By James Montague, Account Executive at Eskenzi PR
I started my new role as an Account Executive with Eskenzi PR just over six weeks ago. In that short time, my self-assuredness and understanding of the PR industry and cybersecurity landscape have improved infinitely, and while I could write a duly endless list of things that I have learned and skills that I have developed, for the sake of succinctness (and a catchy title), I thought I’d distil my experience through these six key points.
1.Organisation is key
I’ve always considered myself to be logistically proficient. However, in an unfamiliar professional environment that requires you to meet deadlines and juggle tasks from a variety of clients, being organised and learning how to prioritise effectively can take some getting used to. I have learned that the best way to manage my time effectively, and complete each task to a high standard, is by using and managing desktop Sticky Notes. Establishing a general daily routine has also helped me to optimise and organise my time. A mundane and menial aspect of professional life to some, but vitally important to an Account Executive starting out in PR!
2. Be inquisitive- ask questions and ask for help!
Following the interview process, which involved speaking to Yvonne, Neil and several other members of staff, it became clear that I would be joining a company with inquisitiveness, learning and innovation at its core. To learn about the industry, and quickly assimilate into my role and into the company, I recognised the need to be unabashedly inquisitorial myself. Asking questions and learning about a topic like cybersecurity, which is in constant state of flux and growth, is essential.
3. There’s always something to learn about cybersecurity
This is one of the things that makes working in the field of cybersecurity so interesting. As a burgeoning industry that is having an increasingly effectual and real impact on our world, I’m glad to be in a position that requires me to understand, appreciate and learn about it on a daily basis. Concepts like artificial intelligence and fintech, that were once ostensibly dystopian, abstract and surreal to me, have become concrete, intelligible (most of the time…) and genuinely intriguing.
4. Monitoring the media
In the cybersec PR game, it’s all about monitoring and reacting to breaking stories such as data breaches and supply-chain attacks quickly and astutely so that clients’ opinions, and advice for affected parties, can be disseminated via the right platforms. To be really “on the ball,” monitoring Twitter and checking emails before and after work is a good habit to get into. It also gives me a good incentive to use my commute productively.
5. Time flies when you’re having fun
I was concerned that working in an office environment would lead me to incessant clock- watching and bouts of restlessness from sitting in a chair all day. After six weeks however- the halfway point of my probationary period- I have discovered the opposite to be true. With such a varied and consistent workload, I find that I’m always busy and stimulated, particularly when learning new things. This always reinforces the need to manage time and prioritise effectively. Dare I say it- I wish the working week would slow down a bit…
6. The Eskenzi Culture
As I’ve already alluded to, innovation, evolution and development are built into Eskenzi’s genetic makeup. This pushes the company, our clients, myself and my colleagues to constantly improve and stay ahead of the game. This is epitomised by our most recent venture, Eskenzi Digital, which aims to refresh and modernise online cybersecurity content. Tantamount to this is the company’s collaborative culture, which encourages each employee to share creative and strategic ideas and be proactive and conscientious in generating coverage for their clients. As a company with a relatively small number of employees, each of our contributions is vital and measurable. These factors make for a demanding and fulfilling working environment in which development and learning are essential.
I’ve also learned how to write digestible blog content, so I won’t waffle on any longer! Here’s to the next six weeks, which hopefully won’t fly past so quickly…
