Chet Reads & Writes* » Public Relations

For The Benefit of The Interns

Chet — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:23:10 +0000

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:

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!
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?
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.
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.

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Is this the Real World?

Chet — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:00:38 +0000

This semester I was asked by one of my professors to be Firm Principal of my university’s first student-run public relations firm. I leaped at this opportunity to gain as much real-world experience as possible before stepping off stage in August and into an office. At first it seemed like we were children putting on our parents clothes and going to “work”. However, things have gotten real now.

In the few weeks that we’ve been in operation I’ve had to drastically change the way I run my life. I used to procrastinate like no one’s business, but now I have to stay on top of everything and everyone all of the time, or else we fall behind. I’ve also quickly had to adjust to the different styles and work ethics of my fellow students. Everyone does everything differently, and they all have different attitudes about when and how they should do their work. It may become frustrating and overwhelming at times, but I’m pulling a lot out of these experiences.

I’ll try to blog about my work with the firm more often, however I will be keeping all client data strictly confidential. So boo to all you snoopers out there.

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Take Note

Chet — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:01:11 +0000

This past weekend I was in Frisco, TX at the annual Texas Public Relations Association Conference. This is my second year to attend, and I had just as great an experience this time as last. I went to the conference in order to learn and expand my ideas on the Public Relations field, and of course to spread my network. I traversed the wilderness of PR professionals, armed with my conversational skills and business card. Of course I was handing out my newest business card designed by the ultra talented Melissa (see her work at http://melissadesigns.com), and since I handed out those I decided it was time to unveil my newest site design. I’m extremely happy with it, and hope to have the last few touches added on soon. Leave some love about ideas on how to improve the design.

Now enough self gratification, it’s time to discuss what I learned. It’s time to jump on the bandwagon ladies and gentlemen, and join the Twitter-verse. It is the biggest thing in the PR field, and professionals every where are either loving it, hating it, or scurrying to catch up. The entirety of this year’s conference was highlighted by social media, from Tweets to wikis. From what I understand there was also a superb presentation on communicating with Millennials. I bypassed this session for another, but I have friends who are going to fill me in on the Millennials session.

I did learn a small bit about using Twitter in ways I had not yet considered. I didn’t learn any new functionality, but I will take my new knowledge and expound on that. I’ve always thought that Social Media was a very strong tool for relations building, but I never moved on it. Now there are people making livings off of social media marketing. It’s insane how long it took to catch on, yet how fast it’s spreading.

I’m excited to see what the world will church out next in this time of always being connected.

Excited to be back in the blogosphere!

ChetG

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