If Forrest Gump is right and life is like a box of chocolates, sometimes there are simply too many choices – especially when it comes to choosing a career.
If that’s how you feel, the PR and Marketing vacancies on s1jobs could well be your caramel softy blended with an orange truffle.
Why? Because there are few sectors to match this for sheer variety – and it’s flexible enough to allow you to combine all of your passions in one chocolate-coated career.
That’s what PR professional Nicola McNaughton has done . . . and she’s happy to share the secrets of how to make the mix work.
Why choose PR?
I studied politics at Edinburgh University and Level 2 in Horticulture at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. After working in the Scottish Government I took on a role as marketing assistant for an interior design company before going to India to do a VSO project. When I returned I joined the Big Partnership agency – so my career in PR really started then. I stayed for three years and got experience on a wide range of accounts.
What happened next?
I went on secondment for a year to the Scottish Government where I worked in Nicola Sturgeon’s team, in her role as Deputy First Minister. It was a great year. When that finished I joined Glasgow Airport as their Communications and Public Affairs Manager. After two fantastic years dealing with PR, public affairs and reactive comms I decided to go freelance.
When did you start gardening?
When I was little my parents allocated my sisters and I an area of the garden each to look after and I’ve been a keen gardener ever since. In 2016 I decided to turn my hobby into a career and joined Thomas Angel Gardens as a gardener. Gardening is my love and PR is my bread and butter – by combining the two, I get the best of both worlds.
Do you have a typical working week?
Sort of! I garden Monday through to Wednesday and work for Dram Communications on a Thursday. I spend a lot of time doing freelance PR work, usually in the evenings and weekends. I don’t believe in only being productive between the hours of 9-5.
What do you enjoy most about having a twin-track career?
The variety. I really enjoy the physical side of gardening and the sense of reward it gives me. Doing PR is good for keeping my brain engaged. Fundamentally, the best part of every job is the people you get to meet along the way!
Enjoy the best of both worlds with PR & Marketing roles on s1jobs.