The story started
At the time of writing it’s the end of June 2023 and I’m coming up on the end of my second month at Pearl Lemon.
I’m Allison, and my role in the grand scheme of things is Client Editor. I’m essentially a professional critic (it’s my job to nitpick and complain). I proofread client content and leave comments on where the content is lacking and needs to be improved.
I’ll keep the details of my role brief as they can come across as tedious and repetitive; I essentially investigate the client’s website and grab an understanding of their goals, missions, values and tone to establish the most appropriate voice for them.
Then I tackle the created client content by one of our writers.
I then hand my edits over to the writer to correct. When the writer finishes responding to my critiques and finishes with their additions, then the content is returned to me.
After that, it’s simply rinse and repeat!
Honestly, I love my role, I feel I have a keen sense of what works and what doesn’t. I spent many of my university days essay writing and assisting peers in editing their works, which has become an instrumental experience in this position. Although my first steps weren’t perfect, the company culture has truly left me feeling encouraged as to what my future at Pearl Lemon will look like.
My first month at Pearl Lemon was quite a journey.
When they say there’s a learning curve, this role proved that to me. I initially started with a single client, focusing on their brand and their content. Something I noticed immediately was that the acquisition of knowledge is an ever-expanding endeavour. I was constantly learning, having to do research and expanding my general knowledge to be able to edit effectively.
I had to learn what it meant to be patient with myself, the wider your scope of general knowledge, the better you can edit. That can be a tough pill to swallow when a lot of concepts are new to you, you’re ill-travelled or you’re simply completely out of your range of knowledge. I would get frustrated with myself as I would have to do a lot of research or I couldn’t add value to the content simply because I lacked general knowledge to do so.
Chill. Learn. Then with the new knowledge aim to do better.
Deepak’s urgency to better himself and his openness with us in the weekly meetings about this constant progress (and the setbacks) encouraged me to be kinder to myself. To similarly always strive to do better.
Furthermore, the remote company structure implored a bit of a shift within myself. I wasn’t previously unaccustomed to remote work (as I had spent the better half of my university life learning remotely due to COVID-19).
There was however a shift in mindset that had to occur.
Remote work requires a serious amount of self-discipline to make sure you keep up your diligence, and your motivation as well as having the right time management. It’s a different level of expectation when you’re constantly pushed to be at your best through accountability managers and Dee’s excellent example.
Pearl Lemon is a very accommodating place (in that it is remote and you can choose your hours) but it also teaches you. Pearl Lemon implores you to have a different set of skills such as self-government and self-motivation in a way that is unique to remote working.
In my second month, I have now had contact with various clients, which is great! The variety truly assists in diminishing the monotony of editing. You learn to have a level of elasticity in that you have to possess a versatile set of tools and knowing how to handle vastly different sets of client content is a learnt skill. The team is a huge help in this.
We have a wide range of team members at Pearl Lemon with skill sets that are plentiful and vast. My talented team offers so many opportunities for skills development. The team pushes me to be better and inspires me every day. My supervisor Joanne, head of client content, makes sure to ask me where my interests lie and where I believe I can flourish.
Recently I discovered my interest in marketing, and when I mentioned this to Joanne, she immediately offered to look into it for me.
She heard my interest and decided to foster that within the company. Joanne admitted that she, unfortunately, does not currently possess the skills required to train me in my interest. Therefore she did some investigation and found a source to assist me in a manner more akin to what I was searching for.
Furthermore, the team encourages and attempts to develop the skills you’re currently using through content sharing. The entirety of the content team was tasked with reading and reporting on a copywriting handbook. An audiobook was shared between us and we were encouraged to listen and expand our skills.
This constant encouragement for skills improvement is unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. Having this dynamic of evolution and skills development within the content team is a great energy as it’s encouraging and motivating.
Someone I look up to in my position is Mel. She’s an insanely inspiring and highly decorated writer. Mel has been part of Pearl Lemon for years and is head of our internal content.
I had the privilege of meeting with her recently where we discussed the shortfalls of content and what critical thinking skills are required for editing efficiently.
I aspire to be like Mel and to reach the level that she is at. The way that she thinks about content is highly encouraging and motivating. Having the opportunity to speak with Mel, to express different perspectives and to receive constructive feedback, is instrumental in this pursuit of betterment. She was not required to have that meeting with me and took time out of her day to have that discussion with me because she is passionate about skills development.
That says a lot to me personally about the ethos of Pearl Lemon.
Mel encouraged me to do further research into a specific client she was assisting in editing and encouraged me to develop my skills by familiarising myself with high-performing SEO content.
I’m excited to see what the future holds, the company culture has proven to be one of compassion, encouragement and skills development.
I feel inspired to better myself, to continue in the pursuit of ever-expanding knowledge and to learn from my well-established colleagues.
The clients keep coming in, I feel impassioned to continue assisting them in organic growth and in finding the right voice for their content.
It’s for sure only onwards and upwards from here. I’m excited about the adventure that awaits!