We Accept the Internship We Think We Deserve

The first day at an internship can be a lot like the first day of school when growing up. You are excited to see how your new boss operates, curious to see what peers you will get along with, and overall anxious about what lies ahead. When discussing internships throughout college, we are always told “do’s and don’t’s” or “what to wear,” but the topic of how to handle an internship that may not be giving what you deserve in return is never discussed. As a college student can be intimidating and discouraging to be at an internship that doesn’t provide you with what you feel they should, so below are some things I’ve learned along the way in how to handle that type of situation.

First off, they chose YOU. You should be confident in yourself and understand they brought you on board for a reason. A first internship during your freshman or sophomore year is the best time to grow and get a feel for an office environment. Since it is your first internship, I would say it is fair to give the company a hall pass if it is not the most structured internship program. If you find yourself doing irrelevant work sometimes, take what you can from it because you can benefit in other ways from it. As an upperclassman, it is important you chose a company that will not do that and teach you real skills for your industry. Going into your senior year, you should not be at an internship that is making you hand out flyers and go on coffee runs, ESPECIALLY if it is unpaid. Even though we are just interns, that doesn’t mean you should not be treated respectfully and feel a

part of the company.

It can be awkward deciding when it is the most appropriate time to say something to your boss if you feel things are out of hand. Always start off by asking for more work to do, or if there is a cool project you are interested in, let them know you are and you would like to help out in any way. Volunteer at events your company holds to show them you are interested in being a part of the company. If worse comes to worse and things still don’t get better it may be time to leave. Always leave on a good note and be professional about leaving by letting them know at least two weeks in advance like you would at a real job. Never burn bridges and always be nice know matter what the situation is.

In our field, there are a lot of unpaid internships, but at the same time you can find paid ones if you try. Internships should be exciting and a learning experience. They are not always rainbows and butterflies, but overall you should leave feeling you took some great things away.

By Gabrielle Lacherza 

Saying "I Do" to a Wedding Planning Internship

While studying public relations in the classroom, my interests always swayed towards event planning.  This summer I accepted an offer to intern with the company Something Blu Weddings and Events.  I had zero experience in wedding planning before this summer, but was ready to get my feet wet.  Although its only been about a month and a half since wedding bells starting ringing, I have compiled a list of little tips you should consider if you say “I do” to a wedding planning internship.

1.    Check the weather the day of.  The weather changes far too often not to make sure you have a couple umbrellas packed.  Maybe even five.  My first wedding with my internship, it down poured during the ceremony at the church. At one point, a couple of us were standing outside holding giant umbrellas over a convertible car the couple planned to drive off in. (Don’t worry, we had it covered both figuratively and literally).

2.     Do not rely on anyone else to get your job done.  The wedding planner is the one who crosses the T’s and dots the I’s. The last thing you want is a dinner table that should have eight guests and only having seven chairs.  Do not assume everything is done right, check and see it yourself. 

3.    Always keep your car clean. This one almost goes without saying, but you never know who will need to jump in the car with you.  It might even be the bride! 

4.  Stay calm!  Although sometimes wedding planning can be very stressful, never project that emotion in front your client.  One of the main purposes of your job is to make sure your client is stress and worry free.  So smile, take a deep breath, and get on with the show. 

The first wedding can leave an intern a little overwhelmed.  So after spending your hours making sure the client’s wedding is perfect, you deserve to relax and unwind.  For those of you who are of age, enjoy a nice glass of wine after your hard work.  The wedding may have stressed you out, but the amount of gratitude you will receive from the happy couple will surpass any challenging obstacle faced.

I am thrilled I went outside of my comfort zone and tried an internship that is challenging and something new.  Actually, I am thrilled I tried an internship that is Something Blu.

For more information on Something Blu Weddings and Events please visit: http://www.somethingbluwed.com/Home_Page.html 

This guest blog was written by PRowl staff member Brittany Barish.

