as well. So we're all sort of singing from the same hymn sheet, but obviously
we've got the challenge in Wales of doing it with a smaller team and also doing all the
Welsh which is very difficult sometimes.
Unknown 6:38
Yeah, so my day to day like I said, it involves a lot of different things.
Unknown 6:44
I think, you know, the things that I've enjoyed most about the role as well is that we like I
said, we campaign to end a number of different things in Wales that will have the lives of
people who are homeless. So a success that I've had in my career, which I'm particularly
sort of proud of would be, we campaigned to end no fault evictions. So that's the legal right
for a landlord to evict a tenant for no reason.
Unknown 7:13
And off the back of that, then the Welsh Government basically changed the law so that the
notice period has gone up from two months to six months. So people have much, much
more notice now and they're not sort of thrown out Pinoy to go to in two months. Time.
Unknown 7:30
So you know, we do have quite a lot of political impact as well, which has been really nice
to work on and in comms, you can be at the forefront of that really, because you're you can
be designing web pages or petitions and just you know, sort of designing user journeys
right from from press releases and social media all the way through to that action. We want
people to take that on your website or you know, perhaps if you want to set up certain
meeting an MP or different things like that, we've done a lot of different things to try and
lobby governments and yeah, that's been a really sort of a successful thing that we've done.
I'm particularly proud of, I say, challenges. For me COVID has been a has been a massive
impact on our work guns.
Unknown 8:15
We've had to you know, overnight, taking national Advice Service which give people face
to face advice or onto the, you know, just purely digital incomes, that really everyone looks
to you for for all of that really so we have to take not only sort of all of our advice, surgeries
and put them in a format online that could access but also all of our training that our
solicitors give to different organisations around wholeness does that all have to become a
digital process as well overnight. So spearheading that really in comms was was a massive
challenge but again, you know, something that you have to be prepared for I think when
when you work in PR and comms is that you've sort of looked at as the the only person
who can work any technology sometimes depending on the organisation
Unknown 9:06
but yeah, I think that's pretty much where I'm at at the moment where we've just completed
a rebrand as well a chance to come re which was a huge huge undertaking.
Unknown 9:18
And yeah, something that continues to go on and on at the moment, but lots of Yeah, lots
of work to be done still on that but I would obviously drop my email in the chat if people
want to talk to me outside of this talk as well. If you don't feel comfortable questions at the
moment for anyone who may need help with their housing as well. I can also be able to
put you in touch with someone who works with us. I know obviously students have a bit of
a bad rap. And I did myself while I was living in university. So yeah, if anyone wants to get
in touch with me afterwards they can do.
Unknown 9:58
Before we move on, can you just vote as it might be some players have like are interested
in marketing. I have no idea how it works. Can you just explain the difference between sort
of your role now and what an agency does Yeah. So I mean, at an agency depending on
you know, what sort of agency you join, so like with, with my work I've co chaired, it was
very, very PR lead. So basically, we'd have a number of clients who would outsource
elements of their work to us. So a lot of that was actually for instance, if they wanted us to
write a press release for them and then send that press release out. And then involved
within that then there's often quite a lot of wringing around journalists and you know, where
their tears and try and push them to print the story basically, you can do that beforehand,
as well. You can call up people beforehand to sort of warm them up to the store and the
press release come in. But that was kind of a lot of what what we did, co shared.
Unknown 11:01
And, you know, you do that for a number of different clients. So you've got to be prepared
to sort of be able to split yourself into a number of different categories and work on a
number of different things or when certainly with in house public relations, which obviously
what I do now, you really have the chance to sort of, you know, settle down for one client
essentially obviously, you're outsourcing your labour to one one client or one cause then
which for me, personally is something that you know, I much prefer, I don't you know, I love
the idea that of just working on one thing and obviously housing is a is a really sort of
massive housing and homelessness and a really massive issue in Britain. So, you know,
they get a tremendous amount of sixth satisfaction out of there, but other people love the
environment of work and in no fast paced sort of agency environment as well. So it's just I
think, something you've got to do and find out where you you think you're best fit really
awesome. Cheers. Katie, you ready to go next? Yeah.
Unknown 12:07
Hi, so my name is Katie goalie. I was a drone wreck as well. So I did. Journalism film and
media undergrad and graduated in 2012. And then I from there I went into a job with media
whales. There's no meant to be pulling out more like whales online now.
Unknown 12:29
So I didn't do any like journalism qualifications after that, you know, beyond my my
undergrad. But usually if you go to someone like Vidya wells and usually need to be like a
trainee journalist or something like that, but they sort of had created these new content
creator, like community curator roles there. So basically, my job was to gather stories from
Twitter or from other people that would send things in and I'd get PR email, emails as all
press releases, and then put them on on wells or my you know, into the like local regional
papers in the valleys or circles echo wherever it fit. That sort of locality for the story. And
then from that, it sort of grew into writing as well. So did a lot of TV reviews and food
reviews and stuff like that a lot of listicles because that was when the girls were just starting
to come out.
