Wednesday, July 27, 2011

How the Littlest Hobo has influenced me

Last weekend while in Calgary I caught up with my good friend and former PR classmate @marynedwards. We were tossing ideas around about chosen career field and a couple of different things floated to the surface. Maryn has done an amazing post about measuring the experience of individuals when you are evaluating applicants for a new job. Read it here.

That got me thinking about when we as PR practitioners know we should move on. I call it The Littlest Hobo effect. If you grew up in Canada, chances are you watched this show and you know that each episode revolved around the littlest hobo coming upon a situation, staying long enough to help out and then heading off to his next adventure.

Today's working environment is similar to an episode of The Littlest Hobo. Employees are hired, they help with certain situations or issues and sometimes they decide to stay on with the organization, but often choose to move on.

In public relations it is quite common to see practitioners jumping from organization to organization after a few years. Is it dissatisfaction with the job? No in fact most practitioners would tell you they love the organization they're with. In this game though you have to stay current and unless you're working in an agency where you can flex all different kinds of PR muscle, you often don't get to use all the tools in your career toolbox.

So I pose this question to you - is it good or bad thing to constantly switch up your work environment? Put on an employee and employer hat and give it a think. I'd love to hear your feedback.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Miss Andrea

    a great thinking post.

    As an ex employer (and will be again one day)
    I certainly love the effect of a long term highly effective and make a difference kind of employee.

    I was told by a business coach a person doesn't get fired - they fire themselves.

    I feel employees need regular checking and re-creating within the place of employ - All people employees and employers become stale too.

    If there is not enough continual pep talks, weekly meetings and re-training I find employees leave just though lack of stimulation. (also goes a long way to have a "bonding" time out session too). I found this very valuable.

    I will leave it there for now as I could ramble on about this forever.

    Great can of worms opened :)

    x
    Loulou

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  2. Thanks so much Loulou for stopping by to read my blog post. I'd love to hear more about your thoughts as an employer, it's the one hat that I haven't had the opportunity to wear yet. Love your thoughts!

    A.

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