The TRUTH About Unpaid Interns

Last week, PR Daily posted this article featuring 5 things not to expect from an unpaid intern. The article basically tells internship coordinators and PR pros who will work with these interns to brace themselves. It describes unpaid interns as slackers who won't be motivated to be great interns if they aren't being paid to do so.

Having completed two unpaid internships with a third in progress, I know a few things about being an unpaid intern. The PR Daily article definitely does not describe any successful intern I've ever met, paid or unpaid. While being paid to intern is great and a big help to many, it should not be your only criteria when selecting an internship, nor should it determine the type of intern you will be. I know plenty of students who have held multiple unpaid internships and walked away with a wealth of knowledge of their field. I also know people who have held multiple paid internships, and only walked away with a paycheck.

That being said, here are three things I believe you should actually expect from an unpaid intern:

1. They are passionate about their field: Knowing that twice a week I get to wake up and do what I'm most passionate about is the best feeling in the world. Unpaid interns do what they do because they love what they do. Doing the job for free shows that they refuse to put a numerical value on their passion.

2. They will give it their all: Despite what PR Daily says about unpaid interns giving their all, I believe that an unpaid intern will put everything they have into an internship. Many times, interns are upperclassman (juniors and seniors) who will be searching for long term employment in the near future. They cannot afford to risk a bad recommendation  an underdeveloped resume, or to lose industry connections. For these reasons, along with many others, unpaid interns will give their all to their internships!

3. They want to learn and grow: My favorite part about interning is getting a chance to observe the workplace environment. You learn the most from just observing how your superiors go about things and handle certain situations. Unpaid interns, as they aren't being paid, want to leave with a takeaway, and that takeaway is knowledge. The goal of every intern should be to know more by the end of their internship about the field than they did when they started.

Have you ever held or are you currently holding an unpaid internship? Do you think less is expected of you than a paid intern? What did you think of PR Daily's article? Share your thoughts!!

Summer Internship: Is It Too Late to Find One?

The simple answer is no. It is not too late to find a summer internship. Summer does not technically begin until June 21 so there is still time! While it might be too late to receive school credit for one, if you are looking to gain first hand experience in the PR industry, start searching today.

Here are a few tips to help get your internship search started:

1. Reevaluate your resume: Take a better look at your resume. Make sure you are highlighting things that are relevant to the PR world. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Switch up you "pitch" email. Updating and editing your resume should take place every few months to help ensure you resume is fresh and really speaks to your experience within the field. 

2. Check your school career center: This is a great way to find opportunities that is often overlooked. Reach out to your adviser.

3. Think outside of PR: Being able to get creative and take your search for an internship outside of the typical PR agency is a great way to find hidden opportunities. I once interned at an insurance company and had one of the best experiences to date. Consider other outlets and you never know what you'll find.

How did you find your summer internship? We want to know!

Exposing Myths About Virtual Internships

Last Summer, after securing one internship at a local public relations agency, I was offered another position as a virtual intern. The internship required me to log a certain amount of hours working from home, completing various projects, and being available for conference calls with supervisors and clients. Having one in-office internship and a work from home internship was a great way to gain two very different types of experiences. Many of my friends assumed that my virtual internship was less work, and didn't require much time or dedication, but this was absolutely not the case! That is only one of the myths about virtual internships or working from home.

Here 4 disproved myths from Ragan's list of work from home myths.

Myth: Working from home means you can relax more and not take work seriously.

FALSE! While telecommuting does mean you can often be more flexible about your hours, you still have to dedicate a set amount of time to getting work done.

Myth: If you aren't surrounded by other employees, you will not be as motivated to get work and assignments done.

FALSE! During my virtual internship, I had to communicate with other interns via email, Skype, and phone calls to discuss or progress with certain projects. Knowing that I would have to bring something to the table always motivated me to get my work done!

Myth: It is harder to find time to communicate with the client when you work from home.

FALSE! When I first accepted my position as a virtual intern, I also had to submit my availability  and commit to remaining available at those times. Knowing that I had to be around to be reached at certain times meant that my virtual internship always knew when they could get in contact with me.