Unknown 13:30
So lots of lists of like places to go for Sunday lunch in Colorado for a reason. So what
Game of Thrones at the times and stuff like that really.
Unknown 13:40
So after that I moved on to also work in an agency like robbery so I worked for goalies later
who another one of the big agencies and Cardiff and Wales I guess they're also Cardiff
based in Wales. I would say there are sort of ones that have regional offices, but your main
your main options for agencies really are Cardiff and Wales.
Unknown 14:03
So yeah, work there. Khaleesi so that was just from sort of a speculative sending in of my
CV to be honest, because with agencies, you'll find a lot of the time they're quite open to
receiving CVS from people especially, you've got the kind of skills that they're looking for.
And I think what he did for me was like, well, like speak well, first language enough speaker.
So being bilingual is a benefit I think in in the world of comms and PR in in Wales especially.
Unknown 14:34
It's not to say that, obviously you have to be able to speak Welsh, but I think it is a benefit.
So yeah, I went on to college later and started at like a junior level as a as an account exec
and then work to work my way up to account manager there. So worked on lots of different
clients, from the public and private sector. So that was a thing from WASC government to
Hilton to fully formed to crease Wales to brains as well. So lots and lots of different plugins.
Unknown 15:07
And I'm saying for two and a half or three years, I think.
Unknown 15:11
So I worked a lot with Ross government while I was at Qualis. Later So when, when I was
working with them, I was working on the worst languages, but like the rust language
department is on my clients. So I moved there after working with that team, basically so
there was a position that came up in boss government.
Unknown 15:36
So moved over to Moscow to work on the west language team, and that was more comms
and marketing. So it's different. So when I was working for Galis PR on the PR side of
things, like Robbie said, That was a lot of drafting press releases, client meetings, really
juggling time between lots of clients. So I one point I think I've only had about 12 clients,
which is quite a lot, but I think it's because to be honest, probably because I spoke Welsh,
I got quite a lot of the Welsh Government clients, so I was juggling quite a lot. But you're
usually probably working on maybe maybe eight clients. It depends on how big the
agencies that you're working for.
Unknown 16:15
So yeah, I call these there's more sort of press release writing, coming up with with
campaigns and ideas and that sort of creative side of things and pitching that to clients.
Whereas then I sort of flipped over to the other side of it becoming the client now when I
went to Welsh Government, so it was more the job that I do now is more of like a, I would
say like a project managing role from like a comms perspective. So we We contract out
that word, a lot of that PR work to to agencies that are now off government frameworks like
a pre approved framework. So I was with wealth language for the first two and a bit years
when I was at Welsh Government. So that was basically promoting the language and to
get people to speak well to learn well, and then when COVID hit I was seconded out to the
health comms team. So went to a conference which was a big change for me something
like didn't really think I was gonna be working on health. There wasn't something that was
on my radar, to be honest, but really enjoyed it. I did a lot of work with the UK Government
on watching the COVID-19 app, did a lot of really fast paced stuff because obviously
COVID Things are changing all the time and you're still out to some extent so.
Unknown 17:34
So a real challenge in that really, but it was really exciting and something that I didn't think
I will be working on but it's been a real benefit to me.
Unknown 17:43
So as that thing sort of, not warmed down, but sort of changed slightly. After working on
on COVID for the last two years. I went back to sort of education and math language and
the same group in Welsh Government so I went back to education rather than my final
grade.
Unknown 18:02
So right now, we still kind of work on Korea a little bit in schools, but also work on other
things like the the change in the curriculum that's happening in schools and the reform of
the school year. So we're talking about options. To change, term lengths and holidays and
stuff. Score. So lots still, even though it's less varied than if you worked in an agency,
because obviously, you're only working in one specific department. There's still lots of
different topics under that so and like I mentioned before my work now is more sort of, I
would say like on a sort of project managing and strategic level. So if there's a policy
announced say, they want to recruit more Welsh speaking teachers or Washington
teachers and Wales so the policy will come out as to how actually they want to achieve
that with, you know, financial incentives or any other plans and then we will come up with
a construct strategy to go with that. So how we're going to support that with
communications. And then from that, then obviously, the campaign work comes and we
usually contract out to two agencies then.
Unknown 19:16
And then there's a lot obviously with a lot of government as well, because we work with so
many partners and stakeholders, there's a lot of stakeholder management and that sort of
thing.
Unknown 19:24
So yeah, lots of different elements just sort of slightly different skill set, I would say so, the
PR but a lot of things that are quite similar and a lot of transferable skills as well.
Unknown 19:36
I think that's it for me. Oh, that's really interesting.
Unknown 19:40
So next up, we've got James Yeah, hi, everyone. Should I'm James Williams. I'm the head
of media with transport for Wales.
