By Taylor Morelli
Internships are a right of passage for any college student. A good internship allows you to build upon your professional skillset and create lasting connections.
Last semester I had the opportunity to intern at Thomas/Boyd Communications, a small boutique agency that specializes in public relations for New Jersey businesses.
Working for an agency is completely different than working within a communications department. At an agency, employees are responsible for managing multiple clients within different industries. Working within a communications department, employees focus on one organization`s long term internal and external communications goals.
As an agency intern, my initial role was in researching for campaigns for clean energy programs. A majority of the research skills I have learned inside the classroom applied to my variety of assignments. The biggest challenge when it comes to research in the professional word is finding reliable sources and gaining access to articles.
I learned that research allows a new intern or employee to learn more about the agency and its clients. After conducting researching for several campaigns and clients, I moved onto drafting blog posts, writing press releases, creating digital content calendars, designing infographics and a variety of other tasks.
After a month at my internship, I was exclusively making digital content for three different clients. Content for each client had to reflect the client's mission of the organization to reach their target audeince. Working regularly with each client helps identify their unique voice and desired visual aesthetic.
Without good writing and research skills, the client’s objectives cannot be adequately met. Writing is a part of everyday tasks, including writing emails, press releases, and social media content. Knowing industry terms and different forms of writing is beneficial.
Research into the client’s history and industry helps in the writing process for articles and content creation. Writing for any client takes a lot of practice to use the correct language, tone and personality that has been developed overtime. Good writing and research can make each client feel like they are the only client that matters!
Advice from one intern to another...
Research, Research, & More Research
Work on your creative and professional writing skills
Brush up on your press releases skills
Keep an open line of communication with your internship coordinator
Canva is your friend!!!
Wherever you end up, embrace the experience and soak in as much knowledge as possible. Connections with your fellow interns, employees, managers, and bosses can help your future professional goals. Always, always, always begin and end your internship on the right foot, you never know who you will run into in the future.
If you are having a hard time finding internship opportunities consider using these resources:
PRSSA career site (available for paid dues members)
Hawks Career Link
Linked In
Indeed
Non-Profits through Volunteer Match website (Garden State Film Festival, Oceans FSC, Meals on Wheels, Interfaith Neighbors, KYDS)
Taylor is a graduate student in the Monmouth University Corporate and Public Relations program. She is the Vice-President of Monmouth PRSSA Shadow PR Firm.