An intern at Red Havas London, Pavlina Micha writes about her first experience in the PR world and why she believes she has found where she belongs.

I have always dreamt of being part of a team, this little piece of the puzzle that makes the whole picture come together. Born, raised and having studied for my Bachelor’s degree in Greece, I started working as a Greek teacher for high school pupils in 2016. I like to think that being a teacher is very similar to working in PR: it’s about conveying information, inspiring others, and learning something new every day. The only difference is that in PR, you can be a teacher and student simultaneously, and your work might have an impact; not on a classroom, but on the way others perceive the world.   

In September 2019, I took a big step out of my professional route in my homeland to study for my Master’s degree in Manchester and pursue my dreams and aspirations in England. I knew from the start that this journey would equip me with more strength and confidence, yet many worries and difficulties. But, in the midst of the challenges I already had to deal with, a pandemic came collapsing every sense of balance and every fragment of stability I had in my life. Suddenly, my fresh start in England, where I hoped to find a job and pursue my career, seemed unfeasible. However, I didn’t quit: my dream was out there waiting for me fulfill it. 

Having already built something and then starting your career over requires new skills and qualifications or using those you already have in a different way. However, a new beginning also requires sending applications all day long, dealing with countless rejections, and accepting the fact that your first job might be a short-term contract. Either way, stability will be something you miss for a long time. But out of all these experiences, you will gain the most valuable lessons, and these lessons will lead you to the ‘perfect’ job. 

During my first year of studying and working in PR, I have gained many valuable lessons that I truly believe will construct my future career. To begin with, no idea is a bad idea. When you are part of a team, you can always contribute somehow. You give an idea, someone else comes up with one better or an extended version of yours, and together you can create something unique. You are never alone; there is always someone who can guide you, inspire you and make your work better. If you want to work in PR, you should be authentic, you should trust people and keep building your network. Relations are indeed the most robust base of this job, and relations are hard to keep if you are not genuine.   
Perhaps the most significant lessons of all is that PR it’s not about what you say, it’s about how you say it. This is something I try to remind myself every time I struggle to find the perfect word in English, the corresponding of which in Greek I would know, as a teacher, and I would annoyingly correct others for misusing. This might be a struggle for everyone who works in PR and has to adapt to another country’s culture, media, rituals, and sometimes language. However, PR is also about creativity and great content. 

During this first year, I have ended up believing there is no such thing as a dream job; people will give you the opportunity and then your passion will be the driving force for working hard.  

What makes a job ideal is being in the right place, at the right time with the right people. Hence, I believe that Red Havas gave me the opportunity to experience this combination in the working field, and I am grateful for this. 

PR is the missing piece that my life’s puzzle needed.