So here’s the deal. Once upon a time, which wasn’t that long ago but seems ages ago, I was, yea you guessed it, an intern. And a summer intern too. With summer just right at the mid point, its that time when all summer interns are, admittedly so, starting to freak out about what the F happens in a few shorts weeks wonder what comes next: do I extend my maybe unpaid internship? Will I get hired? And for some of you, is this even for me?
Hey, so that’s what internships are for. If it’s not, on to the next thing. And if it is, keep asking for more, keep getting all the experience you can and continue to network, network, network. Did I mention that I wasn’t the only one who was an intern first? Almost ALL my PR-biffles were interns first, including our West Coast PR Girl who shares some of her experiences as a baby PR girl with us (and who also, side note, has had such a rough week so a lil lovin’ to ease her days xoxo).
Best advice ever received as an intern?
West: The best advice I received as an intern was to act as if the internship was my job. I felt accountable to the clients and invested in the work I did, even though my name wasn’t on any of the pitches or press releases. I connected my work email to my phone and was available outside the hours of my internship and the people I worked with could tell that I was committed to the job.
East: Over communicate. Over time, I believe more and more in those two words. I’ve learned that there is a learning curve at every level and asking questions sooner rather than later saves so much time and frustration and being on the “other” side I realize it and honestly don’t mind the Qs… almost even prefer it!
How did you network as a summer intern?
West: Cast a really wide net! If your company has offices in other cities, reach out to people there. Attend industry events, connect with colleagues and journalists on LinkedIn, and be open to exploring other industries. Just don’t give up and eventually, something will materialize!
East: I touched a little bit of everything. And, uh, curiosity did not kill the cat! I worked with so many teams, I never said no to work because that meant more face time, and I researched the butt out of all of my client’s trends so I could speak to it. Remember to stay confident in yourself, your knowledge and your work as you meet new people every day in this industry.
xo,
In case you maybe missed it, don’t forget to read our last PR Chat for more East v West: Green PR Chat
Great advice and insight! As a current intern, I am already making a valiant effort to network and go above and beyond. It’s comforting to see that it truly pays off! 🙂
– Lindsay
Yay, so awesome! Keep at it and let me know how it goes for you. Best of luck!! xox
Thank you for the post! We like to think our interns gain a deep understanding of the business while they are here as long as they are never afraid to ask questions, and truly care for our clients as you do.