Read our Q&A with Hirons’ account coordinator Griffin Reid.
Hirons is pleased to welcome Griffin Reid to our Public Affairs team!
How did you become interested in public affairs? How did you break into the industry and land your first job?
I discovered my interest in political science when I was a sophomore at Franklin College. My uncle worked in government relations for 20 years and he helped me figure out that public affairs would be a great place for me. He was actually the one who encouraged me to network with leadership at Hirons. It just so happened that two months later they were looking to expand their public affairs team. Hirons is how I am breaking into the industry!
What would you consider the specializations/most important tools of the trade?
I am pretty new to this myself, but I would say the most important tool has been attention to detail. I want to provide the best content I can to make the client happy, so the details are very important.
What characteristics do you need to be successful in the industry?
It helps to show up to work with a positive attitude. If you are happy with the work you are doing, then you will care more and try harder. I enjoy my job, so I make sure that I am doing my best.
Do you have any interesting hobbies/second jobs/bits of information that make you pop as an individual?
I used to work at a comedy club and I loved it. Since then I pay attention to a wide variety of comedians and I try to make it to shows if I can. In college I double majored in political science and history, so reading and writing about political history is a hobby of mine. I also really enjoy hiking and watching football with my family!
When and where do you have your best ideas?
Most of my critical thinking happens in the office while I am engaged in a project, but my best ideas happen on the car ride home. Winding down and relaxing gives me the chance to think about what I did in the office and see things from a different perspective.
What has been the most exciting project/campaign that you’ve worked on at Hirons?
So far I have only touched a handful of projects, but I enjoy working on projects for the Family and Social Services Administration. In my short time here I’ve really enjoyed diving deep into previous case studies.
Why is effective advertising/PR so important for the growth and success of organizations?
No one is going to use a product or service if they don’t know it exists! Effectively educating the public allows a larger variety of people to benefit from programs or products that interest them.
What’s one important tip you would share with anyone looking to go into the agency world?
Make connections everywhere you go. You never know when knowing someone can get you in the door. Be willing to share your business card and learn about the other people in the field.
What is the most meaningful part of your job?
The work that I do is valued and it gets utilized. Knowing that I am putting my time into a project that increases awareness and enrollment is very rewarding – especially when that project benefits the public!
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