Golin:Six Months Later
Technically, Iâve been at my job for over a year, but if weâre being realistic, today marks six months in the big leagues--Unilever. I had an absolute blast working on ice cream accounts over the summer (I mean, who WOULDNâT?) and learning the ins-and-outs of PR the Golin way--learning to truly Go All In. While some of my peers have gone, Iâve just begun to truly develop my PR career.Â
As my six-months approaches, hereâs a few tips Iâve learned along the way, and the lessons I plan to follow as I make it to my next big milestone--my first work anniversary!Â
1. Donât be afraid to ask
The biggest one of all. My supervisors are more than just that--they are my mentors and they want me to succeed. If I am not sure of something, I need to speak up and ask--that way, they know I am paying attention and if I am lost, they can help me out.Â
2. Donât be afraid of criticism
My first week on Unilever, I was extremely overwhelmed, especially heading into a big activation. It was an intense two weeks, and I didnât know where to go or how things were done. My supervisor was extremely tough on me, especially not knowing the structure of how things were done on that specific team. However, despite being hard on me, I learned to make minimal to no mistakes on things that were going to be sent to the client--something I know Iâll be doing one day, but need to be trusted to do that by learning from my toughest critics.Â
3. Take a break every few hours
The coolest thing about my experience is that I worked in a newsroom in college, so I know how things run and what pitches get accepted. While this is not college, it is a very similar routine. To avoid burnout, I take a lap around the office and stretch my legs..sometimes, more creative ideas to a solution come to me then, and I can get back in action when I return to my desk.Â
4. Decorate your desk
Your desk is your personal space--and now that I have one (complete with a laptop and a desk phone!) so make it a fun, bright space--itâll brighten up your day even when you return to work on Monday.Â
5. Set up meetings with your direct supervisor
Similar to asking, this is something I want to do more. If Iâm feeling burnt out or stressed, I set up meetings with my direct supervisor--the one who hired me--and if I need to just vent, I just vent (cautiously, of course). Sheâs the one who is going to help me make the most of my first year and learn the ropes, so that I can continue making strides well into my career. Who knows, maybe Iâll be doing the same with another individual in a few years?
6.Make a to-do list and write it in a pretty notebook
Also something I want to start doing. I have a notepad and pretty stationary, but I want to do something bigger, instead of having all these little pieces of paper lying around. Sometimes Iâll see an email come through, make a mental note, and then forget because yep, my brain is clogged with to-do lists. If I write it down in a bigger space, I can easily access it without scraps (and keep my desk clean!)
Hereâs to the next six months!Â
