NOR CitySearch: London

Editor's note: As it turns out, it's U.K. week here at No Ordinary Rollercoaster. Why? Because the responses to my call for guest posts were both from London. Apparently they're not busy enough over there. Thanks to my friend, classmate and colleague Jennifer Pyne for kicking off NOR CitySearch, a series of posts providing insight on entering the public relations profession in a variety of cities across Canada (and in this case, the world).

I'm looking for more of these reviews but don't feel bound by this format. Just give me some ups and downs on the city you're in. I'd also like to start some discussions by posting these reviews. Do you agree? How were your experiences? What do employers have to say?

Sector: Agency

Department: Consumer

Job Market: Huge, but so is the competition; hundreds of agencies with thousands of jobs - not to mention in-house roles - and about 100 different people lined up for each one. Because it would be such a headache for each organization to undertake its own hiring tactics, all of the heavy-hitters have enlisted in recruitment agencies to find the talent they need. Agencies like to call them ‘Staffing Experts’ because they can filter them a list of candidates that fit their brief in an exceptionally quick amount of time. I like to call them ‘The Worst Breed of People I’ve Ever Dealt With’ because they discriminate like it ain’t no thang and lie to your face (or in my case, over the phone, since 98% of them refused to meet with me because they didn’t think I was worth their time) without the slightest tinge of remorse. But unfortunately, these morons hold the access to all the best jobs. They make their money based upon volume, so they’ll only pay attention to cookie-cutter professionals. This is a serious issue for someone coming from overseas; I came with a wealth of fantastic and very advanced experience for my age, yet I couldn’t even get a recruiter to pay attention to me. It was a humbling experience, to say the least.

Company: I eventually got the interview for the role I’m in now through a contact I had with the organization. That being said, I’m in a very junior role compared to the one I left in Canada. Things are extremely hierarchal here, and the concept of paying your dues is deeply inscribed into the corporate culture at the head office of a global PR firm with a staff of 300+. Interns therefore need to be prepared to accept a pretty heavy administrative component into their day-to-day jobs. Also, partly because it’s England, partly because it’s a big company, partly because PR firms tend to be cliquey and mostly because I’m working with a huge population of unfriendly women, it can be a cold, cold place to work. [Editor's note: I'm still rather concerned by the studies showing that professional women are less likely to support and mentor other professional women.] Frequently I eat my lunch alone, and no one goes out of their way to talk to me. My skin is thickening now but I took this very personally after coming from such a welcoming corporate culture in an organization that represents one of the warmest breeds of people in the world.

That being said, a company like the one I now work with has a level of access that I never could have been exposed to in Nova Scotia. The clients my organization represents are global brands that are extremely recognizable and have the disposal of budgets that allow the us to create some of the biggest and most innovative PR campaigns in the world. Big-name celebrities and world-wide media penetration are commonplace and award-winning work is absolutely possible and often achieved.

And working in Soho, situated in the heart of central London is like living the dream every day. Celebrities litter the city and I bump into world-famous landmarks on a daily basis. The city has its downfalls of course – overcrowded public transport and a cost-of-living that makes my teeth hurt not the least of which – but at the end of the day, I’m still living and working in by far the coolest and most cosmopolitan city in the world. And although I miss Halifax to my very core, I am not sad in the least that I’m not buried under 30 centimetres of snow and sub-zero temperatures.

So what’s my verdict? Well, every day I find my feet a little more; I secure one solid piece of coverage for my client after ringing 150 rude journalists, somebody finally smiles at me in the tube, or I discover another spectacular site that makes all of the treachery involved with uprooting myself seem worthwhile. But also every day, I remember something else I miss about home; stellar customer service, a downtown core that can be walked end-to-end in 20 minutes or never going through a day without running into at least five people I know.

So I guess the jury’s still out on my British adventure. And if my deadlocked uncertainty surrounding whether or not I made the best or worst decision of my life is any indication, I don’t think it’ll be back for a while.

Related:
NOR: CitySearch
NOR: Travel