The Commercial Communications Council (Comms Council) Industry Young Leaders Group, the First Five Rungs, has released the findings of research looking at the wants and needs of junior staff in the industry in New Zealand.

Key industry takeaways from the study, conducted with the support of insight agency, TRA, include:

• Agencies should offer inductions and onboardings with information on industry roles, structure and process to support newcomers.
• Newcomers also have a strong desire for transparency around pay and progression.
• There is a need for structure in Work From Home policies, and agencies are encouraged to pulse check internally to determine the right balance for them and focus on wider agency socialising to ensure the magic of agency life is not lost.
• While lockdowns improved managers’ communication with junior staff, these good habits have waned following the return to the office. Managers should prioritise and maintain consistent and considerate lines of communication with their junior team members with regular catch-ups to check in on workload and wellbeing.

For a deeper dive into the research findings, First Five Rungs are inviting C-suite and middle management industry members from Comms Council agencies to attend a zoom and in person presentation in early December. To secure your attendance please register here.

Comms Council Chief Executive Officer, Simon Lendrum, says the research offers helpful insights for agencies of all sizes to attract but more importantly retain the talented professionals entering the industry.

"Research led by young people for young people offers industry leaders compelling insights into what we’re doing well and where there is room for improvement. As we begin to welcome a whole new generation of communicators, understanding what support they need will play an important role in future proofing the industry" says Simon.