Dear MxM by Jaisurya Das: If a journalist switches to PR, should s/he get a 2x jump?

By Jaisurya Das

 

Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for joining us on Dear MxM this incredibly hot week of May 2016.

 

‘Beware the Ides of March’ thundered this baritone day after day. None other than my  wonderful English teacher at Mumbai’s GD Somani School – Calley D’Mello. He taught with a careless abandon, be it Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar or the more prosaic Nissim Ezekiel’s “Night of the Scorpion”…

 

This was his strength. The sheer recklessness of interpretation that a teacher needs! This young man ensured we enjoyed every moment of his class while we grappled with literature that we were meant to grow up with. Coming to think of it, am not sure how much of a difference it made spare the conversations we could carry with ease.

 

I was most thrilled to see him decades later at a reunion as charming as ever, the same glint in his eye! The only measure of 30 years gone by was his silver grey hair. I didn’t get a chance to sit with him and relive a lot of those moments that we spent in the same class. Someday I will. If not anything, to listen to his baritone once again.

 

I write this because some people leave an indelible impression on you. I still don’t know the reason. To be honest, I don’t even believe that he was the ultimate authority on English or English literature… but there was something about his passion that arrested me.  He lived each class and nudged us quite innocently into this infinite pool of learning. Yes, Calley if I can hazard that at my age….Some of us did learn English, a few of us more..

 

We learnt to smile no matter what, display energy when there isn’t none and above all to celebrate life at the slightest chance…

 

Sincere gratitude my friend. I must confess I don’t know even know what for, but yes you made a difference to my life. Am not a hypocrite and hence no extra praise, no pedestals, nothing. Just honest respect. I tip my hat to you my friend. You were always one and will remain so. God bless with you infinite good health and happiness.

 

I know most of you are wondering why this week’s introduction reads like an autobiographical extract… Well, maybe this is an extract after all!!!

 

Welcome to the real world of queries (this time from Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad ) and responses in the inimitable Dear MxM style. Read on, I say … !

 

I find that success has gone to the head of my colleague, and he thinks he knows everything… I want to help him realise his folly. What can I do? Or should I just let him be?

Wonderful. He has just joined the unique group of individuals on mother earth who believe that they have learnt enough. Each time I meet a bunch of young practitioners or students in media, I preach the need to learn constantly…

 

I for one have spent three decades in this industry and at the end of every day I realise I know so little. The burning desire to learn is probably the only fire one must play with!

 

While I do think your inherent desire to help him is noble, my humble advice would be to let things be. They only way a ‘I know it all’ will learn is by burning his fingers in the enveloping uncertainness of the future.

 

Sometimes, it’s best to let them the feel pain lest they hurt themselves further !

 

It is said that if a journalist switches to PR, he or she should get at least a 2x jump. Is this true?

Interesting concept!  Who did you said this?

 

Tough luck, buddy. There isn’t any norm such. In fact most often it’s the journalists who are quite fed up of their beat or existing pressures who look at other avenues, PR included.

 

This is not to say that PR doesn’t attract good journalistic talent but a really strong content professional looks for more gratification and noticeability and media becomes the obvious choice. I have for instance heard names of content professionals being bandied around the media circles and this obviously has to do with the kind of work that is done . Lots of good work but not always upfront when it comes to the end consumer.

 

Salaries are indeed higher in PR and Corporate communication etc but so are they in online and other forms of media. And this amazing formula you mention of 2x isn’t something that forms part of any rulebook! Am sure my friends who run PR companies will more than agree with me on this.

 

Every company has its own pressures and policies when it comes to hiring and salaries are fixed basis the candidate and the level at which they are coming on board. The only formula I am aware off is x+ and what the + can translate to is anybody’s guess !

 

So all the best with your job hunt! May you have x++ luck with this. Amen.

 

I got my increment last week, and find that it is far below my expectations. I want to quit, but I know I won’t get a new job easily. So should I just grin and bear it?

Believe me, I had a tough time sifting through the appraisal woe mails the past two weeks.. I was quite surprised considering there were fancy MNC predictions on robust increments across several sectors. Media stood at around 15-20% from what i recollect.

 

Well, obviously this didn’t translate into fatter wallets on ground! Pity. Anyway this season has gone by and there is no point in doing a post-mortem. As far as you are concerned, the bigger worry should be your lack of confidence in your capabilities!

 

Why are you resigning yourself into believing that there aren’t other jobs for you? While I honestly believe that the lack of a great increment one year doesn’t mean its the end of the road, I see no reason for your to despair like this.

 

Chin up my friend. No company you work for can give you great increments year on year since there are several factors that go into these decisions. Your own performance, your departments numbers, the company in general, investments to be made and so on. So it’s pretty much the same all over. One or two years you may see yourself get majorly rewarded but the next two years could just be COLA (cost of living adjustment !) that they handed out. This doesn’t necessarily translate to your performance being under question.

 

My honest advice would be to hang in there for another year ( provided of course  it’s work you are enjoying, nice colleagues, well performing company etc ) and review the scene then

 

And yes, if they still hand you lemons, add some Tequila (consumption of alcohol is seriously injurious to health, yours and others!), a dash of salt and say cheers before you walk out ….!

 

Last week, my boss banged my car in the parking. It’s going to cost me 7.5k. Now that’s not a small amount. My boss hasn’t offered to pay, and I am worried that if I ask him for the money, he will get even. And even not give me a good increment next year. Please advise. Thank you!

By the way, who is this Boss of yours!??

 

Well, what do I say?? This is where the wheat gets separated from the chaff.. Am sorry to say this (and I do hope your Boss is reading this !) but this is completely unacceptable and quite unbecoming of anyone leave alone a leader !

 

But you find them in all shapes and sizes so we have to learn to live with them and also take them head on when required. May I request you to take a deep breath and imagine yourself in a similar situation but this time the culprit isn’t your boss ….

 

Now, tell me what you would have done..! Why the special treatment? You gave nothing to lose my friend. If you are good at your work, then why the insecurity and concern about some increment a year later…?

 

I suggest you meet him and ask him politely as to which garage he would like your car to be sent to. You could mention that you have taken an estimate and it’s only a 7500 bill that is expected.

 

If this doesn’t work, do not despair and just repeat this act when there is someone in his room. Very matter of fact. “Boss, where did you say i should send my car for those repairs” Or would you prefer I get it done and give you the bill ?

 

Sounds harsh ? This is the world my friend. An eye for an eye!

 

All the best! And, yes, if you don’t succeed with this, let me know!!!

 

On that sharp note, it’s time for me to say goodbye to this week at Dear MxM. Do take good care of yourselves and keep the happiness flag flying high.

 

After all, life is about celebration no matter what the occasion!

 

Do keep writing in with your questions at editor@mxmindia.com where all you need to do is type ‘Dear MxM’ and your city in the subject line. It’s almost like magic ! We will respond with amazing precision Thursday after Thursday for …

 

Our raison d’être is making a difference. Dear MxM; Because we care.

 

Jaisurya Das, this maverick mediaevangelist eatssleeps and romances brands! His cerebral consulting interventions are geared to make your brands powerful and sustainable.  Incidentally he is also Contributing Editor of MxM India.  For more information on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in Incidentally, the views expressed in this column are his own.