No one ever said working in public relations was easy. In fact, it can be downright challenging at times. But that’s what makes it so rewarding when things go right. So what happens when things don’t go well, and employees leave PR agencies? We take a look at some of the most common reasons why people leave PR agencies in this blog post by Jay Holstine. Read on to learn more!
Jay Holstine’s Take on Why People Leave PR Agencies
Slow Career Progression
Why do people leave PR agencies? One of the top reasons is because of slow career progression. There are few opportunities for advancement at many PR agencies, and employees can feel stuck in their roles.
This can be frustrating for talented and ambitious workers who want to take on new challenges and grow their careers. In addition, stagnation can lead to boredom and detachment from work.
According to Jay Holstine, many workers leave PR agencies searching for better opportunities elsewhere. While this is understandable, it’s important to remember that not all agencies are alike. Many offer excellent career development opportunities for their employees.
So if you’re considering leaving your current agency due to slow career progression, explore all your options before making a final decision.
Long Working Hours
In the public relations industry, long working hours are the norm. It’s not uncommon for employees to work 12-hour days or even more, and many agencies require their employees to be on call 24/7.
This can be a significant source of stress for employees, and it’s one of the main reasons why people leave PR agencies. In addition to the long hours, employees often have to deal with tight deadlines, demanding clients, and a fast-paced work environment.
According to Jay Holstine, long working hours can make maintaining a healthy work-life balance difficult. As a result, many people find that they’re unable to handle the stress of the job and eventually leave the industry altogether.
Working on the Same Accounts
Many people who come into the PR world do so with stars in their eyes. They think that they’re going to be working on excellent accounts with exciting people, and they’re going to love it.
And for a while, that’s true. But eventually, the shine wears off. For a lot of people, the reason why they leave PR agencies is because of the monotony.
They get burnt out from working on duplicate accounts a day in and day out. The work becomes repetitive and boring.
Even though they might have loved the work at first, it eventually becomes too much. If you’re thinking about a career in PR, just be warned: the monotony can be confirmed. Jay Holstine believes that if you can find a way to keep things fresh, you’ll be much happier in your job.
Insignificant Salaries
According to the study above, nearly 60% of respondents said they had left a PR job because of low pay.
While it’s no secret that salaries in the PR industry are often low, this doesn’t explain why they are so low. In many cases, it comes down to the high cost of living in major metropolitan areas and the influx of young workers willing to take on lower-paying jobs to gain experience.
As a result, many agencies find it challenging to increase salaries without increasing their overhead costs. This often leads to a situation where employees are forced to choose between accepting lower salaries or leaving the agency altogether.
Jay Holstine’s Concluding Thoughts
So there you have it, the top five reasons people leave PR agencies. If you can relate to any of these, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The good news is that many other great PR agencies out there would love to have you on their team. Do your research and find an agency that’s the right fit for you and your career goals.