Months of cover-letter revisions and tapping into every connection in your LinkedIn has paid off – you have landed the ever-elusive PR internship. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and you are going to gain more experience in the next few months than you have in years of schooling. You want nothing more than to thrive and grow in this new position, but how? From one new intern to the next, here are a few tips that I have picked up along my journey with Communiqué PR (CPR) so far that are valuable tools to succeed as a PR intern.
Take notes
Although obvious, I want to reiterate the importance of taking notes. The CPR office is always stocked with composition notebooks, and we take great advantage of them. If your office does not supply them, I would suggest investing a few dollars in a pack of notebooks. I carry mine with me wherever I go so I am able to jot down things from to-do tasks that get casually asked of me (they aren’t always requested via email), to book recommendations from colleagues. There have been times where I have forgotten to bring my notebook to a meeting or check-in and I always regret it when I’m sitting at my desk later, thinking “What did they say again?” Mistakes happen, and people forget things, but try not to be the intern who has to ask someone to repeat something that has already clearly been stated – it could be perceived as you not listening.
Writing is key
Clear written communication is critical in public relations. You might find yourself writing a byline for a client or a speech for an executive, so make it a point to improve your writing throughout your internship. There are a few ways to make sure your writing is up to par, one of which is using the correct grammar and style. The correct way to write in the PR and Journalism world is to follow the AP Style Guide. As a PR intern, this book is your bible. It will tell you everything from the correct way to write a date, to which numbers to type out versus using numerals. It gets updated every year, so make sure you have the most current copy at your disposal.
Another way I have improved my writing at my internship is by reading critically. In the morning I pour myself a cup of tea and browse Medium and The New York Times and make notes of words and phrases that caught my eye that I can inject into my writing at CPR. I also look for places that were uncomfortable to read, where further edits could have been made. Learn from other writer’s successes and mistakes.
Accountability
You are responsible for everything you say, do, and write during your internship. You are new to the field, which means the work you are doing now is the foundation of your reputation. Use this to your advantage, since you have a clean slate and the opportunity to create a positive image for yourself in the industry.
Remember that everything you do has your name attached to it, so remain accountable for your actions. You don’t have to be the perfect intern and know everything there is to know about PR, but when you don’t know something, do not say “I don’t know.” Instead, follow up with an action item or an indicator that you will use your lack of knowledge as a stepping stone, such as, “I’m not certain on the answer to that question, but I will look that up and get back to you right away.” This shows you are eager to learn more and will continue to add to your knowledge bank.
Compete with yourself
Try not to compare yourself to other interns since every person has different skillsets and abilities. You may be great at editing, while the intern two desks down may be everyone’s go-to for creating briefings – and that is OK. You can’t control other people, but what you can control is your progression in the industry. One way I compete with myself is at the end of every day I evaluate what I can improve on tomorrow. I pick out a few things I want to focus on; it can be as broad as time management or as specific as finding more tailored publications to pitch contributed content. My advice here is to not see your shortcomings as stopping points or places to avoid, but rather opportunities to improve.
Be bold
This may come as a shock, but no one can read your mind. Be bold and confident and ask for what you want. I learned about press briefings on my second day at CPR and was fascinated with the idea of hearing a client and a journalist interact in real time, so I sent a note to the team asking to keep me in mind for future briefings and consider letting me sit in on them. I have since been invited to sit on calls and edit briefing documents, which exposed me to the preparation side of things as well. I promise you your superiors want to see you thrive and prosper in this new role, so don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and what will help you succeed in your PR internship.