By Leah Reyes, SDSU Public Relations Senior
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began my internship at (W)right On
Communications. This is my first time taking what I've learned in the classroom
and applying it to a real public relations setting. I've been here for about
one month and I've already learned so much. Here is what I’ve learned so far:
Don't be afraid to ask
questions.
Internship supervisors understand that you don't know everything, especially
if it's your first internship. In the beginning, I was nervous to ask questions
because I didn't want anyone to regret choosing me as an intern. I learned fast
that if I didn't ask questions, however, I would end up sitting there staring
at my desktop. Therefore, I ask questions whenever I have the chance, whether
it's to clarify a task I was given, or to learn something new.
Every opportunity is a learning
opportunity.
No matter what you're doing, there is always something to learn.
Observe how your supervisors talk on the phone, how they discuss client work
with each other, or even how they conduct their individual work. Learn from
them and apply it to your own work. If you are working on a task and you’re
curious about something, ask. For example, I was browsing pictures for a
brochure, and I realized that I had always wondered how organizations selected
pictures for brochures and other marketing collateral. I asked Account
Executive Rebecca Chappell, and she explained how images are selected. There
have been several times when someone has given me advice or extra information
just to expand my knowledge about the profession.
Don't be easily discouraged.
Supervisors are here to teach and correct if needed. I've made a few
mistakes and I've been told what I can do better next time. I was scared that I
would be scolded for mistakes, but the (W)right On team really makes sure that
this is a learning experience for me. They don't make me feel bad for mistakes,
but guide me instead.
Ask for feedback.
I am enrolled in an internship course, which requires me to have a
"midterm meeting" with my internship supervisor. The purpose of the
meeting is to evaluate my internship and discuss what I can improve. If this
isn’t required for your internship course, I encourage you to seek feedback
from your internship supervisor.
Show that you care.
When I don't have a task, which is rare, I always ask if anyone needs
help. It's courteous to offer assistance, and it shows that you care to be part
of the organization. Also always use your manners. I say "thank you"
every time I am given a task. I also apologize if I make a mistake. We should
be polite by default, but sometimes we forget how important it is. You want to
establish a close rapport with your team, so don't forget your manners.
Social media is powerful.
Prior to joining the (W)right On team, I was aware of the power of
social media, but I didn't understand how much power it has. As media
technology develops, old media traditions begin to slow down. Almost every
piece of client work I have had includes social media. There is something new
to learn about social media every day. Visit mashable.com
and you'll see what I mean. It's not enough to know what Facebook, Twitter,
etc. is and how to post. The mechanics behind what to post are very detailed.
I've learned that it's really important to have one "voice" when
posting, especially for an organization. I've also learned that although it's
free of cost, it's not free of your time. A lot of thought goes into the posts
we draft and I've learned how to make personal, but professional posts. I've
also learned how to use the different tools of social media, like Hootsuite. As long as media technology is
changing, which is every day, you should be willing to learn it if you're going
to be in the journalism/communications business.
An internship is an opportunity to learn about the profession you are
pursuing. It’s important to get the most out of your internship so you can
learn and grow. In order to get the best experience from it, you need to put
yourself out there. I still need to work on not being so shy, but I am definitely
taking everything in as I go, which will help me build my future career.