Myth: Virtual interns aren't involved with brainstorming and planning.

FALSE! Many of the phone and Skype meetings that we would have were strictly about brainstorming new ideas and planning new projects. One of the major benefits of have virtual interns is that you can find people from many different walks of life to provide fresh ideas!

Have you ever heard of or had a virtual internship? Share your experiences with us!

An Intern of all Trades

At my first internship, I remember feeling as if I had to be a little bit of everything to everyone in the office. I would sit through weekly staff meetings, and it seemed that I would be assigned to help out on projects that often were completely separate of one another. One of my favorite things about interning at such a diverse agency was getting to see and help with projects for so many different clients. As exciting as it was, it was easy to feel overwhelmed. Staff meetings were only held once weekly, meaning on Monday I could be assigned something to do for Friday, which could be easily forgotten by Wednesday. In situations like these, I found that I had to become a Jane, or Intern, of all trades. I had to learn to do a few things very well, including managing myself. Here are a few tips to help you become an intern of all trades:

Always keep a notebook, and write down everything- There is no such thing as an unimportant detail. When assignments are being given out or projects are being discussed, it is better to have too much written down than to be missing crucial pieces of information.

Be on time- Being on time can often mean being a little early in the intern world and it definitely means never being late. Show up with enough time to get yourself settled and prepared so that you aren’t scrambling when it’s time to get started. If you have to commute, be sure to map out enough time to get there, and plan to be delayed along the way.

Ask questions – Don’t wait until the hour an assignment is due to ask for clarity. Review what work needs to be done ahead of time, and ask for help as you go along.

Be invested – Take the time to do a little research on the clients you are working with. The more you know about what you’re doing, the more likely you are to be passionate about it.

An internship is your chance to gain real professional experience. The more you put into your internship, the more you will get out of it!

Hunting Season

As the start of spring semester rapidly approaches and I hear about my classmates obtaining various internships and receive several internship opportunity emails from my school listserv, it got me thinking, when is the right time to apply for internships? I've always struggled with this, tending to procrastinate deadlines like these. Of course, the time frames differ according to when you want to intern for a organization, but below are some guidelines as to when to apply to an internship:

For a fall internship: Some people suggest to start around spring break. It is always a good idea to start earlier rather than later, but as long as you have your applications in by the start of summer, you should be fine. Of course, pay attention to incoming emails from your school and always have a fresh copy of your resume and a cover letter ready to send off, just in case.

For a spring internship: November is prime time for applying to a spring internship. Many students will apply between November and even early January so be mindful of your competition.

For a summer internship: Many times, summer internships are special or extended programs, so they will require a little more planning. Most students start applying between February to March. But there is no harm in reaching out to an organization and asking when they will being accepting applications for the summer. That way, you'll be the first in line.

The above guidelines are generalized, some specialized and competitive programs require an application six months to a year prior to the desired internship period. Scope out all of the internships you are interested in and create a timeline for applying.

5 “Don’ts” For The First Week of an Internship

The first week of a new internship can be an intimidating experience for most people, and trying to remember every small detail while on the job can be hard. With the start of spring internships right around the corner, it is important to keep these 5 “Don’ts” in mind during your first week:

1. Don’t be overwhelmed- The first week of an internship can be an overwhelming experience. Many times your boss will load you up with multiple assignments because they are happy to have the help, and you might feel way out of your league when you go to sit back down at your desk. However, this is not the case! Take a deep breath, give yourself a pep-talk and prioritize your assignments, making sure to allot extra time to more detailed tasks. 

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions- Sometimes it can be easy to think of internships as things that enhance a resume and forget that they are huge learning opportunities. Ask questions! Not only about an assignments, but industry questions as well. Curiosity and a thirst to learn is an attractive quality to an employer, and shows that you’re there to make the most of your experience. 