Unknown 19:50
TF w you probably most of you probably know them for the trains in Wales, but it's not just
about trains. We don't buy Welsh Government that will not for profit set up on the Welsh
Government. We we really took the railway into public ownership just last year. So we've
got about 3000 staff, my team heads up all the media and external communication. So I've
got a different team. He said unto me that we do a lot and my sort of career path I graduated
in indramat Back in 2007, and if if you anything like I was back then I didn't really have a
clue what I wanted to do.
Unknown 20:28
So I went for six months, eight months backpacking around the world.
Unknown 20:34
Two minutes my bathroom just flushed because it's gonna walk two sets
Unknown 20:41
I was by attainment via Yeah, so I went backpacking around the world where across
Southeast Asia, spend some time in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, understand, and then I
started decided not sure but I didn't want to focus too much in journalism. I wanted to sort
of look more into tourism marketing, click Download and things are sort of away. So I came
back and I got a job as a as a tourism coordinator for local authority. And then after two
years, and now it's give me a sort of basic marketing basic communications basic business
development skills, will get local government public sector, and then it went on from after
do enough two years ago offered the role as a marketing communications officer in a bigger
project. Again, I was at you funded projects is running, running all the marketing
communications for the project and a lot of project development in there as well.
Unknown 21:38
So after five years in sort of in local government that I got a bit fed up and after that project
finished, I decided I want to work more freelance and I wanted to do some more travelling
so i i took my redundancies at 27 for local government, which was really most most people
will take their identity a lot older, only then to be honest. And I did my own website, and I
run a travel blog website for four years. And that took me all over the world. It was like a
lot of freelance work, work to freelance clients.
Unknown 22:10
And then I did some I was doing a bit of consent as you work through through the websites.
I worked in Mercedes and I was making virtual CDs for the BT Mercedes Vito van ended
up in Sydney and I started doing contract work for a company that was Sydney Water, so
work as a comms Engagement Manager with them.
Unknown 22:29
And then then, yes, after four years and do another probably working more freelance, you
know, working on contract contractual work rather than sort of longer term projects that
end up coming back to Wales. And I started doing all the columns for Brecon Beacons
National Park. So I've done that for about 18 months.
Unknown 22:49
And then the opportunity come for transport for Wales because of my my background in
working on public sector. So before I will freelance, I could understand the sort of the
opportunities with Trump's words how big he was going to be. So I sort of feel I first went
in and worked as a media relations manager and then a few months ago, I got promoted
to the head of media. So the role of the media section for the organisation so yeah, in a
nutshell, that's my that's my story. I think.
Unknown 23:19
I've been fortunate I've worked in different sort of jobs and probably in the freelance world,
as well as in the more local local government side and public sector side. I've worked in
both public sector and private sector.
Unknown 23:32
I think if you can, the benefit of that is you understand that both sectors work and you see
things from from from each side of the table and you can apply the skills you learn learning
in both of them sort of in ENSET, as you know, will you do communications and media?
Unknown 23:48
So the way we the way we read in the media in TF W now is actually like, how we approach
if you were a small needed organisation, we create a lot of our own content of I've got a
content producer who I brought in who's working externally as a consultancy, I've got my
own content production, creating my own video content on my digital content. We run our
own podcast and then we've gotten traditional media informed press releases and
immediate events.
Unknown 24:15
So yes, I think this the media from when I was assumed that when I graduated, it's changed
a great deal. And so traditional media, the way you'd approach your media strategy,
perhaps 10 years was completely different now, but it's really exciting time as well to
graduate and then going into the sort of industry because technology advances so quickly
that this is changing constantly. So I think yes, a good industry to go into. Yeah, so have
any questions we'd be happy to answer.
Unknown 24:46
Okay, cool. Thanks, everyone, for those that's really interested, and I'm really
Unknown 24:54
especially cuz I didn't go on holiday for our last year.
Unknown 24:58
What was gonna say? So if anybody's got any questions based on any of that stuff, that'd
be fantastic. Feel free to pop them in the chat, then I will sort of like pick them and ask you
to ask our panel. That would be awesome. So I'll just give you a couple of minutes to do
that. While you were talking. I've picked up from that which I can ask them to get the ball
rolling. That's it, you guys. So one then would be kind of based on a student question I had
the other day. So some of you mentioned like podcasting, walking, and all that kind of stuff.
So would you have any tips on how students could kind of turn that kind of side hustle into
like a almost like a paid gig, essentially, or using roles? Yeah, I can I cannot go. That's
That's what I was trying to do when I when I was running my own website and trying to turn
I was passionate about blogging. I was passionate about travel and I was I thought I was
done a lot of it for free. And but I was trying to generate some sort of income, and it is a
difficult gig and to become a successful blogger is really difficult if you get it depending on
which one you want. To do net and see it as a podcast podcasts. But I think what you want
students can do is if you get the experience of doing it, so even if you've set up your own
blog, now you've got a certain level of experience in being a blogger or creating content,
then skills are sort of well sought after eight and under the skills that are needed within
more corporate organisations with media now so as I say, when the digital revolution if you
like is continue to grow. There's loads of people that want to companies that want students
to come in we're really savvy fall in different things. So you may or may not be successfully
running your own blog, but you may be working for DFW, writing blogs around all the
different things you'll be doing maybe we'll proceed to creating the content.
