#4PRQs for: Jane Fordham of Golin
Golin is one of those places that you just don't want to leave, once you get in. Buzzing with creativity, interesting clients and most importantly -- remarkable culture. I've had this massive privilege of spending two fabulous weeks with the consumer team at the Holborn-based agency. Jane Fordham, who has made this tremendous opportunity come true, is the Executive Director, Marketing and Talent at Golin. Jane is brilliant -- she has truly amazing people skills and is one of the most charming people in the industry. It made me so happy, when she agreed to answer my Four PR Questions (#4PRQs).
MK: How did you get into the industry?
JF: After the placement 3rd year of my European Business degree, I secured a summer internship with Hill & Knowlton working on Kellogg’s. I was curious about PR and although I worked hard and could see how much I had to learn, I was hooked on the variety, creativity and pace of the industry.
What are the most desired skill you are looking for in graduates that are not common?
We recruit into very diverse parts of our business now however many skills are pretty central to all, including; creativity, teamwork, tenacity, ability to work under time pressure and passion. That said, as an organisation we look for what our CEO Fred Cook calls, ‘unconventional’ candidates. People with unique and individual life experiences, making them a compelling addition to an agency seeking to deliver brave, awe-worthy client work.
We recruit into very diverse parts of our business now however many skills are pretty central to all, including; creativity, teamwork, tenacity, ability to work under time pressure and passion.
Social and digital are massive now. How can PR graduates take advantage of it and get attention of the agencies and other potential employers?
Be connected, follow agency twitter handles, read their blogs, LinkedIn with their MDs and HR leaders, be sponge-like in your appetite to get to know potential employers. Then engage, appropriately. Share and like their content, comment and thoughtfully create your own content. Be authentic and credible so that when you’re ready to make an approach seeking a placement or a permanent role, your digital footprint validates your worth and sets you apart for the right reasons.
Be connected, follow agency twitter handles, read their blogs, LinkedIn with their MDs and HR leaders, be sponge-like in your appetite to get to know potential employers.
What is the most undiscovered area in the industry that could be potentially used as a dissertation topic?
The things that spring to mind are actually really topical although not yet fully ‘cracked’ or ‘sorted’ yet like gender pay gaps, diversity and inclusion, the content revolution – video in particular, who owns content, PR into paid media etc.
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You can connect with Jane on LinkedIn and for some other insightful content, make sure you follow Golin on Twitter and visit the agency's blog. Golin also runs the award-winning Bright Young Things paid internship.
Four PR Questions (#4PRQs) is a weekly series on the blog. I am on the mission to help PR graduates (including myself) make right decisions about future careers, by asking industry leaders for an advice.
Would you like to give me a feedback or feature in the series? Drop me a line to kl.marcel [at] gmail.com or tweet me @marcelkl. Thanks for stopping by!