Alaina Williams Alumni interview

 Alaina Williams Alumni interview.

 

 

 

What did you study at university and where did you go?

 

I studied Architecture at the University of East London. I did a foundation course and then my undergraduate for three years.

 

Did you always know that you want to work in PR and Communications?

 

I had no idea what PR was before the program. I never considered myself to ever work in a corporate job.  When I finished uni I went back home and ended up working at an estate agents. I found that I was doing a lot of creative tasks and marketing, so off the back of that I knew that I wanted to do something under the umbrella of marketing that incorporated architecture. 

 

Who was you cohort sponsored by and why did you choose it?

I did the FTI cohort and going into it I didn’t realise there were different cohorts to begin with, so I did not apply based on the sponsor. 

 

What was your highlight of the traineeship?

The most enjoyable time was when we had the in-person sessions with FTI, and we everyone on the cohort really clicked.

 

Do you feel as though the skills you learnt during the traineeship are applicable to the industry?

Yes and no. Yes, because I went into it without having any knowledge at all, it gave me the basis of what people do in PR and understanding what the different sectors are. Media was so good, knowing about media biases and different angles people took. Picking up the language used, networking – for me it was the nitty gritty thing that helped improve your soft skills.

I feel I never really got more an insight on what people did in their day to day. It was more about what they’re company does.

It also helped me differentiate what I like and what I don’t like. If there was a masterclass that looked into PR and architecture that would have been really useful. I think feedback for the foundation would if they could tailor some of the masterclasses to the interest of the trainees would be helpful because mine were unique which is why I have that opinion.

 

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

That they have rotations on their grad scheme and that you’re able to test out a few different sectors in the industry, which will be interesting and valuable for my growth. Being able to network with different people from different areas of the company. It will be good to jump ship every couple of months and meet new people, learn different working styles, different elements of PR. That’s what I’m excited about.

 

What advice you give to someone who is unsure about starting a career in PR and communications?

 

Why should people apply to be a part of the Taylor Bennett Foundation and do you have any advice?

 

People should apply because you don’t actually understand the benefits till you get to the end. I think we underestimate the value of what this programme can bring, and I think for that reason solely people should apply. It steps you so much further ahead and it is just an easier way to get to some positions that might not be as accessible if you were to take other routes. I think if I applied externally and not with TBF I wouldn’t have got this job. You need to take advantage of the access route you get by doing the training programme. Remember to be proactive and network with others, come across as personable and take notes.

 

What do you think the industry can do to become more diverse?

 

If you are trying to employ ethnic people into a white group that’s also a reason why they are not going to join. You need to do that on the back of things and already have that in place so that when you enter spaces like the TBF people can see representation already. I don’t want to come in and be the token black person, I want to see that this is something that you already foster in your organisation and that’s going to make me want to be there, and I think organisations are missing that mark. I think creating awareness lower down the chain will make people get involved and not have people just come across PR in the twenties. People want to be doctors when they’re kids, people don’t want to work in PR because they don’t know what it is.