Unknown 26:51
So I think if students have got STEM skills and a keen to use, read, develop and build your
own website then when you go in to say look I'm doing this I can do and I can do this.
Unknown 27:01
Oh, awesome. Anybody got anything to add to that?
Unknown 27:07
I mean, I was just coming to what James said they you know, if you if you if you've got a
body of work, you know, a really impressive law or maybe you know, maybe not something
that's very popular, but there's a body of work and the right thing. You know, it's up to a
high standard. That's a marvellous thing to be able to sort of link to on a CV, you know,
that people can see well, they're obviously really passionate about this in their, you know,
their private life. So it's just a huge thing when we're recruiting people, you know if they
can, a big thing for us is like being able to sort of articulate your passion for homelessness
and housing and and different things like that. So we look for people who can really
articulate and nice and so on that you know, but if you're recruiting for a copywriting course
and you've already got a body of work you can point two I think that's massive. Yeah.
Unknown 27:57
Awesome. And then the other question that I thought which I get asked quite a lot, and this
is kind of a weird one. But so it's good question to ask the panel. So I met some people
who said they're interested in marketing they're not creative. You can succeed in comms
environment without being creative.
Unknown 28:18
Out the often, people often just like designing graphics and stuff.
Unknown 28:25
And
Unknown 28:28
I cannot make another call if you went up, get to an answer key. Yeah. So I think from an
agency perspective is probably there's more need to be creative because you're coming
up with concepts and pitching to clients and stuff. So I think there's more of a need on an
agency side. But I think, you know, I am because I come from that background. I do feel
like I am a creative person, but I feel like I probably have needed to use creativity a little
bit less in my current job like public sector because we tend to contract a lot of that out. So
So I think if if you feel like you're less of a creative person, I think you probably would
struggle more on an agency side. But that doesn't necessarily mean that that that's not the
industry for you. So yeah, there are definitely roles. If you don't feel like your creative side
is your strong point.
Unknown 29:23
Yeah, and I'm a back of what Katie said, I think when you when you talk about marketing,
communications, PR engagement, all these different segments it's there's so many
different jobs with so many different skills with skill. There's there's elements we were
definitely to creativity, but there's other jobs that are still within that sector of employment
where you don't you probably wouldn't need creativity. So if he was you know, if he was in
my team, and he was Bakhtin statements that we needed to sort of brief Welsh
Government on before go to events, you the scale of vision will be more based around
your article and you can gather information and work to do but across what is most different
from being creative is in creating marketing content for campaign. So I think with comm
comms engagement, the rules, the whole topic, on subject and on comms engagement
marketing it there's so many different branches and don't sort of think that the the you have
to fit a certain way to fit into it because at DFW so my boss is interactive comms engage
and within that team is not there's media marketing, brand, internal communications,
there's this stakeholder management, dealing digitally, this sometimes comes you have to
just deal with people. So there's so many different jobs you can get into just following
through comments, you know, and there's more there's more tech, like technical side stuff
as well, like insight is so important to the work that we do. So there are people that just
gather insights or, you know, create reports and it's that sort of technical side of it informs
everything we do as well. So there's loads of different branches like James said, within
comms marketing that you could do.
Unknown 31:19
A really good answer. It's a really good point. Actually, I think marketing is one of those
sectors when people are talking about what they want to do after they graduate where it's
like, most things are kind of like status same whereas marketing seems to be like every
like two three years at the moment is just changing all the time, especially like new
technology and stuff.
Unknown 31:36
So it was like we're talking about getting jobs now but by the time some people graduate
entirely.
Unknown 31:42
So I what we've been talking a few questions that come through so I'm going to hand it
over.
Unknown 31:49
So yes, Michael C is guy new skin. Rafi about webpage design value is going to ask
questions directly.
Unknown 32:00
Yes, I just want to know like Nordeus because after the like improvement of technology,
so Python or some programme language is very important. But we haven't study is it? So
I'm, I'm wondering if we have to do a website is that oh, can we just be your some
websitebuilder?
Unknown 32:28
Yeah, so it's a good question.
Unknown 32:32
I think that in my experience, there's never been any requirement for me or anyone who
works in cons to really have pay huge understanding of you know, programming or coding,
but it is an essential requirement working in comms in at least what I work for you to know
how to use things like WordPress or you know, other website builders.
Unknown 32:58
So I you know, if it's, if it's, you know, comes in, you know, sort of a charity or something
like that, where we where we have a digital developer that I work with, then I sort of get
them on boards to do all that programming on the back end of the site. But I make regular
activities in WordPress myself, so that would be the thing that I would say is the essential
skill that you need to learn but I mean, he like like we've just been talking about this how
to map a vast field that you could, you know, fairly easily find jobs. He you know, the
webmaster is not at all relevant, but if we can lay work because the concept is like quite
wide and varied that you need to be a bit of a jack of all trades. So some some experience
of using those website builders. Yeah, PHP, you know, preferential for us, I suppose,
adding to what James was saying about as well if you've got a blog or something you're
doing for fun, you can kind of practice those skills on the side and it's still just as relevant,
isn't it? And that's it. That's exactly right. So when I finished in local government, on website,
I knew a little bit about WordPress and I went from good mail merge and off WordPress.
