Starting out in a new career can be a bit daunting, so we thought we would put together a bit of a guide for those looking for those kicking off their career in comms and PR in 2023. Over the past year, the PR News team at Telum has spoken with a dozen or so senior practitioners who run their own agencies, and asked them what advice they'd give to people starting out in comms, and what they look for in new hires.

Advice to anyone starting out in comms:

• Alice Dodge, The Comms Suite: Do your homework when it comes to the agency and its clients, or the brand or business you’re going to be working with.
• Amy Boyce, ABC PR: Do not be afraid to listen.
• Duncan Croft, Chapter & Verse: Take time to understand what you’re communicating about - you’ve got to believe in it and really champion it.
• Paul Cheal, 3cPR: Get into a good agency and learn as much as you can. Have strong leaders and mentors, make lots of connections, and see inside lots of organisations. You’ll quickly learn what you like after a few years of doing that.
• Lucinda Bayly, BAYLY PR: Don’t pigeonhole yourself too early. Make the effort to discover different aspects of PR - you never know where you might find your groove, and your interests change as you grow.
• George Garnham, George Garnham PR: Have fun and tackle things head-on without the fear of making mistakes. Soak up as much information as you can and enjoy it.
• James Williamson, Director of Ceteris Communications: Be honest, passionate and determined about communicating what you believe, and the value, and values, you advocate.
• Tineka Everaardt, Everlist: Knock on enough doors and one will open.
• David Breen, DB Media Group: Be curious about everyone around you - it’s the best way to learn. Analyse the stories that generate widespread interest and understand what makes it a good story. Keep across various channels and understand the strengths and weaknesses of those channels in relation to getting your story out.

What do employers look for in new hires:

• One Plus One Communications, Kelly Bennett: We’re after qualities more than particular skills (which can be learned). Our team members are talented, curious, driven, intelligent, creative and nice.
• ÉTOILE PR, Alana Chetner: First and foremost, it’s the passion and motivation to grow and learn. No day is ever the same in PR, so the ability to multitask, with a high attention to detail, is a must. The mindset to ask questions and learn from people around you is also a key driver to progress your career at ÉTOILE PR. Every person, no matter how experienced, has something different to offer, so we really nurture that and encourage open communication. A genuine love for connecting with people and getting excited about securing media coverage or landing a new business win never gets old. So, being enthusiastic and truly enjoying your day-to-day work is something that we live by.
• Impact PR, Fleur Revell-Devlin: We look for experience in media, a passion for storytelling and the willingness to go further to produce outcomes they can be proud of.
• We Scout, Lori Susko: We think work ethic and attitude is number one when it comes to our team, so that is what we are always looking for. We also pride ourselves on having fun while at work - so we really value team members with a similar outlook and someone who shows a passion for getting results.
• Clear Hayes Consulting, Alex Hayes: Proactive. We like independent thinkers capable of spotting an opportunity and jumping on it, an attitude of "it’s up to me to make it happen", which involves rolling your sleeves up across all aspects of our business to ensure client delivery. Be an excellent communicator - although that goes without saying…And culture is incredibly important to us. We might have people working across the globe, but it’s really important everyone contributes to the team atmosphere.