Tips for newcomers
Advice from people who've been where you are
You're going to be fine
Starting out in advertising is overwhelming. New jargon, unspoken rules, pressure to perform.
We've compiled the advice we wish we'd gotten on day one – not as rules to follow, but as reminders that you're not alone in feeling this way.
When you're feeling lost
Starting in a new agency or role can feel disorienting. Here's how to navigate those early days with confidence.
When you're in a meeting, write down every acronym or term you don't know and ask someone what it means afterwards. Build out your own glossary to refer to whenever you need it.
When you start in a new workplace, that's the time to make yourself known. Introduce yourself to anyone and everyone.
When you're feeling overwhelmed
Multiple clients, tight deadlines, and endless tasks can feel unmanageable. Here's how to stay on top of it all.
Get into the life changing magic of lists. When you're handling multiple clients with long and short term projects, it can seem unmanageable. Break down your lists into daily tasks, divided by clients. Then have separate sections for quick ticks – things that can be done in 5 mins, and a reminder section.
Your email calendar is your friend. There's a lot happening, which means there's a lot to remember. Familiarise yourself with your calendar, set yourself reminders and write the to-do list daily to ensure nothing falls off your radar.
Be prepared. Arrive a little early and use this time to prepare for the day ahead. The last thing you want is to be blindsided.
When you're doubting yourself
Imposter syndrome is real, especially when you're starting out. Remember these things when doubt creeps in.
Don't sweat your mistakes. You have to make mistakes in order to learn. It's part of the process.
If you can consistently do things well you'll be better off than doing short bursts of hard work or long hours.
Whether it's for a quick chat, an induction or simply to help out - show that you are here and ready to roll.
When the pressure feels like too much
We know the pressure that exists in agency life. It's not life or death, but we get that sometimes it feels like it!
Here are our top tips to help minimise stress.
Remember we aren't saving lives
While our work is important for our clients, our health and wellbeing is more important.
Know what's ahead for the year
Look at what your clients have lined up for the year ahead so you can forecast when crunch time will be.
It's worth noting that the run up to Christmas is the busiest time of year. You can't control the busy period, but you can control how prepared you are!
Balance stress with things that refuel you
When you're feeling stressed, look to balance the stress with things that refuel you – exercise, spending time with friends or even just going out to enjoy a nice coffee.
Take breaks when stress levels rise
If you're bang in the middle of the day and you can feel the stress levels rising up, try listening to music, or taking a short break by going for a walk outside.
Just taking your mind off a task for 30 mins can also help reset where your head is at.
Take mini breaks
When your brain is overloaded with 'stuff', there is nothing more beneficial than stepping away from your laptop and doing something different for at least 5 minutes.
Having a break allows you to reframe your mindset and come back to a task feeling refreshed.
If you don't laugh, you'll cry
Sometimes what goes wrong at work just sounds so ridiculous when you're stressed – make sure you take the chance to laugh with your workmates.
Mindfulness matters
Some of our former FFR leaders swear that meditating has changed their brain.
Meditating in the evening allows your brain to relax and reset, as well as really checking in with how you're doing.
Force your brain to take a break
Bake a cake or do a spin class. Sometimes you need to physically force your brain to take a break with other things that bring you joy.
When you need support from management
Approaching your manager for advice or support can feel daunting. Here's how to do it effectively.
Remember management are people too. Try to pick the right time (not when someone is walking into a meeting or has headphones in). Timing it right means you'll always get the answers or help you need.
Arranging a weekly or monthly coffee catch up with your manager allows you to chat about how you're going and look at the bigger picture. If your workplace doesn't have mentorships, reach out to FFR.
Management are there to support you, and our industry is about the people. Make sure you flag stress before you're too deep in it.
What we wish managers knew
If you're a manager supporting junior staff, here's what we wish you understood about the pressures we face.
The industry has changed considerably. The current economy is quietly putting pressure on everybody, especially those just starting out. Student debt, unaffordable housing, and a post-COVID 'hangxiety' make for a cocktail of stress on top of work. Working from home has made careers more flexible, but it's now harder than ever to switch off.
Juniors don't understand the wider industry beyond their agency. It's near impossible to understand the different roles that don't exist in your building. This can be especially tricky when dealing with creative, media, PR etc.
Senior leaders lead by example. If a junior sees their team working late then going forward they understand that as the expectation/standard... regardless of what they're told!
Juniors are often worried about saying no, so can easily become overloaded. Check that juniors really have the capacity before adding another job to their list. Clear prioritising allows juniors to focus on one thing at a time.
Need more support?
The First Five Rungs is a Comms Council initiative made up of young people across the communications industry, whose mission is to help industry newcomers receive the best possible start. Feel free to contact one of your local First Five Rungs members.