Unknown 34:13
And then run it and then when I went when I sort of was bidding for freelance contracts, I
could use my own website as a way of showing what I can do, what I can write to do and
and use that as a way of getting work. But then also when I came back to work and when
I went to go back into sort of full time employment or not work freelance, I'd use as a way
to explain what I've done for the last four years as well. So I'd advise Annika and it's so
easy to get things like WordPress and to build a website. Just if I'm attacking cameras still
I'd be spending just getting used to doing all different things and being creative and trying
things out.
Unknown 34:53
Because when you go for the interview, especially when you're going for your first job,
you've got to be able to stand out from a lot of different other graduates. You've all got a
similar skill base that you turn up then you've spent a year building your own website,
writing lots of different content and you can show that or maybe you've got to go to website
different photography to creating digital content. Soon as you go to interview I guarantee
you, you'll start to stand out from the rest of the other students. So it's a good way it's a
good way to it's great apart from yourself, especially if it was a quick question on that. So
ask the person to read it out. But in addition, would you say for PR and comms is any
particular additional IT skills or programmes you should be familiar with?
Unknown 35:39
I think can I?
Unknown 35:42
Yeah, so it depends on the depends on on where you work. So some agencies will have
specific departments for you know, creating videos or editing or whatever, like whatever
the skill set is, they might have a particular department for it, but especially with small
agencies. And in house tends to be you need to be a bit of a jack of all trades, like Robert
mentioned that. So I think video editing stuff is important. So if you can shoot and film, edit
your videos have that that's really important, even if it's just to start with simple stuff that
you can do that acts on your your phone and that sort of you know, quick and dirty videos.
Unknown 36:26
But then if you're you're looking into more sort of complex video editing software on pieces
and stuff and that's fine as well.
Unknown 36:35
I think that is probably a solid base for someone to start looking at with from a PR
perspective. And also, like analytic stuff is also even if you're looking at, you know,
something simple like Twitter analytics, it's on the actual platform itself and you're not
leaving those platforms, that's fine. But it's just that understanding stats and stuff behind
social media posts and how you look at what's worked and what's not because that's a big
part of a PR and comms as well. Mike's.
Unknown 37:06
Can I add to that? I would, I would agree. You know, like those those things are really
fundamental and you know, if I was going to suggest a programme or a suite of
programmes that would be really helpful in in doing things like video editing, but also like,
you know, designing a leaflet or you know, anything like that they may need Adobe Creative
Cloud as what we use and it's a really sort of easy one to get into. There's lots of really
cheap, like really good training courses online, you can get for like 1099.
Unknown 37:39
And you can just give yourself like a basic understanding of the bulk of those apps within
Creative Cloud. So that will be one moment really recommend for anyone who said like
Jun said like if you've got a skill in one of those things that you can put on your CV like it's
just here. This is really things off the page when you read an application so awesome. So
next question I can see is almost like a brief for Brandon. So that's from Tina Stevens,
would you like to ask a question directly?
Unknown 38:13
Yeah.
Unknown 38:16
I'm just wondering, I'm easily the oldest student on the cohort. I think I'm the oldest student
on this call. I've got a lot of relevant, sorry, non relevant experience. Before I came to
university, I was a PA office manager, that sort of thing. Now I want to break into comms,
you know, sort of PR that sort of thing. Really, I'm wondering I'm a bit worried. That a it's a
young person's game. Am I too old? And also, if I'm not, what sort of level should I be
pitching myself that's I'm not really sure you know where to start really.
Unknown 38:57
First of all, I'd say a lot of you a lot of skills you would have added be transferable skills
right. First gather what skills you've got work as a PA wage and as a PA what you're doing
and you can use them skills in your application and I want to say to young person is getting
a lot of time having a level of experience goes a long way in in what you're looking for when
you bring someone in as well. And so I think if you know without mindset that you were
lucky just because what are transferred and what you can use, I think of your age being a
bit of a benefit to the right organisation that needs that and that level. Of experience
because life skills and the scheduling with adequate long way, especially when we start
talking about stakeholder columns and things like that, and I've been able to, you know,
deal with people in a regular basis. So that would be my first and then same thing once
you've got a clear idea what your transfer the skills are.
Unknown 39:52
Don't be afraid to take a role to get your foot in the door within an organisation as well,
especially in the console because if you can get one is probably not someone you may be
in the staff. Once you've shown the level of schedule and what you can do it on columns
in there may be other opportunities that will come quite quickly feel.
