– Sean Udicious
Last week, Account Coordinator Lesley discussed several important ways you can turn your internship experience into a full-time job in Buchanan Public Relations’ new vlog.
As the agency’s current public relations intern, I’ve already taken much of what she, as well as everyone else in the office, has said to heart. Of course, in a world as unpredictable as public relations, you always need to be ready to adjust and adopt new practices. Here are some things I’ve learned.
Take a breath, take your time.
Initially, I would be so eager to get working on projects that I was assigned, and I would be so intent on getting them done quickly, that I would make careless mistakes, which could have easily been caught if I had spent a few extra minutes on proofreading. I’ve learned that promptness is an essential quality in public relations, but so is accuracy; no amount of speed is worth making mistakes.
But, don’t take too much time.
On the flip side, while you should never rush an assignment, you must be cognizant of impending deadlines. Pitches and releases do not have the luxury of rolling acceptance – if you miss the date on a deadline, that opportunity may be gone forever. Additionally, missing deadlines can harm the relationship with your client or a reporter. Now, I always make a point to ask the account manager for the timeline on each project, and I am sure to finish early enough to allow time for any necessary edits.
Don’t be afraid to take initiative.
A watched pot never boils. Similarly, a watched piece of news never gets pitched. During my first couple of weeks on the job, I would always ask others if they needed help with pitches rather than taking the initiative to identify topics to pitch on my own. As time has passed, I’ve grown more confident and I’ve begun to send pitch ideas to the account leads. Even if my idea isn’t the right fit, it still sends the message that I have been following the news and am willing to take initiative.
Be open to constructive criticism.
Unfortunately, some people have a difficult time accepting criticism of their work. They see it as a personal attack rather than as a learning opportunity. Knowing that I lacked public relations experience before I started my internship with Buchanan PR, I have welcomed the advice thrown my way. As a result, I’ve improved my writing and know the type of news I should be monitoring. Additionally, I’ve shown my co-workers that I am willing to listen and apply their feedback to my work.
Get to know everyone.
At my previous internships, there were interns who were smart and friendly, but didn’t make the extra effort to build a connection with the full-time employees or embrace the workplace environment. For example, they might not have tried to grab lunch with others, or would go home at the end of the day without saying good-bye. Despite their can-do attitudes, they didn’t form lasting connections. The concept of “networking” that many interns fret about does not apply only to superiors. By being open with all of those around you, you gain connections that can pay dividends later.
Do you have any personal take-aways from your own internship experiences? Let us know in the comments.