Junior Communications Associate
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Eve, a Junior Communications Associate at the lovely Hard Numbers. I graduated in July last year from the University of St Andrews, with an MA in Modern History & English. Hard Numbers is my first step into PR, having previously done work experience with Reach plc and Newsquest. Since joining HN in September, I’ve had a blast learning more about agency PR and, as Paul puts it, “balancing a lot of plates.”
What attracted you to work at Hard Numbers?
The JCA advert summarised the role as: “An internship for someone who loves the news.” I couldn’t have raised my hand fast enough.
What’s a normal working day for you like?
My days at the HN office start with coffee and the commuter belt. From then on, it’s a lot of typing – emails, agendas, actions, press releases, pitches, synopses (the list continues). I feel very lucky to have a job that places heavy emphasis on content creation, as well as client management and strategic planning. I’m currently also digging into GEO, and how Gen-AI’s media prioritisation algorithms redefine PR success. Cue spreadsheets. In between, I enjoy meeting with the HN team and client contacts to soak in as much comms know-how as possible. By 6 o’clock, my brain is well-stretched.
What clients do you work with?
Right now, I’m working across three B2B tech clients, a B2C e-commerce account, and a finance GEO audit. I appreciate the variety of helping out with such different brands. On a standard day, I can switch between writing a consumer case study and pitching content about global payment orchestration or HR solutions. Tech was never an industry I thought I’d enter. Yet, I’ve found that the task of understanding and explaining each service clearly has improved my writing and research skills tenfold. I value spending time browsing trade outlets and considering industry-niche topics I wouldn’t otherwise come across.
What’s your favourite part of working at HN?
The team! Starting my first PR role, I’ve really appreciated how willing everyone is to walk me through tasks, software, and even the acronyms. Their openness to my many questions has made it much easier to find my footing. It’s great to begin in an environment where people are keen to collaborate and celebrate each other’s wins. It makes heading into the office, or hopping on a Google Meet, so much more enjoyable.
Any advice for graduates looking to take their first steps in their PR career?
Amidst the tough UK grad market, finding a job in PR, or any industry, is hardly a walk in the park. Obviously, there’s safety in numbers – mind the pun. The more jobs you apply to, the higher the likelihood of success. Aside from that, my advice would be to focus on what you can control. Share your writing; gain work experience; reach out to PR pros; stay up to date on the news. If anyone would like to get in touch, I’d be more than happy to share tips and tricks.
Want to join Eve on our fast-growing team? You can view our currency vacancies here and, if you’d like to apply, please contact paul@hardnumbers.co.uk