Unknown 40:15
I think there's a lot of transferable skills there. I've got a very small portfolio and I'm sort of
I tend to be I think ideas and writing that sort of thing. So I'm just Yeah, I'm just I think I'm
gonna keep my fingers crossed and just if I can find something, you know, within where
else because I want to stay away on some learning what else? Yeah.
Unknown 40:36
And the other thing if, as I said my experience is in the my HR, one of my HR officers was
we mean that Oh, and a personal check this up. It has to do with with Chris, and we recently
did a podcast and the first thing she needs saying is it shouldn't be an issue either for sort
of our our grad scheme and other practices at DFW so I was gonna I was gonna drop that
in as well for the students that we've got grad schemes and we've got apprenticeship
schemes, which are a great way to get your foot in the door.
Unknown 41:07
And within a year or two, learn about the business development scenario, she will come in
as a comms grant, and then you can go from us and what HR will pursue and we'll add the
podcast to discuss but it is an I was originally thinking on this you always think of an
apprenticeship scheme that someone was young to become an apprentice back. There's
a lot of older practices that come in, and they just do exactly what you do and they just
want to change your career. So I'd look for them as well, because there's lots of
opportunities you can do. You can use and throughout the career path.
Unknown 41:38
Definitely since COVID as well it's been that massive like that time off type thing, so many
career shifters.
Unknown 41:45
It's such a common place to be in. And just to kind of answer that as well. If you need any
support on trying to figure out what kind of transfers over and stuff feel free to both careers.
Unknown 41:58
In terms of kind of like getting your foot in the door in places, we run a lot of like work
experience, internships, and some called insights.
Unknown 42:07
Pretty much 90% of those opportunities PR comms marketing related. So if you wanted to
kind of almost like firm at what you have got or getting some experience news, actually to
sort of read those as well but have a look on student internet and the wiki and you can find
all the details there as well.
Unknown 42:28
Thank you very much. No worries. Brilliant. Thanks.
Unknown 42:33
Why Okay, how are we doing for time? Plenty of time.
Unknown 42:37
Let's find some more questions with one for Katie Aegina Lawrence don't ask the question.
Unknown 42:47
Do that.
Unknown 42:49
Hi, Dina. Off you go. Hi, um, I've been looking I've been listening to what you've been
saying. And I've been talking thinking I can't get my words out. So I've been thinking about
what to talk about agency work and I've thought about something I'd be interested in
because I like the idea of being quite very but I'm just worried it would be very like
pressurising with lots of deadlines and it was quite stressful. I'm sure wondering how your
experiences were of agency work.
Unknown 43:13
Yeah, so it was I felt like it was stressful at times because it is a Client Servicing role.
Unknown 43:23
And sometimes, they can have unrealistic deadlines and sometimes you know, you have
to push back and sometimes the sort of set just get on with things.
Unknown 43:35
I would say there's probably even been a shift as I left Scolese, which was, you know, only
like 2017. But I think there's there's been a shift towards that more, you know, mindfulness
around like well being and in your own time, especially in COVID. Now, I think there's
probably it's probably different even to when I was a agency now, but there were there
were deadlines. There were pressures. i To be honest, I did take my laptop home a lot of
evenings to work sometimes it does happen. But there are benefits as well. So I wouldn't I
would never change my experience here because it really sets you up for your future
careers that because you, you wouldn't get to work on so many different clients.
Unknown 44:20
You get to look for becoming a short term expert and things quite a lot of time. So one of
my clients was folly farm in west Wales, which was the best
Unknown 44:33
thing happens and Penguin matech and stuff like that. And then the next week, you're an
expert on like apprenticeship. So it's that sort of getting that real experience across public
and private sector as well and getting those skills that will help you later on in your career.
So they're worse restaurants to it, but there is a good side to it as well.
Unknown 44:57
Yeah, I would not just I mean it is there are lots of fast deadlines. It is it is very eye pressure
in my experience anyway, I mean, I when I started I had hair for for example, so that I think
within about 10 months I'd gone but yeah, I think that it just gives you agency work in my
experience, it just gave me like you putting it sort of base level understanding of like how
to do PR and marketing work, you know, and like I was there for a year. And I you know, I
quickly sort of surmised that, you know, this isn't for me long term and I want to work for
one I want to work in house for one client.
Unknown 45:37
But you know, like Katie said, I wouldn't sort of change the experience for the world.
Although if I was taking my laptop or when evenings and all that sort of stuff. Work life
balance for me wasn't fabulous.
Unknown 45:49
I wouldn't change it just because it was sort of a really beneficial experience for my future
progression I feel anyway, and I was able to take a lot of skills and I'd learned especially
around you know, PR and media relations and stuff from that environment into my current
one.
Unknown 46:08
And it helped me it really helped me stand out on the application process for my current
job as well you know, that I have this wealth of experience working in this environment,
you know, the agency environment, I wouldn't be put off and if you do find that, you know,
you're really, you're really hated. I mean I sort of just got through it by saying to myself right
I'll do a use experience for this now and then I love to all of you know and I guess when
you're starting off new career, sometimes you kind of after after do that a little bit, you know
think well, it's not really all that much fun, but it's worth it for where they want to be, you
know, years time, you know.
