Adjusting to an Agency

Having agency experience in the communications industry is something, I'm told, that proves to be absolutely invaluable experience. According to several informational interviews along with my own work background, I have so far found this information to be true.

Working at an agency provides the opportunity to explore projects with a variety of clients in various industries and also assists in strengthening organizations skills and communication. As an entry level employee in the work force, it's a great way to start navigating the beginning of my career.

For those thinking about going into agency work or just starting in this work world, below are some tips to help with adjusting to this fast pace and new work environment.

Organization

My first tip for those trying out the agency life style is to nail down a method to stay organized. This can vary from person to person. I know many of my previous coworkers planned and added everything using calendars through Outlook or Google Calendar.

I did the same, but also had my own notebook with check lists I created for each day. After a task was completed, I crossed it off. Having a notebook specifically for the office made adjustments to my day easier. As an industry that proves to be hectic and has many deadlines, sometimes all around the same time, it crucial to hone in on those organizational skills so you're not dropping the ball.

Communication

This may come across as shocking, but I've learned, even in the field of communications, there is sometime a clear disconnect between teams, coworkers, supervisors and employees, etc. I found that making sure you're keeping the client and the rest of your team constantly updated is critical.

This ensures that everyone is on the same page and also helps limit last minute mistakes. Further, not only are you letting everyone know where you're at with a task or project, but you're also preventing the team, client, supervisor, etc. from having to check in on you.

Communication can be the smallest thing from letting someone know you received an email to updating people on edits or changes on campaign material. It overall just makes for a smoother and clear way of working.

Ask Questions

Nothing is worse than completing a lengthy task only to find out it wasn't done the way that someone was looking for. A great way to avoid this miscommunication is by asking questions. I truly believe that no question is a dumb one especially if it's in the effort to complete work to the best of your ability.

One of my first go to questions for whenever I got a task from my supervisor is: "When do you need this by?" Getting a clear sense of a due date helps me prioritize and adjust my schedule accordingly. If I'm not familiar with the client or the type of task, I try asking for examples of previous work for the client or asking another person on the team with previous experience with the client work about the project.

Asking questions in the long run, can help prevent mistakes and miscommunication throughout the work process and always something I consider crucial when working at an agency.

Learn to Prioritize

Figuring out what client work should get done first is another big take away I've gotten from working at an agency. As mentioned before, there are several times where you'll have deadlines all at once. To help avoid becoming overwhelmed, take a step back and assess.

Ask yourself some of the following questions:

1. Which project has the earliest deadline?

2. Which task is going to take the most time?

3. Are there other resources I can use to speed up the process?

4. Do I need to delegate or ask for help?

Knowing how long something will take or having an understanding of due dates can help when trying to choose what gets done first. Also, using some of those previous suggested tips can help with a prioritizing dilemma. For example, communicating with the client or supervisor when things need to be completed or asking about the importance or necessity of each component.

Further, don't be afraid to ask for help. Remember that not everyone always has the same workload you do. If you feel overwhelmed and can't find a way to finish everything, you can ask your supervisor to lessen of a load or for some suggestions on tackling the work. You can also ask for help from someone that maybe has a lighter work day.