You’re Good at PR. But What’s Next for You?
You’ve built a career in PR and communications. You’ve managed campaigns, navigated difficult clients, handled challenging situations and delivered results.
You know what you’re doing.
So why can figuring out what you want to do next feel so difficult?
Perhaps you’re in a senior role but wondering whether you really want the next promotion. Maybe you’ve been thinking about going freelance for years, but the thought of leaving a regular salary behind is terrifying.
Or perhaps you already work for yourself, have a decent client list and a business that looks successful from the outside, but you’re starting to question whether it’s the business you actually wanted to build.
Sound familiar?
When did we become so busy building careers that we stopped questioning them?
PR is an industry that rarely stands still.
There is always another deadline, another client, another campaign or something happening in the news that needs an immediate response.
We become very good at managing other people’s expectations, solving problems and working out what everyone else needs.
But how often do we stop and ask ourselves what we want?
I’ve worked in PR for more than 30 years, across global brands, agencies and my own business. I’ve had some incredible opportunities, worked with fascinating people and been part of projects I could never have imagined when I started out.
I’ve also changed direction, had to make difficult decisions and realised that what worked for me at one stage of life wasn’t necessarily right for the next.
And I don’t think I’m alone.
Success doesn’t always mean wanting more of the same
We’re often encouraged to think about career progression as a ladder.
You start at the bottom, work hard, gain experience, take on more responsibility and keep climbing.
But what if you don’t want to climb any higher?
What if you’d rather become a specialist than manage a team?
What if you want more flexibility, different clients or the freedom to choose which projects you take on?
Or what if you’re ready to build something of your own but don’t quite know where to start?
None of these questions means you’ve fallen out of love with PR.
You might still enjoy the work enormously. You just want to do it differently.
Going freelance isn’t the only answer
I love working for myself, but I also know it isn’t for everyone.
Having your own business can be incredibly rewarding, but it brings challenges that a successful PR career doesn’t necessarily prepare you for.
You suddenly need to think about pricing, positioning, finding clients, managing money and setting boundaries.
And if you’ve spent years working for a well-known organisation, it can feel strange to step out from behind that name and start building your own reputation.
Being good at PR doesn’t automatically mean you’ll find running a PR business easy.
Equally, if you’re already freelancing, the answer isn’t necessarily to grow into a bigger agency. Perhaps you want fewer clients, more strategic work or a business that gives you more time for everything else in your life.
There isn’t one version of success that works for everybody.
You don’t need to have the whole plan
One of the biggest things I’ve learned through coaching is that people often think they need to arrive with a clear goal.
But sometimes the whole reason for having the conversation is that you’re not sure what the goal should be.
You might have several ideas, none of which feels quite right.
You might know what you don’t want but struggle to explain what you do.
Or you might need someone to challenge your thinking, help you see the options and work out what’s actually stopping you from making a decision.
That’s where a conversation with someone who understands the industry can make a difference.
Not someone who tells you to resign, start a business or chase another promotion.
Someone who helps you work out what’s right for you.
What would you choose if you were starting again?
If you’ve been questioning your next career move, here are three things worth asking yourself.
What do I still love about my work?
Not what you’re good at or what people pay you to do. What genuinely interests and energises you?
What would I like to do less of?
There may be parts of your working life that you’ve simply accepted because they’ve always been there.
What would a successful career look like for me now?
Not five or ten years ago. Now, with your current circumstances, priorities and ambitions.
Your answers might surprise you.
And you don’t have to make an enormous change tomorrow. Sometimes the next step is a conversation, a small experiment or simply giving yourself permission to consider something different.
Let’s talk about what’s next
Alongside my PR consultancy work, I coach people working in PR and communications who are thinking about their next chapter.
I’m a Chartered PR Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience, and I’ve completed professional coach training through an ICF-accredited programme.
I bring both sides to the conversation: an understanding of what it’s really like to work in this industry and the coaching skills to help you find your own answers.
Whether you’re considering freelancing, building a business, navigating a career change or wondering where to go next, you don’t need to have everything figured out before we speak.
You’ve spent years helping other people tell their stories. Perhaps it’s time to think about what you want the next chapter of yours to look like.
Natalie