Unknown 46:48
Awesome.
Unknown 46:50
Sorry, James, do you have anything to add on that one? No, you're right.
Unknown 46:54
I think what Robbie said at the end is that's a key point as well, of getting into a place and
not thinking that's going to be your defence and that replaces a job to get a different excuse
a different thing and I'll probably still do what I'm going for. But if you if you don't think that
if you're going to go without organisation, this is gonna be your career path. 10 years, but
you have to be there. You don't have to think short term and a lot of the time because from
getting experience in different areas in different businesses. It allows you to go through
someone else and and that's the key if you know if I was giving myself the info when I was
just finishing university that I say just go and get the experience on contract different things
outright. If you don't like working in one area. Don't be afraid to change because when
you're when you're in that earlier, party Korea, by jumping, changing, you will actually learn
a lot more skills as well. So when you start the goal setting, I think we say well, I've done
this in local government. I've done this in the private sector, but now all of a sudden your
CV matches up. You're going to get a much better place when you offer them jobs I think
so to do when you're young when you're young if you're coming from university, be willing
to do that. Definitely this I read a really good thing the other day but, you know, like you go
through you go through school or college and union, it's all kind of like laid out before you
and you get to the end of the Union. There's that pressure like you have to like do the rest
of your life.
Unknown 48:18
There's some research done by prospects and most granted over roles, their first role last
for 18 months. So I think that's a really good sort of planning tool. If you don't necessarily
plan in your career for life. You plan that next kind of definitely.
Unknown 48:34
Yeah, and like I'm a big advocate for people go abroad and work abroad going outside the
normal sort of way, you know, your normal sort of country of business, go somewhere else
and learn about workers, because the skills you learn just by doing that. They'll go away in
the vocational workplace anyway. And when you finish you mean that's the time to do
Unknown 48:59
a question about well, so it'd be ideal for UK to think so spyler to ask your wealth question.
Unknown 49:05
Yeah, so I put my screen on but zoom just doesn't want me to put a camera on but I am a
real person, I promise.
Unknown 49:16
So I grew up in like near Snowdonia, and I speak fluent Welsh sort of primary and
secondary school. But my near six I was in England, and so I ended up not speaking as
much and so while I used to be fluent in Welsh, I don't consider myself to be any more can
do conversational Welsh, but not like professional or academic Welsh. And so just
wondering, to what extent do you think having that Eiling relativity is really quite important?
Unknown 49:43
I think it depends on you know, the job and the requirements for that role, and I've always
found that very useful because if you're working on anything to do off government,
especially, there's a requirement, there's Welsh language standards in place that you have
to do.
Unknown 50:00
bilingually.
Unknown 50:02
But that's not you know, a lot of the people that I work with, are totally had a similar situation
to where they had, you know, they weren't much at school, but they're not necessarily, you
know, they're not the first language speakers or they're not fluent. And I think any level of
Welsh is probably going to be a benefit to you because if you look at for example, like some
of the Welsh Government roles that come in that you don't need to be fluent in, but it says
that a level of Welsh is, you know, desired or advantageous. You know, it's not required a
requirement but it does help I think, and then if you do you know, once you if you get those
roles set, and then especially within and I'm sure it's the same, you know, for the private
sector, as well, but a lot of public sector also opportunities for you to develop those skills
once you you're in so you, there's a lot of support available to learn Welsh and to relearn
what you've what you already know, really, and I think you'll probably find, you know, more
than you think as well. I think people confidence Oh, yeah, I've noticed that when other
people speak Welsh, I can understand what they're saying completely, but I don't know
how to respond. Yeah. Like, I don't know. Stand though, as well. That's, you know, that's
a lot more than a lot of candidates. So that would make you stand out anyway. So I think
definitely, when you're applying for jobs, put it down wouldn't be honest about what you
think your level of well shows, but I do think if you're going for controls and Wales, then a
level worldship is going to be advantageous to especially if you're looking at you know,
public sector stuff.
Unknown 51:42
To transport what exactly we are fully bilingual organisation so everything everything we
put up is in Wireshark in English.
Unknown 51:52
I don't speak words, but we've got translation service on your web speakers in our team
and if it's definitely a skill that if you can, and even if you can just understand that I put on
the CV.
Unknown 52:05
Okay, thank you so much. I've been nodding the whole time but obviously can't see
Unknown 52:13
past half hours flown by so. Panel, you happy to like one more question.
Unknown 52:19
Yeah. Okay, cool. So let me just see if there's any.
Unknown 52:24
Some of them are mostly this.
Unknown 52:27
Here's a good one. You might be able to answer this for me. It was about doing a Masters
though. How useful was your masters going in?
Unknown 52:39
Well, yeah, like personal experience, the Masters was kind of essential, really because I
left my journalism degree, a little bit unsure of what it is I wanted to do a month from
speaking to to Cardiff, bass alternated between the direction of this masters.
