Pros and Cons of Extending Your Internship

Congratulations, you were offered an internship for a company, organization or non-profit. Whether it is paid or not, it is a new and exciting opportunity to grow and learn in the communications, marketing or advertising field. So you spent the semester interning doing a variety of tasks and projects. Now it’s the end of the semester  and you have the choice to find another internship or extend and stay at the same place for another semester. Of my past three internships, I extended two for a second semester and enjoyed every second of it. Keep in mind, there are pros and cons of extending your internship.

Pros

-Continuing to Grow and Learn

By continuing your internship, you can grow more in the same company. You have already spent a full semester proving yourself, and staying longer can help you gain more responsibility and duties. It also allows you to get to know the company better and lets you explore different departments.

-Strengthening Relationships

Staying at the same place for an additional semester will help you strengthen relationships. You will continue to get to know you supervisors and co-workers and vice versa. Being there another semester will allow you to really get comfortable and fully trust each other. It also gives you more time to network and get their advice to help you advance in your career.

- Job Opportunities

Professionals are always on the prowl for new opportunities. You never know when someone at the company you are interning at is going to leave for another opportunity. By extending your internship, you supervisor already knows how you work, so you could be a top contender for the job.

Cons

-Less Internship Diversity

Being at the same place will lead to a smaller number of total employers and less diversity in your work experience. Exploring a variety of internships can help you figure out what fields you enjoy and don’t enjoy so much.

-Stunting Growth

At some internships, you can only grow and learn so much. Thise internship may have been great for one semester but you might have learned and done all you can do there. Staying an additional semester may not help you grow more because you will just repeat the same jobs and tasks. Moving on may be the best to learn new skills.

Whether you stay or search for a new internship opportunity, good luck in you internships and always remember to work hard and never be afraid to ask for help!

This blog post was written by PRowl Secretary Shaun Luberski.

Breaking Bonds: Friendship Troubles in PR

It isn’t a secret that PR majors make great friends.

We are outgoing, driven, and full of energy that often spills into various parts of our life.

However, our passion for PR and success can lead to trouble, especially when we are friends with other PR majors.

Suppose your best friend lands an internship that you wanted, or gets to shadow at your dream company before you do?

Situations like these happen often, and it can muddy friendships faster than fights over significant others or shared articles of clothing.

So what can you do to prevent or solve these sticky situations before they arise?

First, it is helpful to have a chat with your PR bestie. Take time to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and agree upon not letting your friendship be affected by work.

Sure, it may be upsetting for your friends to get opportunities that you wanted, but at the same time, you should be glad that they are able to succeed.

Another step you could take is agree to not apply for the same positions, unless absolutely necessary. In cities, there are thousands of potential internships that can be applied for, and chances are, you and your friend aren’t interested in the same field of PR. By applying for different positions, there will be no hard feelings regardless of the turnout.

However, if you both are interested in the same field or the same company, then it may be best to revert to the first tip, which is agreeing to be happy for each other regardless of the turnout.

Regardless of the situation, remember that you are friends for a reason, and even though the job search may get tough, you have each other for support.

Do you have any stories regarding your love-hate relationship with a friend over a job or internship? If so, we want to hear from you below in the comments!

3 Things to Consider Before Quitting Your Internship

Internships are essential for growing your resume and gaining experience throughout your professional journey. Yet and still, not every internship leaves you feeling prepared and established; some leave much to be desired. And in the most extreme cases, there may be cause to check out early and spare yourself some time wasted.

Quitting your internship can be a hard decision to make, and shouldn't be done without careful consideration. Even when it's best to leave, you want to be sure you've covered all of your bases and exit without burning any bridges.

If your internship isn't going as well as you expected, and you think you may be reaching the tipping point, here are some steps you can take before handing in your notice:

Seek out a mentor

Mentors are great personal and professional resources to have, especially when making difficult decisions. If your aren't having the greatest internship experience, try seeking out an older or more experienced mentor who you can confide in about your concerns. Ask for advice, or what they would do in your shoes. They may be able to provide an alternative or means to turn your situation around.

Talk with your supervisor

Your internship supervisor is there to assist and guide you through your internship. If your experience isn't executing as you planned it would, try setting up a meeting and talking about your role with your supervisor. If you thought you'd be writing more or handling media relations, express that to your supervisor. There may be more of what you expect down the road. It's also a good time for your supervisor to recognize your drive and see how willing you are to do and learn more during your time with the organization.

