Chet Reads & Writes*

This summer as been an awesome time of professional growth. Since may I’ve been employed by the City of Round Rock, Texas as the Marketing Intern at their Convention and Visitors Bureau. This opportunity has taught a lot about myself in a professional world. It has also helped that I have great office mates! Granted they’re all my superiors, I don’t know if this job would be quite as easy to wake-up and get to if it wasn’t for them.

I’ve considered for awhile writing about my experience thus far, and offering advice to fellow students who’re seeking internships, or students who have been awarded internships, but haven’t started yet. I’m hopeful to get some of my PR pro buddies from the Twitterverse involved here to offer more great advice, but we’ll see what happens!

Now to begin:

1. Do not be afraid to talk with your superiors. As intimidating as they may seem, especially with awesome job titles ranging from Director of the office of Awesome to Marketing Specialist, it’s okay to speak to them. They’re people too, and chances are they remember their time as a young professional. If you’re having trouble with your assignments don’t be afraid to ask for their help. If you knew how to do everything you wouldn’t need an internship!
2. Do not diminish your own abilities. There may come a time when you become concerned whether or not you’re good enough for the job. These are the moments when every time you write a news release, radio copy, script or whatever else may be written in your position you will second guess your choice of words. Should I use that adjective to describe that noun? Did they really adverb that verb like that? I’m willing to wholeheartedly assure you that someone in that office knows you’re good enough. Why would they have hired you if you weren’t?
3. Do work like you’ve never worked before! Prior to your internship you’ve had jobs before. Whether it was chores for your parents or sacking groceries at the H.E.B., it was a job. Almost all of the rules you know about that job are about to change. Prior to my job here I was working for my university in two positions, as a Physics lab instructor and Webmaster for the Recreational Sports Dept. Both of these jobs afforded a lot of freedoms. I didn’t really have to watch what I was doing, in both positions there was an attitude of, “As long as the work is done, who cares how it got there.” In my new office I’m expected to do all of my daily tasks, plus anything new that comes up that my superiors feel I should take care of. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. Sometimes it’s a walk in the park. Whatever position you find yourself in, perform your work as if it’s make or break. If you do poorly the firm fails, if you do well the firm is Fortune 500.
4. Bring your lunch to work. This more or less pertains to your budget. As tempting as it is to go out to lunch, and have delicious foods everyday. Sometimes it’s better to just bite the bullet and have a sandwich. Internships come in many flavors between paid and not. If it’s paid, great save your money, eat a sandwich. If it’s unpaid, sorry, eat a sandwich.

Out of those of you out there, what bit of intern advice do you have to offer?

I can’t believe I forgot this! @CubanaLAF posted a great blog today, The How (Not) Guide to PR ,that also contains lots of handy advice, though it pertains mostly to the PR field.