Questions, Questions....

Why have you chosen to study PR and why did you choose this route?

After many tests on careers that I took over my secondary and sixth form education, Public Relations had always been mentioned. I then decided over the summer of 2007 to get work experience in a Public Relations office. I managed to get a placement at Elizabeth Arden in London, which was a fantastic experience. While I was there, I decided that I was definitely interested in working in PR. There was a girl working there who was on her placement year from Bournemouth University and I spoke to her about her course and she said that she would recommend going to university to study PR if I was interested, because it was getting harder to work yourself up in Pr now, which was a common route before. I then looked up universities that taught PR and liked Leeds Metropolitan best. I am glad that I chose the route that I did, because I do not feel that I was ready to be working full time yet. When I did my placement over Christmas I was very capable to do any task that I was given without having to ask for too much help, which meant that I had learnt a great deal.

Who inspires you?

I recently read Max Clifford's autobiography "Read all about it", which other than being a great read was so informative. Although I have never been interested in pursuing a career in celebrity PR because I am not that interested in their public lives, I found it fascinating the way that Max Clifford has controlled and manipulated the media. His recent involvement with Jade Goody, although I don't believe that what he has done is right, it is not possible to fault his efforts and successes. However, I think my biggest inspiration is my father. He started his own finance business and through his hard work and dedication has made his business a success. He is responsible for the running of the business and I think he does a great job!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I will be twenty nine by then (blimey!) and I would have liked to have made a name for myself. I always used to want to be a singer-songwriter up until a few years ago, I used to want to be famous. However, now I would rather be "well known" in my field, not necessarily as well known as Max Clifford, however, I would want to be known as an expert of PR! Hopefully I would have started my own business and have loyal clients and a good team working under me, who I can be an inspiration to. I would also like to be in a secure relationship and living comfortably, however, this is not the be all and end all - I would rather just be happy with my life!

What particular skills and qualities do you think suit you to PR? What other skills would you like to develop in the future?

I think I have a natural ability to speak to anyone (AKA gift of the gab) and think I put people at ease when they meet me. I can be very persuasive and people will tell you (friends, boyfriends, parents) that if I want something I can usually wrap people around my little finger and get what I want. I can however, be forceful and if I'm not satisfied with something, I will say. However, I have an ability to put things in such a way that no one gets hurt, as I have a need to please people and understand that we are only human and people make mistakes.

I believe that I need to work on my writing skills and on improving my vocabulary, grammar and spelling. It is to a satisfactory level now, but there is always room for improvement. I find that reading good novels helps and I also make sure that I read a good newspaper at least three times a week.

What position do you usually take when working in a team?

Team leader! If I am confident in what I am doing, I like to take the lead. Although, I would say I am a good team leader because I am genuinely interested in how other people would do a similar task differently, and am always the first to admit if their idea is better. I am very good at encouraging those who are quieter in the group to come out of their shells. I believe that sometimes the quieter members of a group are those who sit back and take everything in, have time to think about the best way of going about things and hence usually have the best ideas! However, if I am less sure of a task I gladly allow someone to take the part of team leader and work just as well under these conditions.

What is the best decision you have made?

I think my decision to stay on in Leeds. When I first came here I didn't really settle very well and was quite upset. I had lived away from home before as I went to boarding school, however, I was still only thirty minutes away from home and Leeds is a good three and a half hours away! The main reason that I stayed was because I loved the course, whereas others loved the social life and looked forward to nights out, I looked forward to going to uni (yes I am a strange child!). Now, I have found my place and couldn't be happier here in Leeds. I have an amazing range of friends, love my course, have lots to do in my spare time and am only sad that the summer is nearly here!


What achievement are you most proud of?

My Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. I was the only girl in my year to complete it and there were only 5 of us in total who completed it in our year! Many people think that the award just consists of walking up hills and you get a pat on the back for it. However, it is so much more than that. We had to create our own routes, map read, cook, set up camp as well as walk through any weather we were given! More than that however, at every level you have to complete six months to a year of a skill, service and physical recreation. That takes some dedication and effort at each level! For Gold I worked in Oxfam for a year for a couple of hours a week, where I met some great friends. I also took up the guitar, wrote songs and recorded them (www.myspace.com/emilybethgarner - bit of PR for myself there!!!) which is another great achievement! I also took up going to the gym four times a week, which I have kept up because it keeps me sane as well as fit and healthy!

In business

This Christmas I undertook work experience at a PR company in Cambridge and I can honestly say that it was the one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had. I was so keen to see how a PR consultancy runs day to day and demonstrate the skills that I had been learning everyday while at university.

When I arrived on my first day, I was surprisingly calm. I was early and had time to sit in the car, take a few deep breaths before entering the office. My initial thought was how colourful the walls were with magazine and newspaper cuttings that demonstrated their influence in the media and I was instantly excited to get started! When I met the team that I would be working with, I was surprised at how young everyone seemed to be and how comfortable they were in their surroundings.

I was instantly put to work and had to do some research into local Cambridge shops and businesses that would be interested in being invited to a monthly networking party that the company was organising. I then had to call around all the shops and businesses, which taught me a lot about using the phone!

I also did a lot of newspaper coverage. I had to find relevant sections out of newspapers to do with music and small businesses. Although this task was tedious it defiantly taught me a lot about all the different newspapers and what sections they feature, which is so important when working in PR and trying to get coverage.

I was also responsible for putting together some press releases, and after my first few attempts I really got the hang of the format and the right type of language. It was also great to see some of my press releases online and in papers which I found really exciting.

Now, I cannot wait to get out into the working world! I made so many great friends at the company, most of which I’m still in contact with now. It’s made up my mind that I defiantly want to do a year in industry in year three because learning about PR is all very well, however, the experience cannot be beaten.