Wearing multiple hats in the workforce is no longer a rarity, especially within the media. There are countless members of the industry globally who balance freelance opportunities with permanent, part-time or full-time work responsibilities, but doing so is often no mean feat. BD spoke to those juggling various roles to discover just what skills are required, and how to attain them.
Arm yourself with the right weapons
The to-do list and the Post-it filled planner are often the mark of an overloaded professional, but often the duo are essential tricks of the trade for those with a full plate. Says Laura Wilson who is senior beauty editor for OK! and NW magazines: “Being organised is fundamental to juggling multiple titles, let alone multiple weekly titles. I’m super organised and a big planner, so I stick to my deadlines and I always know what’s coming up and when.”
Michael Brown – professional make-up artist as well as contributor to Rescu, The Tailored Man, and Nine Extra – is another fan of a cemented schedule, explaining that looking ahead is key to staying on top of multiple demands. He says: “You do have to think ahead to make sure everything can fit in.”
Organising skills also extend outside of the office, especially in the world of beauty, with Wilson commenting: “It’s also crucial to have an organised beauty cupboard, which helps you stay on top of release dates and new products and categories. This will ensure your content is current and it can inspire ideas for trend features.”
There are 24 hours in a day
Squeezing out the most from your working day is crucial to thriving while juggling roles, with writing whenever, wherever you can a shared theme. Continues Wilson: “Time management is probably the most challenging part of my role working across two magazines, as you’re not only creating pages from start to finish, but you’re managing them through the entire editorial process, too. You are also out of the office attending events and away from your desk at meetings, so you need to ensure that when you are at your desk, you’re working efficiently. Learning how to work fast, while still doing a great job, is key.”
Shonagh Walker, who contributes to five magazines, is a PR consultant and has a growing dog walking business, gets the most out of every day by starting early. “I am usually up pretty early and checking emails, replying, setting up meetings or doing a bit of social media networking,” she says.
Rachael Mannell – contributor to publications such as Gritty Pretty, as well as PR firm Sweaty Betty – is another fan of the early start. “I have my son in daycare three days a week so most tasks workwise happen on those days. I don’t write lists, I just get stuck in at around 7.30am while still in my PJs. I don’t shower until I feel I’ve completed a hefty chunk of work (so around 2.30pm). When I worked in an office, getting ready and travelling were essential (obviously) but such time wasters. I get so much more done working from home,” she explains.
Working may also continue well into the evening with Walker adding: “I’ll often find myself on the computer quite late at night!” It’s a notion Brown agrees with: “I am sometimes writing at odd hours and in the back of cabs and in cafes, whenever I have the time works well for me, allowing me to fit everything else in. I just write when I can, even if it is late at night or early morning as I want to be able to say 'yes' to my make-up artist commitments also.”
Flex that flexibility
Not only are the traditional 9 to 5 working hours often out the window when balancing multiple roles, but flexibility seems to be de rigueur as plans can chop and change in a heartbeat. Wilson says while a schedule is paramount to her ability to juggle, nothing is set in stone: “I make sure I have my schedule for each magazine with me at all times so I’m able to swap and change, depending on who or what needs my attention. Naturally, some days one publication takes precedence over the other.”
Walker agrees that flexibility is the only way to successfully juggle. She says: “I find that my projects are quite fluid, and as I am very flexible and able to meet my client’s needs at most times, everything seems to organically fall into place.” Brown shares the same mentality, commenting it’s a non-negotiable to “be very flexible. Jobs pop up and change very last minute. It’s hard at first not having a set routine, as every day for me is completely different, but I live and go day by day. The main thing for me is locations, making sure I can actually make each commitment, as some days I have four to five separate work commitments.”
Be wary of your limitations
But while your passion for the job(s) may fuel your desire to work overtime, be aware of burning out say the experts. Explains Walker: “Try not to spread yourself too thin… I think the key is not to become stressed out. Take on what you know you can handle to the best of your ability, and don’t be afraid to request a little extra time on a project if you need it. I find there often is some wiggle room if you are upfront about your commitments and can meet client expectations within those confines.”
For Mannell, burning out meant she prioritised certain work over others and cut back when necessary. “To ensure it’s manageable, I’ve cut back on the amount of freelance work because I also regularly help Roxy at Sweaty Betty PR with some of her beauty clients,” she says. Wilson also agrees with knowing what is possible to achieve within your deadlines, commenting: “Knowing you have to let go at a certain point is important as, unfortunately, you may not always be able to spend extra time on research or interviews as you need to file your copy and move on to the next task.”
Attitude is key
But what really seems to steer success in juggling multiple roles is the attitude you choose to take towards the concept. Says Wilson: “You have to be willing to work hard and fast. You can’t teach attitude, so make sure you and your team are passionate about what you do and proud of the titles you work for and the pages you produce.” Brown agrees, summarising: “You will get it done if you really want to.”