Unknown 52:58
And it was from there really that I met. I met someone who was given a talk who was
working at Colgate then, you know, spoke to them after the after the talk or whatever, by
email, kinda like this session. Oh, really? And then, you know, from there, they let me know
about the opportunity and then I went on to work there. So in in the PR course, in Cardiff
in particular, like really, really strong links with lots of different people who work in the
industry, and also loads now of people who previously sat on that course who then come
back to do like a guest talk. And you know, we'll have opportunities for you that you may
be interested in. So it really was really helpful and I know tonnes of people.
Unknown 53:47
You know, I know people who do philosophy, for example, really didn't know what they
wanted to do, after the after the undergrad degree who sat on that course and then went
on to have really successful careers in advertising in London and you know, really done on
the done some really, really interesting stuff.
Unknown 54:06
So yeah, I think that it's really beneficial. It's not the be all and end all of course, because
you've been doing loads of work experience and put yourself out there when you're on the
undergraduate course. And of course, you know, there's a cost involved to it all as well. I
was lucky enough that I applied for the the Masters Excellence Scholarship, I think the
jewel Mac provide. And I was lucky enough to get that to fund my masters. So you know if
that's an issue as well, I would look into things like that I you know, there is funding available
for people who, you know, sort of got the attitude and you know, was here before so, I
would encourage people to do it, especially if you're, you know a little bit unsure about what
it is you want to do after after undergrad like I was I would I would just say go for actually
Unknown 54:57
offset and then just kind of sort of final questions was when we skipped over about, I think
it's quite a general word is where the best places to find jobs in these areas like integrating
websites recommend obviously look at sort of rep company websites and stuff and insider
tips. But I think if you go to recruitment agencies as well, if you get yourself the difficulty is
really when your students the lack of screenshot for user recruitment agency, but if you if
you speak to the trip, business staff and network and start to see and don't be afraid, don't
be offended when on a roll that may start as an admin role as well. Because as getting
your foot in the door and as you can afford to do because you've got time inside as well.
So don't if you want to go more if you want to go forward for BTC for instance, you're not
you're not probably going to win as a production managers kicking off straightening degree.
And you may just want to be fundamental work as a admin run or something like that.
They've got an awful lot of people to detonate and they've just worked away like I said,
don't be afraid to go in a real low level job just to get your foot in the door and moving on
especially with media because that's how it works especially if you're going to the to the
bigger organisation of BBC, ITV some of their big production companies.
Unknown 56:17
I was advised that with this, these kinds of roles as well if you're gonna flex more
organisations you're more likely to be exposed to like a bigger range of stuff. So in that
what Robbie was saying earlier about in that sort of open years of your career, doing as
much as possible, that's a really good experience that kind of a lot you can talk about later
on as well.
Unknown 56:37
Awesome. Okay, so that's probably time so unless any of the panel got any house they'd
like to share I can start wrapping up as well just
Unknown 56:49
the creative Cardiff website is really good for like jobs that come in especially like in well
obviously just in creative industries in Cardiff if you're scared of university students or
they're they're about to exit I think that's a really good one as well.
Unknown 57:04
We've gotten a Thursday, and so it's called Create futures in Cardiff town shed and a few
other marketing agencies are popping along as well on campus, so feel free to book on
because no booking no entry unfortunately. Sorry Katie, I cut you off.
Unknown 57:21
In caught comms company as well. They put a lot of jobs out.
Unknown 57:25
So yeah, comms company, I think, probably facebook and on on their website as well.
Unknown 57:31
Brilliant, and then we'll plug in events. We've got one more tomorrow, which for those of
you interested in publishing there is I've contractually got to do that. Otherwise severely
banished.
Unknown 57:42
Thanks, everyone, for coming along and asking questions and join them. It's been brilliant,
and thanks to our panel, as well.
Unknown 57:51
As insights has been really cool, thank you very much. I'll do that because no one else can.
Unknown 57:57
And if anybody wants to get in touch with you or anything afterwards, you guys all on
LinkedIn and stuff like that.
Unknown 58:03
I think I can see some of already via LinkedIn anyways, so right now I clicked on the 500
Plus more efficient than me so
Unknown 58:14
I'm a bit useless with LinkedIn so if someone wants to email my work email address on on
there, I'd be much quicker answered and then on LinkedIn.
Unknown 58:24
I'm just claiming that Yeah.
Unknown 58:28
But Christ for help on there from months ago, which I'm assuming they don't need help
anymore
Unknown 58:36
so Yeah, cheers. You're free to go obviously, hang around just as any questions and stuff.
Unknown 58:42
Amor I'll probably be in touch to say thank you as well. But yeah, really seriously. Thanks
for your time tonight. Appreciate you coming. Monday evenings.
Unknown 58:50
No problem at all. Very much. Yeah.
Unknown 58:54
Catch you later. Yes, yes.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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