Question

According to Jaci Anderson, what are the important qualities for someone in her field to have?

Job Title: Account Supervisor

What are some of the biggest challenges of your job?

You have to be able to work with many different kinds
of people. The diversity I mentioned above is great, but it also means you have many different people throwing requests and demands your way. You have to be able to handle it. This job is also not the kind of job that shuts off at 5 p.m. I try to have a good balance, but I'm always on e-mail and often handling issues after
hours--it's just part of the process.



What project(s) are you most proud of?

There have been many. I helped throw an event to introduce Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to the city of Seattle after they purchased Tully's. That was a lot of fun--Seattle is such a coffee town, it was great to be a part of that announcement.



I also am in charge of the media around the Jingle Bell Run & Walk for the Arthritis Foundation. It's been really fun to watch that coverage grow and be a part of the Arthritis Foundation raising more money each year.



Lastly, I got to be a part of a great organization called CureDuchenne™. They are a group of parents, advocates, and scientists who are raising money and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy--a lethal illness affecting young boys around the country. Last year, 12 of them climbed Mt. Rainier and raised $1 for every foot they climbed (that's $14,411 per person). It was amazing to get to be a part of promoting their great adventure!



What kind of educational background or training did you need to get started in your field?

I have a degree in journalism, because I always thought I'd be on the other side of the aisle--reporting the news. But I have colleagues with degrees in communications, PR, marketing, even English.



In your field, what qualities are most important for someone to have?

Details, details, details. Being able to manage your time and handling stress. Also, a good attitude and the ability to network and mingle are a serious plus.



What advice do you have for someone interested in a career in marketing or business?

Get an internship, figure out what you like, what interests you, and what you're passionate about. Then go and do that.

What specific role do you play at your company?

I manage accounts and people to make sure that deliverables are met. Essentially, I'm like the ring master at the circus--the circus of playing middle-man between our clients and the media.



What are some things you do in a typical work day?

A typical work day includes lots of e-mails, a few conference calls, and often what's called media pitching. That's e-mailing/calling reporters in an attempt to get them to write a story that includes our client. I do a lot of writing--press releases, media materials, and pitch e- mails. I also manage a few people, so I'm usually checking in with them to see their progress, answer questions, and tell them to get moving if they need it!



What resources do you use in your work (software, equipment, reference materials, Web sites, etc.)?

My computer and e-mail. The Internet is hugely important--you'd be surprised what you can learn about a reporter through Google™. I also use Google News to search for recent news articles. We use a Web site called MyMediaInfo.com that is a directory of reporters' names and contact information. I also use the good old fashioned telephone a lot of the time.



What made you decide to do the work you're doing?

I've always been a talker--a communicator if you will. It seemed like a good fit. I'm also a strong writer and I like the idea of being able to help a company or organization communicate effectively. It helps that I have many nonprofit clients whose missions I believe in. It's really hard to do this job when you don't believe in what you're communicating.



What were you most surprised about when you started working in your field?

How truly important EVERY detail is. In college we learned about being detail oriented but it wasn't until I was in the workplace, in PR, that I realized how important every piece of information is--you can't make things up, they have to be accurate, on time, and under budget. It's a challenge, to say the least!



What are some of your favorite parts about your job?

I love getting to be a "jack of all trades" in a sense. Because my clients are so diverse, I get to see into a lot of different businesses and learn how they operate. I also love establishing relationships with key people around the city--I think everyone hits a stride at some point where you look around and you're like "I'm actually really good at this." I love that moment.

Answer 1

According to Jaci Anderson, key qualities are:

- Strong attention to detail — “Details, details, details.”
- Good time-management and the ability to handle stress.
- A positive attitude.
- Ability to network, mingle, and build relationships.
- Strong communication/writing skills and comfort working with many different kinds of people.