The Ethical Optimist

“Wow, that public relations agency must really be growing; they’re hiring again,” so said one of my account execs. Not so fast I told her…the reason you keep seeing the advertisements is not because they are growing, but rather it is because they have a revolving door filled with disgruntled employees.

With so many recent graduates (and experienced workers) job hunting, my advice to you is caveat emptor or buyer beware! Don’t be fooled by the size of the agency or the accounts it represents because not all is what it seems on the surface. Use your social networking tools like FB, Twitter, MySpace and a good web search to find and speak to current and former employees of the agency you’re thinking of joining; be sure to dig deep.

Why the caution? I’ve heard far too many horror stories from young professionals.

For example, one of my current employees was interviewed by a “glam” agency in NYC that told her they insist that new hires live in NYC, work till 10PM most nights, and all this for the glorious sum of $21K per year! The interviewer chain smoked through the interview and barely allowed the candidate to speak. She then told the young pro that she should be grateful for the opportunity (smart lady never took the job).

Another buddy of mine went to work for a well known father and son duo. Sonny boy would routinely walk past the offices of young professionals and throw his spare change at their heads while berating them for not getting enough hits and cursing them off. This was his only contact with the young people in his company. Lovely! Score one for nepotism and job security.

A final example is of another young professional I know who went to work for an agency with prestigious accounts only to find herself packed in to a cubicle, given a press release and a phone list and told to get 20 major hits per week or be fired. If she left before 9PM, she was chastised. Other than this, her supervisor barely spoke to her, but took credit for her work. The client barely knew she was on the team. She, too, managed to leave quickly.

Believe it or not, these are all well known, recognized names in the public relations world. That doesn’t mean they are ethical in regard to how they treat their employees. Remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Some need a careful reading first. Make sure you do your homework or your first (or next) experience in PR may not be your best.