Provide some solutions

If you know exactly which aspects of your internship are causing you to consider leaving, come up with some possible solutions to the issue. Present these to your boss and see if they'd be willing to let you steer the rest of your time in that direction. Some internship programs don't give interns certain responsibilities simply because they haven't thought of it yet. This is another chance to show your drive and commitment to your position.

If you feel that you've covered all of your basis and ultimately want to leave, be sure to do so as professionally as possible. Provide at least two weeks notice, and thank everyone for providing you the opportunity. Always maintain a healthy professional relationship, because you never know when you'll need them again.

Have you ever quit an internship? What steps did you take before deciding to quit? Share with us in the comments!

Three Things No One Tells You About PR

Coming into college as a PR major, I had no idea what to expect. Of course, I knew that having strong writing skills was a necessity and that my life wouldn’t be anything like that of Samantha Jones, but there were many unknowns I faced.

Now a second-semester sophomore, I have faced the beginning trials and tribulations that come with the PR major territory, and there are many things that I came to learn very quickly that I wasn’t prepared for:

1. Responding to Emails Becomes a Second Job: When you start your college experience in PR, the first emails you will be in charge of responding to are from your professors and teaching assistants. However, once you begin joining student organizations, taking on internships, and attending networking events, your inbox will come close to imploding on many occasions. Be sure to keep track of emails as they are received, and try to respond in a timely matter.

2. PR is everywhere: Like me, you may have entered college not knowing how to describe your major to your family. Also, your idea of what careers you can go into after college may be limited to agency or entertainment PR. However, after hearing from guest speakers and having PR classes, you will learn that every career field has a PR element affiliated with it. If you are interested in health, there is a PR field for that. If you want to work for a college communication department, you could try your hand at education PR. PR is everywhere, and once you realize that, you can truly start your journey towards your dream career.

3. Interning is Key: This may seem obvious, but if it isn’t a graduation requirement, a student may overlook the importance of having an internship! College is busy enough with classes and part time jobs, however, having an internship is an essential step in preparing for the real world after college. By taking at least one (if not more than one) internship in your collegiate career will put you at a higher level of security for when you graduate from your school.

Are there other things you wish you had known before you started college as a PR major? Let us know in the comments!

Finding Your Perfect Fall Internship: Don’t Settle!

The summer air is beginning to cool off, and all of the PR newsletters you subscribe to are popping up in your inbox containing key words and phrases like “internships” and “fall opportunities”.

If you are like many aspiring PR professionals, you hope to have at least one internship under your belt before you graduate college and enter the job market.

However, picking an internship isn’t always as easy as filling out an application and getting an interview.
Even if you are able to navigate the interview and application process without a problem, what if after you have spent a week in the office, you realize that you won’t have a positive experience at the company?

This may sound obscure, however, it is very common in the realm of internships.

What if your internship coordinator is too demanding, or what if he or she is too laid back? What if your main task of the day involves being the runner for coffee?

Although it can happen, there are plenty of ways to avoid getting into an internship that won’t help you grow:

1.Gather Info: Do you like the sound of that agency in Center City? If so, reach out to a worker and see if you can schedule an informational interview. Unlike actual job interviews, informational interviews allow a potential intern or employee to ask various questions about the company of their interest to a staff member without having to apply first. Not only will this give you the opportunity to ask important questions, but it will also get you a connection within the company for when you apply!

2.Blast from the Past: Doing a quick LinkedIn search of the company you may want to intern with may help you find students who previously interned with the company. Take a look at their profiles to see what kind of duties performed while interning, and perhaps if you share connections, reach out to them to see what their experience was like.

3.Close Reading: It seems simple, but reading the job description posted online for an internship very closely can help you determine if you want to reconsider applying. If the job description doesn’t interest you or your qualifications aren't what they are looking for, you may need to wait until they do match or find another company you are interested in.

How did you find your perfect internship? Let us know in the comments below!

New Perspectives: Why Every PR Professional Should Consider Applying For A Journalism Internship

For the past two summers, I have been interning at a suburban newspaper in my hometown.

