Meeting the Challenges of Effective Career Development

Creative decision making is a must in designing and implementing an effective development program. The three phases of development often blend together in a real-life program. These three phases include the assessment phase, the direction phase, and the development phase.

a. The Assessment Phase

The assessment phase involves activities ranging from self-assessment to organizationally provided assessment. The goal of both of these types of assessment is to identify employees' strengths and weaknesses.

b. The Direction Phase

This involves determining the type of career that employees want and the steps they must take to make their career goals a reality. It involves:

c. The Development Phase

The development phase is taking actions to create and increase skills to prepare for future job opportunities and is meant to foster this growth and self-improvement. The methods are

1. Mentoring & Coaching :

It has become increasingly clear over the years that employees who aspire to higher management levels in the organization often need the assistance and advocacy of someone higher up in the organization. When senior employee takes an active role in guiding another individual, we refer to this activity as mentoring and coaching. This can occur at any level and can be most effective when the two individuals do not have any type of reporting relationship.

2. Job Rotation:

Job rotation Involves moving employees from one job to another for the purpose of providing them with broader experience.

3. Tuition Assistance Programs:

To help individuals plan their careers, organizations try to provide additional information in order to have better choice of the career.

5 Things You Need to Know If You Want to Work in PR

Pursuing a career in Public Relations (PR) can offer plenty of rewards, including high-earning potential, enviable job security and fantastic career advancement. Joining the exciting and fast-paced world of PR can be extremely beneficial. However, you must be prepared to work hard and have a clear understanding of what a career in PR will involve. With that in mind, here are five things you need to know if you want to work in PR.

1. Be Dedicated

The PR industry is often associated with glamorous events, celebrities and fancy meals. While attending fashionable events and networking with important people can be a perk of working in PR, you must be aware that the industry is not all glitz and glamour. The main goal of PR is to build lasting and meaningful relationships, and this takes time and dedication. The key responsibilities of a PR professional include planning publicity campaigns, writing press releases, dealing with enquiries from the public and media and conducting market research. You must be prepared to complete the day-to-day responsibilities that are required of a PR professional. A PR role requires multi-tasking and hard work, but you should get a lot back in return!

2. Keep calm

A key responsibility of PR professionals is to handle PR crises and protect the image and reputation of their clients. Some examples of PR crises include faulty products, poor customer service and company scandals. You must be prepared to deal with crises swiftly and manage them well to minimise potential damage. PR professionals should remain calm and collected in any situation and need to be able to work effectively in a high-pressure environment.

3. Build relationships

As mentioned, a significant part of a PR professional’s job is to build and maintain meaningful relationships with clients, the media and other individuals. Developing trusting relationships and making a name for yourself in the industry won’t happen overnight. If you want to be successful in PR, then you must make an effort to make connections with people inside and outside of the industry. Reach out to people in the PR industry, ask lots of questions and try to gain as much knowledge as you can. This will enable you to build valuable relationships and will also demonstrate your motivation and enthusiasm for the industry. You should try to attend as many networking events as possible and also focus on building your online network using social media sites like Linkedin. There are plenty of articles offering advice on how to build your professional network online.

4. It isn’t a 9 to 5 job

If you’re looking for a steady 9 to 5 job, then a career in PR is probably not for you. The nature of PR means that you need to be available and responsive at all times. You will be required to check your emails and messages and respond to crisis situations that occur outside of your normal working hours. Your role may also require you to work some evenings and weekends while attending events or completing project deadlines. Working in PR can be extremely fulfilling, but it can also make it difficult to maintain a work-life balance. You must keep this in mind before committing yourself to a career in PR. That being said, there are plenty of steps you can take to protect your health and wellbeing and avoid burnout when working in PR. This includes getting enough sleep each night, enjoying hobbies outside of the office and creating clear boundaries between your work and personal life.

5. Accept constructive criticism

Competition in PR is fierce, and many people aspire to have a successful career in this exciting industry. With that in mind, you must be prepared to face rejection before you land your dream role. You should have a thick skin and take criticism constructively to avoid becoming upset or discouraged. The most important thing is to never give up, remain confident in your abilities and keep working towards your career goals.

Final thoughts

A job in PR could be the ideal career for someone with the right skills, interests and work ethic. Working in PR can be challenging at times, but it can also offer plenty of rewards in return for your hard work. If you are considering a career in PR, then make sure you do your research and gain an understanding of what working in the industry will be like.

Sources

‘Crisis & Issues Management’, Pagefield, https://www.pagefield.co.uk/expertise/crisis-issues-management/‘Public relations (PR) officer: job description’, TARGETjobs, https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/278247-public-relations-pr-officer-job-description ‘What you can learn from the all-time best-managed PR Crises’, Prezly, https://www.prezly.com/academy/relationships/crisis-communication/the-best-managed-pr-crises-of-2018‘How to Build Your Professional Network Digitally’, SHRM, https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/summer2020/pages/how-to-build-your-professional-network-digitally-.aspx

‘Ken Hitchner on Avoiding Burnout When You Work in PR’, Thrive Global, https://thriveglobal.com/stories/ken-hitchner-on-avoiding-burnout-when-you-work-in-pr/