3. Don’t be distracted- In the linked-in world we live in today, it is easy to want to communicate with friends through texts and Twitter while on the clock, but resist the urge to be absorbed in your phone all day. Being 100% engaged in your work shows your interest and dedication to the job.

4. Don’t turn down any offers from your boss - In the first week on a job, many things are thrown your way. Lunch outings, sitting in on meetings and staff team building opportunities might seem to take a back seat to your assignments, but they are just as important. Take advantage of sitting in on a meeting or conference call. Showing an interest in your new work environment will allow co-workers to get to know you better and make you feel more comfortable.

5. Don’t run out the door at 5 p.m. on Friday without touching base with HR- Although 5 p.m. Friday might be looking like the answer to your prayers after a long first week, make sure to drop in the Human Resources office before leaving and let them know how you like the internship. Tell them about some of the things you have already learned and accomplished in your first week. They will be happy that you thought to touch base with them and pleased to hear the feedback. As always, thanking them for the job opportunity once more can’t hurt!

Most importantly: have fun and don’t be too hard on yourself! As time progresses you will get more comfortable with your boss, assignments and new environment. Your hard work and efforts landed you this internship; you are there for a reason!

What are some suggestions you might have for new interns? Leave us a comment!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Tessa Cohn.

Stand Out from the Crowd

During my time at my internship with the National Constitution Center, I've had the opportunity to sit in on several meetings about the launching of our newest exhibit American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. While sitting at these meetings, I can't help but be entertained by all of the goings-on. I feel like I'm at a tennis matching, my head bobbing back and forth to follow the fast-paced comments of everyone in the room. It's easy to see who gets the most floor time, but why is that? In "How to Be a Superstar in Meetings," Bruna Martinuzzi makes the following observations:

Be a front-seater: Be involved; speak up when you have an opinion on a particular topic. Avoid behing a wall flower. The more present you are, the more of a chance you will have to be heard. 

Build on the ideas of others: Pay close attention to what your colleagues are saying. Feel free to take something your colleague just said and add your own perspective. What can you add? What would you change? Do so in a constructive manner and your coworkers will appreciate your willingness to offer your own insight.

Criticize ideas, not people: It's an important professional lesson to never step on the toes of your coworkers. You can offer criticism in a constructive way, without embarrassing anyone. Voice your concerns by asking for clarification and building from there. 

Make positivity your hallmark: Obviously you can't be positive all the time, but strive to be a team player by highlighting what has been working rather than focusing on all of the things that need to be kicked to the curb.

Be brief to be heard: Some of these meetings are only 45 minutes long with a 2 hour agenda. Be brief but concise in what you say so that everyone can get a handle of what you're saying and tackle it while still keeping the meeting moving.

Do you have any other ideas on building rapport during meetings? Let us know!

Questions That Will Show You Care

As a first time intern, to say I have a lot to learn is an understatement. In just a few months I've gained some great experience and learned a lot of lessons, but I still have a long way to go. One lesson I learned very quickly is the importance of asking quality questions. Coming to your internship with good questions shows your superiors that you are eager to learn and that you are paying attention. Here are 5 great questions every eager intern should ask:

Are there any case studies on past clients that I can read? - Asking to read past case studies and reports on former clients shows that you are invested in the company and what it does. When you go over case studies, be sure to make note of how and when certain strategies and practices were used. This will definitely be helpful to your future.

What is your job description? - This question is a great way to not only find out more about the people you work with, but help decide where your interest in the industry is. Make note of which job titles and descriptions appeal to you for future reference.

Could I possibly see some examples? - Writing a press release or media alert for the first time can be very stressful. Ask some of the staff members you work with to show you examples of things they have written before. Once you see how it's done, be sure to keep the documents handy to reference later.

Ask them anything! - There is no such thing as a stupid question in the world of interning. If you aren't sure how or why something is done, ask about it. Keep a notepad with you so you can jot down questions as they come up. Make the most out of your internship by learning and asking everything you can.

If you have more great questions to ask, share them with us!