As a public relations major, I am often asked why I continue to pursue internships in the journalism realm.

I always give the same, one-word answer: experience.

It is common for people to overlook how connected journalism and public relations are. There is a co-dependency between each field because professionals in both spheres rely on one another to do their jobs effectively.

 For example, a PR professional needs to pitch their client’s or company’s events or findings to media outlets for exposure, and journalists need to have contact with PR professionals so they are able to write important material for their publications.

Throughout my internship, I have had the opportunity to communicate with many PR professionals and get an inside look at what journalists expect from them.

I've been sent the good, the bad, and the ugly press releases and media alerts, and I've had many conversations with journalists about their pet-peeves regarding PR outreach.

I have also been able to network with the PR professionals I reach out to, and often times, I have made a connection with them regarding their PR background.

Now, as I pursue other PR opportunities, I will be able to look upon my experience and I will be able to tailor my press releases to the needs and preferences of journalists.

Also, having that insider perspective may be helpful in landing PR internship opportunities in the future.

Being able to say that I have explored various realms of media and communication shows that I have many abilities and levels of experience, which may be the factor that could put me ahead of other candidates in an interview setting.

Have you had an internship in a field that has helped you in your journey towards becoming a PR professional? If so, we would love to hear from you!

How to Stand Out at Your Internship: A Cheat Sheet

As young public relations professionals, we always try our best to make a great impression on the employees of the companies that we work for as interns . However, in order to secure stunning letters of recommendation and LinkedIn endorsements, it is important to become the intern your internship coordinators will talk about for semesters to come!

Becoming a stellar intern isn't as difficult as it may seem ,but it does require more than just sitting at your cubicle:

Ask Questions: An internship is as much a learning experience as it is an opportunity to lend your talents to a real-world company. When you are surrounded by professionals who are living your dreams, it can be beneficial to not only ask them questions when they come up about the work you are doing, but also ask them about your dream position and what advice they could give to someone who wishes to follow in their footsteps. Not only will this give you more of an understanding of your career field, but it will show your co-workers that you are serious about your professional life.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for More: It is common for an overseer at an internship to give an intern a bit less work than they are used to in order to see how much they can complete in a day. If the work load is too small and you finish early, don’t be afraid to ask for more. Your coordinator will be impressed by your confidence, and you will be able to get more experience from your internship.

Make Every Second Count: It can be tempting on a slow day to check your social networks or do homework at your internship, but it isn't worth it. You aren't there for downtime, you are there to learn and get as much professional experience as possible. If your coordinator is unable to send you any more assignments at the moment (see above), create your own work! Perhaps while you are researching ideas to improve a company’s social media platforms, you will find something that your coordinator or boss will thank you for later.

Remember, a semester internship is only a few months long, so it is important to use your time wisely and make a great impression on your co-workers and coordinators every day you are in the office.

How to Handle Rejection

I'm not talking about getting turned down for a date--you'll have to go to another blog for advice on that one. I'm talking about job rejection. Whether you're about to graduate and applying for your first full-time position, you're an eager student applying for summer internships, or you're just looking to make a career change, there's a chance you could be facing some rejection sometime soon.

Getting a rejection letter or email for a job that you carefully crafted a cover letter and tailored your resume to can be pretty discouraging, but I prefer to think on the bright side of things and I've come up with some ways to handle rejection and turn it into something positive.

1. Learn from it
Maybe you can pin-point what you said (or didn't say) that caused your job-quest to end in rejection, or maybe you're not quite sure. Go back through the job description and look at the skills and think of ones you might not have highlighted enough or ones you could improve on. Think back to the interview process and consider what you might have done better or changed. Use this opportunity to reflect and improve.

2. Understand it
In a perfect world, every employer would call the people they reject and tell them exactly why they aren't getting hired. Unfortunately, that's usually not the case and it's up to you to figure it out. Try and think about the office atmosphere, the type of work they do, and the way they do it. You might have had all the qualifications, but not have been the right fit for that company. If they didn't think you were a right fit for them, they probably weren't a right fit for you anyway.

3. Use it to your advantage
In interviews you might get asked "what's your biggest failure?" or "talk about a time you didn't succeed and how you handled it". Job rejection is a perfect scenario to use in an answer to this question. You will learn from it and it will help you along the way, whether you realize it now or not, and employers will be impressed with how you handled it and all the ways you used it to become a better PR pro.

4. Chin up, soldier
Remember, there are hundreds of opportunities out there for you. Don't let one rejection get you down or stand in your way of doing the best you can. Keep looking for jobs and internships and you'll find the right one, even if it's somewhere you might not expect.

How have you handled job rejection? We want to hear from you.

5 Questions Interns Are Never Told To Ask

Interns are given a lot of advice, but one topic that is consistently brought up is the importance of asking questions. Many of the questions that interns are encouraged to ask relate to how they can do more, see more, and get more from their internship experiences. While these things are important, and those questions should be asked, there are other burning questions that should not remain in the dark.

1. Could I take on less responsibilities during the day?

This question may seem absurd, interns are expected to be fully there, and accomplish as much as possible. But the fact is, especially in this day and age, interns are working for free - volunteering their time and efforts because they want to learn and grow. These interns are normally full time students with part-time or even full-time jobs and other responsibilities. If an intern feels that they are being given more work than their volunteer status should have, he or she should feel comfortable speaking up.

2. Could I be compensated for travel expenses?

Internship postings usually state right off the bat whether or not they are paid or unpaid. While an organization may not be able to compensate you hourly or by providing a stipend, some may be able to assist with travel costs. Interns may be eligible to receive free or discounted parking, or funds towards the costs of public transit.

3. Is there a policy for calling out or leaving early?

Part of interning is setting aside the time to show up and truly be there. However, when you are a full time student with other responsibilities, sometimes you may have to forego hours in the office to fulfill other commitments - such as studying for an exam or picking up extra hours at work. In these situations, it is helpful to know if your internship has a policy for absences, or if they allow interns to work remotely.

4. Could I be introduced to X person?

Internships provide the perfect platform for students to truly grow and develop their networks. A good intern knows who does what within their organization and what contacts those people have. Asking your boss to introduce you to someone, even if it is just via email, should not be an unsettling question. Simply ask politely, and let your boss know why this introduction or meeting is important to you and your professional development.

5. Will I be expected to complete assignments outside of the office on my off days?

We are always told to ask what our supervisors will expect when we are on the job, but rarely do we ask about other expectations they may have. There will be times when projects come up suddenly, and your boss could expect you to help out even if you aren't scheduled to come into the office. It is important to ask up front about outside work, especially if you know that you may not be able to meet this expectation due to other commitments.

As an intern, you should always feel comfortable vocalizing any questions or concerns that you have. Do not expect that something is "the norm." If it doesn't feel quite right - ask about it. Remember to always be polite and professional, and open with your superiors. In the end, they will respect you more for taking an active role in your professional development.

Spend Spring Break Thinking About Post-Grad

Spring break is the perfect time to start thinking about post-grad opportunities. You finally have some free time to start planning your course of action.

Grad school?
Full-time internship?
Full-time job?
Travel?
Move back home?

The possibilities are endless to the point where soon-to-be graduates are practically drowning in them. If you're anything like me you have about a thousand questions and a lot of different ideas (some irrational, some totally plausible) about what's going to happen after May.

If you're considering grad school, here's a great resource from Pearson that offers the why's and why not's, FAQ's and other helpful resources to answer all your questions.

If you're not quite ready to enter the real-world workforce, a full-time internship this summer is a great alternative. You can gain more experience without the pressure of committing to a real job.

If you have a yen for travel now is the time. Ask for a trip for your graduation present! If you don't go now, you might never go at all. The only people who have more free time than recent grads are retired seniors.

Are you looking to save some money? Moving back home is something many post-grads do. As long as you're sure you're doing it to save money and not just hide from your real-world responsibilities, it can be a sensible option.

If you're totally ready to start your full-time job then spring break is the ideal time to start looking around and applying. Make a list of the places you might like to be and then search for companies, organizations or agencies in those places. Be aware of what type of environment you want to work in; is it formal where you have to wear business professional or are you looking for an informal place where you can wear jeans? A company's website can tell you a lot about the atmosphere.

Some great job resources are LinkedIn groups, Indeed.com, CareerBuilder.com or your college or university's career center!

What are some ways you're preparing for post-graduation? Not planning on looking for jobs for a while? Tell us why!

Intern vs. Employee: Whose Job is Harder?

You might think there is an obvious answer to this question and wonder why I'm bringing it to debate at all.  It seems like a no brainer, why would a part-time (or even full-time) intern have a harder job than someone actually employed by the company?

Let's break it down:

Employee

• 40 hour work week (but let's be real, in PR we all know it's more)
• Multiple clients, projects, meetings, etc.
• Work-life balance challenges
• Inter-company relationship maintenance

Intern

• Busy work 
• Smaller tasks
• Part-time (generally)
• School-work-life balance

The biggest difference between the intern and the employee is that the job isn't the intern's end-all. They aren't bound to this company for an extended amount of time like an employee is. However, the employee is there every day. They're familiar with the in's and out's of the people they work with and the clients they have.

I think it's harder being the intern because you're NOT there every day. Even if you are, you're not included in every email chain and every meeting. It's hard to get completely familiarized with every client to the proper extent when the job isn't your main focus because of school, extra curricular activities, etc.

Which do you think is more difficult? Have you had an experience where you struggled as an intern but felt that if you were employed you would succeed?

The Great Debate: Education vs. Experience

There has been something on my mind lately as I apply for internships and begin another semester here at Temple. Should I be focusing more of my time on internships or my classes? When it comes to getting a job after college, what is valued more in an employee: experience or education? 

There have been many opinions stated in favor of one or the other. However, I would argue that both matter, especially in the public relations field, experience not only compliments a degree, it is necessary to get a job.

I believe that an education makes for a foundation of a skill. However, for an education to be valuable, one has to make the most of it by taking advantage of the opportunities that campus offers. Certainly, a high class standing and grade point average are important and will help contribute to getting a job.

However, how can you perfect the skills you have learned without real-world practice? Think of it this way: when you are in an interview, usually the interviewer is looking for what experience you have in that field.

That is why, in the public relations profession, internships, shadowing, and volunteer opportunities are important. These experiences, along with a degree, will help to prepare you for the workforce. A company is going to feel more comfortable hiring someone who has past experience rather than someone with an education alone.

So, as we venture out into the professional world, what will your resume show? I hope that it is a blend of an educational base along with knowledge and experience of the PR world! What’s your opinion on the debate? We would love to know!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Kaitlyn Mashack.

To Pay or Not to Pay the Interns…

That is the question still being debated today. Over the last few years the debate about paying interns has increasingly heated up, with the first story breaking in 2010 when two interns won the lawsuit they filed against 20^th Century Fox for not being paid a proper salary while working on the Black Swan film set. Since then, more and more interns have begun coming forward, demanding compensation for the long hours they have tirelessly put in.

Several weeks after a judge ruled in favor of the Black Swan interns, two other interns filed a lawsuit against their previous employer, publisher Conde Nast in the same court for violations of labor law. This lawsuit alleges that W magazine and the New Yorker violated New York and federal labor laws by forming unpaid internships like an actual job, rather than a learning opportunity, and seeks to recover wages for the two interns named in the lawsuit. Conde Nast “failed to pay members of the Intern Class minimum wages for all hours worked to which they are entitled under [New York labor law],” the lawsuit says. Over time the internship system has been truly challenged, spurring a movement that has caused more than 15 other lawsuits to be brought to court.

In addition to lawsuits, the Fair Pay campaign is the newest campaign to come from this movement. Its goal is to hire professional organizers to motivate interns in major cities like New York and Los Angeles and bring them together to fight for fairer treatment. The Intern Labor Rights, a group that stemmed from the Occupy Movement, is also joining forces with other like-minded coalitions abroad to form fairer internships.

As a college student, and soon to be starting my second internship this fall, I have to agree with this movement. Interns are an integral part of the operation of all different types of businesses, organizations, and companies, and we should be treated as such. We don’t need to be paid like a top executive, but a little more appreciation would go a long way, especially in our current economy.

Is this a legitimate debate? Or do you think that interns should be happy with the work and experience they are receiving? Let PRowl know!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Jenna Stern.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

As the Summer comes to an end, many of us are preparing to leave the internships we've held for the past months. This can be a tough time, as you've likely made friends and great connections that you won't want to leave behind. Once you develop a routine and relationships at an internship, not having it anymore can be a huge change.

Because you are an amazing intern, it is likely that your boss will be just as sad to see you leave. Depending on where you intern and how their program is run, your boss may even ask you to stay on the team for a little longer. This is great, as it's a sign that you've done something right and you've made an impact on the team there! However, before you answer, consider these things:

Why am I staying? Do you really want to stay at this internship, or are you just afraid to put yourself out there again? Fear should never be a determining factor in your professional decisions.

Will they continue to challenge me? If you know that you'd be staying on working on the same projects, it may not be beneficial for you to stay aboard. The purpose of an internship is to push yourself into new experiences and learn from trying new things. Doing the same thing for another 3-4 months isn't ideal.

Do I want to intern someplace else? It's perfectly fine to want to experience different professional environments. You only have certain times where an internship is possible, so make sure you are gaining experiences from a variety of places that interest you.

Can I afford to keep interning? Many students work during certain seasons and semesters to save up and match the difference of an unpaid internship. Will keeping your current internship fit within the limits of your budget?

No matter your reasoning or what you decide, you should respond to your boss in a polite and timely manner. If you decide to leave, they will have to begin interviewing applicants, so don't take too long and leave them without help. If you decide to stay, remember to communicate with your boss what your expectations for the months to come are.

Are you currently deciding whether to stay at or leave an internship? What factors are you considering?

Think Outside the Box: Internships

It's about the time that college students are applying for fall internships, if they haven't already.  I've been looking around at internships suggested by classmates, emailed to me by my advisor, and posted online--the usual places.  Then a coworker at my current internship asked me if I had ever worked at a TV station.  She encouraged me to apply for internships at local television stations because of the experience it would bring me. 

Interning somewhere like a television station is beneficial to aspiring PR pros for a lot of reasons.  You'll learn the ins and outs of broadcasting.  Knowing the jargon and being able to find your way around a station will definitely come in handy. It will also show that you aren't afraid to explore your options.

Some other great places for PR students to intern while they have the chance would be newspapers, marketing firms, and advertising agencies.

By working at a newspaper you're going to gain a lot of great contacts, as well as learn how a newsroom works so that you can more effectively communicate with reporters later on in your PR career.  Working at a marketing firm can provide you with a different way of looking a PR issues since, let's face it, marketing and PR are frequently lumped together.  Finally, working at an ad agency is a great way to dip into the creative side of things.

You'll come out of any of these types of internships with broadened horizons and a little something extra on your resume that other people might not have.  It's important to realize what area of PR you want to focus on and get an internship in that, but it's also important that you think outside the box sometimes.

Signs Of A Successful Internship Supervisor

There are dozens of blog posts and articles on do's and don'ts for interns, but very few about the people they report to. An internship supervisor or coordinator has a lot to manage. Not only are they in charge of delegating assignments and keeping interns on track, they also have to fulfill their regular duties as an employee. It is most definitely a balancing act. Even the most diligent and responsible intern can have an awful internship experience if his or her supervisor isn't up to par. 

So before you blame it all on the intern, consider these things about his or her supervisors:

Do they give assignments aimlessly? The purpose of an internship is to learn; becoming more confident in your strengths and overcoming weaknesses. A good internship supervisor will know what his or her intern is good at and what could use improvement. Guidance should always be given when needed to help the intern reach that next level in their skill set. If your supervisor simply shouts an assignment sans explanation or assistance, it may be time to address the issue.

Do they know the intern's goals? When I started my current internship, my direct supervisor asked me what I wanted to accomplish during my time as an intern. This is essential in insuring that an intern gets the best possible experience. The intern's goals should be expressed at the start of the internship, and the supervisor should help the intern achieve them!

Do they give feedback? If you leave an internship with a hundred terrible writing samples, then was it even worth your time? No. It's great when interns get to tackle new assignments and do hands-on work, but without feedback it is all pointless. A supervisor should go over assignments with interns, tell them what's strong and what could use improvement. This is how growth happens, feedback is essential!

Do interns feel comfortable approaching them? Many times, an internship is a college student's first peek into the professional world. An intern may assume that certain things are protocol and be hesitant to speak up or ask questions. It is crucial that supervisors create an environment where interns feel that it is safe for them to ask questions, learn from mistakes, and seek out opportunities. Everyone works better in a peaceful work environment. 

So, does your internship supervisor seem to measure up? If you are a supervisor, do you think you embody these qualities? Share your thoughts!

The Benefits of an Internship Abroad

Internships are a major part of not only the college experience but of preparing yourself for what lies ahead after graduation. Many might even say that obtaining an internship is one of the most important aspects of college, but what about applying for internships that aren’t in your college state, or even the country? Is it beneficial to get an internship abroad? The simple answer is yes, and here’s why: 

1. You’re getting out of your comfort zone: Being away from the support of your friends and family can be quite daunting, but it also gives you the opportunity to work in an uncomfortable environment and rise to the challenge. 
2. You experience culture shock: Whatever country you may choose to get an internship in will most likely be completely different from anything you might have been used to in the United States, and that’s exciting. Not only will you see first hand how business is conducted in a different part of the world, but you’re experiencing an entirely new professional culture that you otherwise would have no idea of. 
3. You strengthen your resume: A strong and diverse resume is proving to be more and more important to young professionals today. Having an international internship is just the icing on the cake to increasing your marketability to prospective employers, and further separating yourself from the crowd. 

What do you think the benefits of interning abroad may be? If they match any of what I’ve listed above, then an international internship might just be for you!

This post was written by PRowl Staff Member Jenna Stern.

The Death of the Unpaid Intern

Last week, The Atlantic Wire posted an article that questioned if the days of unpaid internships are numbered. Two interns who worked on the movie Black Swan sued 20th Century Fox for not paying them a proper salary...and won. You can read more about the details of the lawsuit here.

While that’s an amazing outcome for the Black Swan interns, what does that mean for the rest of us? The new precedent that developed from this case states that employees should be covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) unless the internship meets six criteria that says it is okay to use young workers without pay. After reading over the FLSA’s “Test for Unpaid Interns,” it is quite clear that most unpaid “internships” do not meet this criteria. Most of these interns are performing the same jobs as employees, and should be compensated as such. 

So with this new precedent brought to light, why are there no summer intern riots in the streets? For one, this story just broke less than a week ago. After a quick Google search I found that this story has ran on The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Huffington Post. However, the ruling on unpaid internships has yet to make it to major news networks such as CNN, CBS, or FOX. Only two networks have reported anything on the lawsuit: NBC and ABC. 

Fortunately, the story has begun to gain some traction over the weekend. In true grassroots fashion, blogs have been covering this new development in full force. Could that be because the unpaid interns are at the helm of these blogs? Regardless of who’s responsible for getting the information out, the important thing is that it starts a conversation. 

Another reason why people may not be so quick to protest is simply because they like their internship the way it is. Sometimes just the rush of doing work in your desired profession is enough. For some, the promise of gained experience and knowledge is fulfilling on its own. However, for those who aren’t as easily fulfilled, take the time to look at the FLSA as written by the U.S. Department of Labor. You may be surprised to discover that your summer internship may just be your summer job. 

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!!

Resume Words to Avoid

It's the most wonderful time of the year - time to update your resume that is! Most of us are in the middle of our summer job search and what better way to prepare yourself than by editing your resume before you send it off to an employer. 

The best way to land the summer job of your dreams is to stand out! While you're updating and editing, make sure to avoid these overused words:

1. People Person - Do you honestly even know what this means? Employers want to see that you can successfully communicate your ideas but "people person" does not really relay that. Use "effective communicator" instead and nix the "people person" nonsense. 

2. Hard Worker - Everyone claims to be a "hard worker" believe it or not! To impress your employer, explain how you have gone the extra mile by citing examples.

3. Dynamic - Unless you have figured out how to cure a disease or are a superhero, ditch the word dynamic.

4. Familiar With... - This is geared towards editing your skill set and qualification section. To describe your knowledge of computer programs like Microsoft Excel or Photoshop, use descriptive language such as: beginner, intermediate, proficient or advanced to really speak to your level of knowledge. 

5. Reliable - You wouldn't be applying for a job if you weren't reliable so it is okay to leave this word out. Employers expect you to be dependable and to arrive at work on time, no need to brag about it. 

The main point here is that you want to be able to show employers why you are the right person for the job. Words are a powerful thing and using descriptive words will help you stand out above the rest!

Check out more words to avoid here!