Two-weeks with 3x1: Experiencing the world of comms

I came to 3x1 intrigued by the world of comms and filled with questions about the industry. Now having completed the work experience programme, I can only say that the former was satisfied. Why? Because I have left 3x1 with more passion and drive toward the career ahead of me.

From entering the office, I was engaged in a wide variety of tasks that both challenged and interested me. The first of which was to write a weekly political report and a sentiment analysis. This involved summarising news headlines and gauging the political and media climate around renewable energy. I already had a comfortability with politics, coming from a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, but getting the opportunity to translate my academic learning into practise and develop my attention for detail, was really rewarding.

I also learnt about media training and the increasing importance of it in an evolving online world. My favourite takeaway from undergoing a media training session, was the importance of body language. What you say may be important, your tone even more so, but overarching both, is the importance of physical presentation. This really made me think about the considerations behind public presentation and gave me real appreciation for its intricacy. I hope to take this newfound awareness into future work.

Moving away from my comfort zone in politics, I was introduced to public relations. I truly enjoyed the creativity required in forming campaign proposals and the freedom I was offered to cultivate my own ideas. Through the atmosphere of openness and the clear message to get ‘stuck in,’ I also felt both encouraged and comfortable to verbalise my thoughts. The opportunity to suggest my own proposals also gave me the benefit of feedback and teaching which allowed me to gradually grow my understanding of how a campaign should be comprised. The principal lesson emerged that a campaign should appeal to the customer, the brand, and the client.

While I had little experience in public relations prior to this task, I would now describe it as an area of sparked interest. However, whether that be in response to the career path itself or 3x1’s fantastic introduction to it, is difficult to tell!

Taken together, working on both political and PR tasks, I was able to combine my knowledge with my imagination. An intersection which was exceptionally fulfilling. This also taught me the importance of adaptability, especially in a company where a wide range of skills is both cultivated and valued.

I was also exposed to the importance of planning and organisation in agency work. Working on tasks, often requiring a different base skillset, meant I had to organise both my time and my priorities in order to complete them. This has helped me develop an ability to work under pressure and juggle tasks.

Across the two weeks the importance of digital tools was also apparent. I gained valuable insight into the tools integrated throughout the agency to support client engagement.

Beyond the practical learning, I would be utterly underselling the experience if I did not reference the team which I had the pleasure of learning from. From the first day in the office, I was immediately welcomed and, throughout the two weeks, given so much time and guidance. As such, I must send my thanks and appreciation to everyone at 3x1 who made my time so enjoyable.

If I could give any advice to anyone interested in comms, apply for this work experience, throw everything at it, and grasp every kernel of knowledge offered to you. This experience has given me exposure to the industry and invaluable lessons. I have come away with not only a better understanding of comms but excited about a future in it.

- Emily Wilson