Warren Romer, account executive at GingerMay: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions! It’s something I wish I’d reminded myself more often when I first started out, and it's something I still do today. Whether you’re new to the industry or have been in it for a few years, staying curious will take you much further than trying to have all the answers. PR is constantly evolving, and some of the best in the business are the ones who keep asking ‘why’ and ‘what if’. Prioritising time for research is a proactive habit that I’ve developed over time, but one I wish I’d grasped earlier. It sounds so obvious, but in the quest to meet tight deadlines, it’s often the easiest thing to overlook. Spending those extra 30 minutes to explore a client’s USPs or check what a journalist has been writing about can make all the difference. It strengthens your pitching abilities and improves your understanding of the client and their services, which in turn allows you to contribute more effectively. Being proactive, staying curious, and asking thoughtful questions doesn’t just make you better at the job; it helps you stand out from the pack.”

Clara Vazquez, junior account executive at Raptor PR: “I wish I’d known earlier that organisation isn’t just about being efficient, it’s about maintaining a balance between hard work, rest, and your hobbies! This is really important because it feeds your creativity and you can produce more work that you're proud of. Another thing that may seem obvious but in practice is really hard to stick by: making mistakes, everyone does. The important thing is that you learn from them, and don’t let a fear of mistakes hold you back from showing people what you can do. Finally, take every opportunity you possibly can. If you’re being offered it, you’re capable of it. At the same time, if you know you can do it, put yourself forward. This also applies to looking for a job, because every bit of work experience you can get, big or small, will play a part in landing you that job you really want."

Rita Ugi, account executive at Shook: “I wish I knew that no one expected me to be an all-knowing PR genius or an award-winning strategist when I started working in PR. I found myself struggling and held back from asking questions, which turned into burnout, just because I wanted to make the impression that I ‘deserved’ to be here. My advice for anyone looking to start a career in PR will be, don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how silly you think it might be. You got the job because you were qualified and you bring something unique to the team, so give room to fail forward, because that is how best I think we learn, knowing that when you ask for help, you will be supported, and that is one thing I’m grateful for with my amazing colleagues at Shook.”

Eyimofe Okuwoga, senior account executive at The Hoffman Agency: “Most of the advice I have, and have received, is hardly PR-specific. But, one that resonates with me is to interrogate every edit, and always ask to chat about feedback. You might learn something invaluable. PR can sometimes be about nuances, and the littlest details can make the most difference.

“Another is to hunt for help everywhere. I once messaged a senior exec — whose agency might as well be a replica of mine — to ask for tips, had regular catch-ups with the European CEO at a consumer agency, jumped on calls with a creative director at another massive agency, hijacked someone else who’d come to deliver DEI training at the agency, and all of these have helped me massively.

“Finally, you often learn by doing, so start something. Whether that’s volunteering for tasks in your role or taking up a project separate from the job requirements. My ‘something’ was Whataboutisms, the platform my team and I run for emerging talents in comms. The success stories to come out of that have been immeasurable, and not in the least the things I have learned and little wins I have gotten from it.”

Letizia Mollinedo, account executive at Fight or Flight: "On my first day, someone told me that 80% of everything you see in the media is either PR, or has been pitched by a PR person. I’m not sure if that’s true but it certainly feels like it. This industry isn’t like anything else I’ve experienced, and I never even knew it existed before. It’s dynamic and creative and no two days are the same. That’s both the beauty and the challenge of it. The good news, especially if you’re just starting out: whether you succeed largely comes down to you. Be proactive, be curious, put your hand up, ask the question, feed your hunger to learn, soak up every bit of knowledge around you and most importantly, listen. There’s a garden of wisdom all around you if you look for it. You don’t know what you don’t know yet and that’s okay. I promise."