Almost 6 months ago, I packed up my life into two suitcases and made the utterly exhausting 25-hour journey to Manchester. Luckily, I had secured a trial as a PR Executive before having left Australia, and so with a gleam in my eye, I started my new adventure at Toast PR.
Moving to the other side of the world is a challenge in itself but starting a career is downright daunting. Here’s a few things I have learned in my short time in Manchester and at Toast.
- Hope that your body adapts to the weather, quickly
It seems like such an insignificant factor when you move but let me tell you, it makes a huge impact. I lived in Sydney where it doesn’t exactly get cold (I thought our 14°c winters were harsh) and then I came to Manchester. It started off fine in late July, early August and I thought “I got this”. I did not. Before moving to a new place check the weather and pack accordingly.
- Communication is key
When you’re in a new environment and are navigating a new world, you will need help. Having an open line of communication with those around you is not just important in PR but in life. It can seem intimidating to ask questions but in the long run, it is much more beneficial to you, your clients and the company.
- Learn from and own your mistakes
Mistakes are inevitable when you’re starting out on something new. The trick is own up to it and learn from them so that you don’t make that same mistake twice.
If I can give any advice to someone who is thinking of moving across the world to follow their dreams, then I say just do it. You never know what’s waiting for you on the other side.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain