I spent my last rotation in Spook (Digital) and today I am starting on the Healthcare team. 

In Spook, I got to work on global clients, take part in training sessions, brainstorms, research for new campaigns, copywriting and media monitoring. I also learned how to use some really useful tools such as Buddy Media, Facebook Analytics and YouTube Analytics. I never knew any of these existed before my time at Spook and it was briliant to be able to walk away from my rotation with a knowledge of these tools.

Spook also taught me A LOT about the art of evaluation and reporting! I am now an expert in click through rates, penetration rates, engagement rates and what a facebook ‘like’ really means for a brand. A lot of numbers, excel sheets and maths, but super interesting and challenging.

During my time at Spook, I was also able to sample the brilliant social life that working at Edelman offers you. The Edelman office was full of the Christmas spirit with Christmas songs blaring from almost every pod, and we even got mince pies and mulled wine one evening. We also got to attend the Edelman Christmas Party – which was amazing. Salon in the office, Edelman Honours, a top secret location and an alpine themed Photobooth! What more could you ask for?

Here’s to a great 2012!

So far my limited number of blog posts have all been quite “work” focused– but life at Edelman is so much more than that. Take last Thursday night for example. The ‘Edel-Spook X Factor Karaoke Competition’. My current department, Healthcare took on Spook, my old department in the karaoke competition to end all singing contests. Forget X-Factor, Edelman is where the talent is (well maybe/probably /absolutely not).  In a private room in a Chinese restaurant near our office, the finger food and white wine was flowing. All the classics came out from Spice Girls to Stevie Wonder to MC Hammer, and even I, who despises karaoke joined in on as many songs as I could and belted Bonnie Tyler until my voice had disappeared. Fortunately, no photographic evidence of the night has surfaced…yet, but watch this space in case it does!

It was an amazingly fun night and just another reason why I am loving life as an Edelman Grad so much; having worked with both departments I knew pretty much everyone there and had just as much fun chatting with my favourite intern as I did the MD. In and out of work the people and atmosphere at Edelman are second to none.

No one has the same opportunity us grads do to try so much and meet so many people. We’re pretty lucky I guess.

Some other quick examples:

Pedalo racing in Hyde Park with Spook:

Halloween Decorating Competition with Healthcare:

Now back to planning the next big night out working hard.

“The Holmes Group is dedicated to proving and improving the value of public relations, by providing insight, knowledge and recognition to public relations professionals…providing the most sophisticated reporting and analysis on public relations trends and issues.”

Check out The Holmes Report Website

The SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation) Awards  are “the world’s largest awards competition for the public relations industry, the SABRE Awards celebrate PR campaigns that demonstrate the highest levels of creativity, integrity and effectiveness.”

…its kind of a big deal. And guess what? WE WON!

Edelman won Global Agency of the Year, beating Burson-Marsteller, Fleishman-Hillard, MSL Group, and Weber Shandwick for the competition‘s top honor. Not only this, we also shared the Platinum Award and Social Media Campaign SABRE with Weber Shandwick, both for Pepsi Refresh, which was named the best campaign of the year in any region. Not bad going.

So this is just a little shout out to Edelman. Big thumbs up! I’m very proud to be an integral cog just a tiny part of this amazing, multi-award winning global agency!

Under the guise of Edelman Freetime, the graduates have been given the task of organising this years event. We have been meeting up in the past week to figure out what we can do that will make this year the most successful. At the moment we can’t say much but there are set to be many surprises!

‘Wear It Pink’ is Breast Cancer Campaign’s biggest fundraising event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and has raised more than £3.6 million since its launch in 2003. More information can be found on the Wear It Pink website – http://www.wearitpink.co.uk/ - and if you’re a Facebook fan you can also get started early and show your support by adding a Breast Cancer Campaign pink ribbon to your profile.