Photo provided by Saxum PR website.
By Cassie Little
It didn’t take Houda Elyazgi much time to make it in the world of public relations after graduation from the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2007. After just three years working in the field, Elyazgi is a Senior Account Executive for Saxum PR at the firm’s Oklahoma City location.
Elyazgi said her job is one that requires competence in many fields as well as a lot of patience. Some of the skills she considers most important include: communication, writing, oratory, leadership, multimedia and social skills. She describes the work as hectic and exciting but very rewarding at the same time. One of her favorite parts of the job is the opportunity she’s been given to work with non-profit organizations.
A typical workday for Elyazgi is always changing. She said most workdays start early in the morning consuming a vast amount of media including newspapers like The Oklahoman and The Tulsa World, as well as numerous online sources. Then, her day is filled with client meetings and campaign tasks.
She considers the most difficult part of her job the high stress level it invokes. She said the best way to not be overwhelmed at work is to take a deep breath, step back and remember to take the job one step at a time.
While many challenges are included when working in public relations, Elyazgi said the benefits outweigh the obstacles. She suggests that future PR practitioners work to take initiative and use their voices.
“Never be afraid to step on someone’s toes and challenge yourself,” she said. “If you’re always comfortable, you’re doing something wrong.”
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