Many of us, myself included, grew up with the idea of a ‘dream job’ – or at least, some idea of where we’d want to work when we grew up. But as we know, the careers we idealise in our heads (and take out debilitating student loans to pursue) often aren’t what we expect them to be.
To shed some light on the realities of the workforce, people with different jobs what their day-to-day looks like. This week, we talk to Hannah Cohen, a Melbourne-based senior account manager from PR and Communications Agency, Project Hutton (PH), whose long list of fashion, beauty and lifestyle clients involves the likes of Tom Organic, Kic, By Katia, Best Jumpers, Poodle Bar and Bistro and plenty more.
Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.
It wasn’t Hannah’s plan to work in PR but after receiving an offer from PH’s director, Lib Carter, in her DMs, she didn’t hesitate to say yes. Having spent years freelancing as a journalist, copywriter and social media manager, Hannah was ready to add some structure to her work week. “I was feeling really burnt out [and] ready to take the next step in my career.”
“It’s just so up my alley in that it’s all about good communication and relationship building, which I think are strengths of mine,” Hannah says. While she still gets a chance to flex her writing muscles with the odd editorial commission, her current role blends her ability to pitch, connect with audiences, meet deadlines and juggle a changing schedule.
Monday
9:30am: After saying hello to my PH dollies, we have a team WIP (work in progress). Here, we go through key updates and action items across each client, whether this be for an upcoming event we’re planning, a PR campaign, or our talents’ latest lineup of brand partnerships. It’s a great way to get clarity on the week ahead and informs where my to-do list usually starts (although in this job, the list chops and changes by the hour!).
11am: After WIP, I read the key papers and news outlets to get a feel for what’s trending. Having a finger on the pulse in terms of what journalists are writing about is a key element to drafting up my pitches.
When I read, I’m skimming for an answer to the question: ‘What’s happening in the world of fashion, lifestyle, beauty and food, and how can I find a way to make my client part of the conversation?’. The relationship between a publicist and a journalist should be collaborative, not transactional.
The goal is to bring forward ideas my media contacts would actually be interested in writing about or help build out stories they might already be working on. Each pitch is tailored to each journalist.
The PH girlies.
1pm: After lunch and a couple of hours spent reaching out to journalists with some fresh story ideas, I usually have a client WIP. This involves bringing the PR team and the client together fortnightly. We give them an update on what we’ve been working on, the coverage that’s expected to drop soon and ask questions about what’s happening on their end, which often informs our focus for the next two weeks.
3pm: By the afternoon, I’m usually approving or helping draft copy and concepts for our social media channels. It’s always nice to flex the old copywriting muscle in this gig!
Tuesday
8:30am: Before anything else, I’ll clear my inbox and check the news to see if any of my clients have been featured in any media coverage across print, online news, podcasts, broadcasts or socials. Every morning when I come in and each evening before I leave work, I trawl through the web to ensure I can share any coverage with the client as soon as possible.
Hi Kic!
10:30am: This morning, one of my clients has a podcast recording, so I drive to the ListenR studios. These media appearances involve weeks of back and forth with producers behind the scenes, so it’s always really exciting when the day finally arrives!
About two or three days out from the recording, I send across an interview brief so the client is aptly prepared with all interview questions, speaking notes and any further requirements they need to know about. I do this for every media opportunity and the brief changes depending on the medium.
12:30pm: Lunchtime with the girlies is always a back-and-forth tussle between who meal prepped and who didn’t. If you came prepared and the rest of us didn’t, best believe you’re getting talked into saving your container-packed lunch for dinner and walking to buy one of the many delicious foodie options on the backstreets of Collingwood instead.
Tuesday’s OOTD.
1:30pm: Time to lock into some deep work for the afternoon until I make my way home. This might involve pitching, writing up interview briefs, editing a press release, finalising media opportunities, supporting putting together a guest list, reviewing an event budget, approving copy or sending out a cold pitch to a brand I’d like to work with. Every day is different, but every day involves emails.
Wednesday
7am: Wednesday is a work-from-home (WFH) day, so I often hit up a slightly later Pilates time to luxuriate a minor sleep-in without having to factor in a commute.
8:30am: Clear out the inbox, share any coverage and get ready for some back-to-back client WIPs. Wednesday mornings are usually meeting-heavy.
11am: On WFH days, I usually Facetime my colleagues to check on how they’re doing and how I can support them. We work across pretty different daily tasks, but where there’s overlap it’s important to touch base on how we’re all travelling.
Client visits – one of my favourite parts of the job.
1pm: One of my fashion clients, Best Jumpers, has just opened a new concept store in Prahran’s Hawksburn Village. To generate buzz around the store launch, I’ve arranged one-on-one gifting appointments with some local tastemakers to come check out the store and take home an outfit.
I get scrubbed up and toddle over to the shop to greet the talent, introduce them to the designer and generally facilitate the experience by providing information about the store and the latest collection. Getting out from behind the desk and connecting with creatives is one of my favourite parts of the job.
3pm: This afternoon I have a meeting with a potential new client who is interested in engaging us for PR support. In these initial meetings, I like to get to the heart of why they want PR and get a sense of the brand’s goals and priorities. Later in the week, I’ll put together a deck with a proposed strategy, This will include which of our services I think will work best for them, from press or influencer campaigns to social content and events, as well as a quote to send back for their consideration.
Halfway through the week.
Thursday
8:30am: Notoriously, Thursday night is event night in the PR world. When we have an event after work, I either try to bring a change of clothes and accessories, or rock up to work in a slightly more event-ready outfit than usual. I get in, clear emails and jump straight into some outreach for a couple of my clients.
10:30am: Shut the laptop and hit the pavement to meet one of my treasured journo friends for a brunch catch-up. Scheduling in time for a café breakfast during the workday may sound a little naughty but they’re really productive. I use this time to catch up with a media mate, get a sense of what they’re working on and chat through how my clients’ contributions could assist with their storytelling.
A working breakfast with Maggie.
2pm: Then I have a pic op at one of my restaurant clients, so I skrrt over to meet the journalist, the photographer and my client on location. Pic ops are photo-driven stories that run in the next day’s newspaper, so setting up a really colourful, intriguing shot is the goal. This shoot was all about a special micro-wedding day at Poodle Bar and Bistro.
5pm: After shutting the laptop, the girlies and I make our way out for a launch event. I can confidently say we’ve gotten pretty good at striking the balance of working the room for a bit of networking and making the most of some complimentary food and bevs.
Friday
8:30am: I hit the inbox with a homemade coffee in hand (it’s another WFH day) before jumping straight into pitching. On Fridays, I’m aware everyone’s feeling a little rusty and ready for the weekend, so I try to get my media outreach done and in the journos’ inboxes before the unanimous case of Friday post-lunch I-can’t-be-bothered-responding-to-that-itis.
12:30pm: Fridays are usually pretty meeting-free (if we’re lucky) so I like to use the afternoon to work on any presentation decks that need to be sent off – whether they be reports, a proposal, or an event idea that needs to be built out. Having the quiet time away from the office and without the interruption of a Teams call allows me to really go ham and think big picture. Plus, who doesn’t love playing around on Canva after a long week?
Clocking off.
5:30pm: It’s likely orange wine time. If the girlies are summoning me to a cute local for knockoffs and focaccia to round out the week, I’m there.
Follow Hannah here.
This article A week on the job with a fashion and lifestyle PR girlie in Melbourne appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-02-17 07:25:00
#week #job #fashion #lifestyle #girlie #Melbourne
Source link
