PRoclaim
Diving into the depths of the communications world…discussing current events and trends affecting the ever evolving PR profession.
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- Recession-resistant PR: Surviving the Slump
Two mentions of the dreaded ‘R’ word two posts in a row? I know, its practically a curse word but I feel that this topic requires a lot more space on this blog as it is obviously a huge concern for everyone at large, but more so for the soon-to-be-graduates and job seekers reading this.
Economists predict that this coming year will be tougher than the last for this economy and others such as Australia. There has been debate about whether the vast Down Under has been affected. If the turn out at this weekend’s Ausi expo is anything to go by, many are contemplating fleeing southwards in search of greener pastures (or at least less arid ones). I say, fear not, for the key to survival is determination, being smart, creative and brave.
The job market doesn’t seem very welcoming for fresh grads as unemployment numbers soar. However, many of the agency cutbacks in the PR and marketing industry are higher up the corporate ladder. Having learned from past economic slumps, companies have not halted graduate recruitment, as they realize this will only create a talent/ human resource gap in the future. So don’t bid your ambitions farewell just yet.
Another silver lining in the financial dark cloud is the rapid growth of the digital industry. The government has plans to pump investment into the industry, which ensures that it shall continue to thrive. That ties in with the immense impact social marketing is having on the media landscape. Going digital is clearly the way to make it through the current fiscal droop.
If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, how about this- as Harvard Business School Professor John A. Quelch noted recently:
This rationale applies equally well to PR and money strategically spent on PR can have the result Quelch notes above. Your clients and potential clients still have their needs and will be looking to fulfil them. Maybe with a lesser budget, but they are still out there looking. This is a clear indication that PR is not perceived as a luxury in times like these. We just have to be more creative about how we go about it.
March 29th, 2009 at 5:47 am
That was a very interesting post to read, as this subject will be a concern for all of us sooner or later. In my opinion it is never easy to get exactly what you want. But, if you work hard enough you get much closer to reaching your aim. Given the pretty bad situation in the current economy I guess the career entry will be more difficult for us. However, by trying hard enough and applying for appropriate and realistic job positions with tailored application I believe everyone will get going somewhere. It will probably require a bit more flexibility on our side, as “the ideal job” may not be where we wish it to be geographically. However, it also may be that my view is a too optimistic one, but it worked for me in my life so far! So just never stop trying, you can always work harder than you currently are to get what you want!
March 29th, 2009 at 9:19 am
“Get tough! Get smart! Get loud! Market your way through the downturn” – overly macho it might be, but very true. That’s assuming you have the budget there to bludgeon your way through.
The good thing is, PR is the economical marketing tool.
In terms of graduate recruitment, we’re cheaper to employ than middle management and you always need talent coming through the ranks.
I’m not lowering my ambitions, but then again I’m not particularly optimistic either.
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:57 am
We must give the greatest account of ourselves and if that means a cheaper more economical account of ourselves then so be it.
Never fear though, Superman…. oops i mean Obama has saved the day with his 19 other merry men! PR will play an ever important part in the next few years encouraging trust and making sure that people’s worries are not only listened to but also dealt with!