Member Article

Graduates go behind the scenes at PR agency

Ilkley-based Approach PR has teamed up with the Go Graduate Opportunities Programme (GO) to host a career day aimed at helping university graduates kick start careers in communications and inspire a move into the field of public relations.

Billed as a PR career show ‘n’ tell, the event, which took place on 12 February, saw the Approach PR team offer first hand insight into what life as a PR consultant looks like.

Managed by Approach PR’s senior account manager, Katy Barraclough, and account executive, Anisha Mistry, the ’show ‘n’ tell’ gave the graduates practical advice on how to climb the PR career ladder, how to impress at interviews and how to compile a creative portfolio of work.

“While Katy and I both work in the same team at Approach, we have arrived at our current positions via quite different routes. Katy began her working life in in-house charity PR following a degree in linguistics while I began my career in fashion PR, after graduating in fashion, media and promotion,” said Anisha.

“We wanted to share our relevant experiences with the graduates to illustrate how a career in PR is possible with a variety of creative backgrounds.”

Adeeba Zahoor graduated from the University of Bradford with a degree in English and an MSc in Management and was one of the participating graduates: “It was great to get an inside look at a busy PR agency - one which is highly-respected in the region.

“As a graduate, the GO programme has been invaluable in giving me, and many other recent graduates, useful tools and advice to help us secure jobs in industries like PR. My time at Approach PR was hugely beneficial and gave me many ideas and a lot of motivation to help make a career in PR a reality,” added Adeeba.

GO is a DWP-funded programme delivered by C&K Careers, the University of Bradford, the University of Huddersfield and Aspire-i which supports students and recent graduates in their job hunt. Employment project leader, Nyree Cluderay, is hoping to build on the programme’s successes in 2014 which saw over 70 per cent of those on the programme leaving the unemployment register.

Nyree said: “As the Aspire-i mentor of the GO project I am continually striving to find exciting opportunities for employers and graduates to work together in a way that is both beneficial to the graduate and business. The graduates have such a positive outlook and lots of skills they can offer a business through work shadowing; they are very keen to grab any opportunity to enhance their CV and employability skills.

“The experience with Approach PR has proved very valuable for two graduates hoping to pursue a career in public relations and communications roles. I would like to thank E3 for initiating this event and putting us in contact with Approach PR.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Approach PR .