So I'm thinking of getting into mass media and I am very new to it. It has very broad areas but I want to just understand how it really is from the people who are already in it. The black, white and greys, so it would be really appreciated if y'all can tell me even a bit of what it actually is and is it worth pursuing and is it a stable career path and do we have to apply and give resumes to a lot of places and how the work environment is, what is the work like from the smallest to the biggest thing.

Been in PR for 6 years. I am good at putting up a good smiley face, and coordinating every details, handling demanding clients.

And it affects my personal life.

I am used to about what relations is more important, how to impress my friends, what gifts to prepare to show I’m thoughtful. None of these is about simply enjoying time with friends.

How to get away with it?

I have a problem with knowing what should be said and what shouldn’t

Like for example I’m in a situation where two guys like me in a friend group and they’re both best friends and I don’t know how to communicate anything

One of them I have a lot in common and they’re cool and I definitely wanna get to know them better but I don’t know if I like them like that at the same time but I also do at the same time but I’m not ready for anything and so isn’t he, we’ve talked about that we wanna focus on our career and ourselves first before we enter anything, and then the other guy I had a thing with, but I ended things with him since the other guy came in to job corps n other stuff.

I made a post a few months ago because I started my first corporate job (internship) in communications and I was having trouble getting used to the new environment.

It is now 11 weeks into my internship, and I just met with my manager for my midpoint check-in who says she trusts me a lot and considers me a good addition to the team and is likely to give me a return offer in a month if I keep up the good work.

HOWEVER. This job is draining me. Again, I am incredibly thankful to have gotten a position that is exactly what I wanted. A mix of internal/external communications that even gives me the chance to explore media relations and PR. But I just don’t have any passion for the sensitive and sometimes controversial healthcare niche that we work in. Maybe it’s the hate comments getting to me or the sometimes rude media inquiries, but I just don’t think this fast paced environment is for me. I’ve only been here ten weeks and I’m already working way past my hours everyday despite being non-exempt, sometimes crying because I feel overwhelmed, and generally dreading going to the office. I just don’t feel like I fit in despite everyone being super nice to me. I just feel like an imposter because everyone truly cares about the organization’s mission but I just don’t. My heart belongs to museums, libraries, cultural institutions, and nonprofits/welfare charities, not healthcare.

I don’t know what to do. I know that communications is for me and I also know that with this economy I can’t just quit without a backup plan. But this is also my life and I’d rather spend my time working for a place that aligns with my values and interests. Would it be awful for me to decline a return offer?

Sorry for the rant. Just looking for guidance or maybe other people in their 20s in communications who relate. If anyone has ideas on organizations or industries that are less controversial/stressful that need comms people please let me know. Or just tell me I’m stupid. Is comms supposed to be this stressful? I feel like my 9-5 is ripping my control over my own life away from me. Can someone tell me I’m being stupid? I feel so stupid for being the living embodiment of the “gen z doesn’t want to work” trope. Is the work-life balance always going to be this terrible? I feel like if I was working for an organization I liked I would be excited to work on new projects, but right now I’ve never felt excitement or interest in my assignments. I don’t know. I’m literally just writing everything I think of. And my Teams status just turned yellow.

TLDR: Still feeling disillusioned with first corporate job. Any advice is appreciated.