This semester I had the opportunity to have a part time internship at JMG Public Relations, a full-service PR firm located in the Financial District. I was made aware of JMG when they followed me on Instagram last year. I instantly fell in love with their account, as well as the blog run by CEO Jenna Guarneri, The Secret Life of a PR girl. It provided so much insight into what really goes on behind the scenes of PR. I was already planning on reaching out with internship inquiries when they posted that they were currently receiving applications for interns in the Fall of 2019. I eagerly sent in my resume and a cover letter. I almost couldn’t believe it when I found out that I had received the internship position. It was such a wonderful way to start my senior year.
While I gained so much insight into the world of public relations, I also learned a lot about office life in general. Here are some important things I’ve learned this semester through my internship with JMG Public Relations.
- Dress to Impress
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This applies to many corporate jobs, but is especially important in the world of PR. You never know what the day might bring. I once came into work expecting a regular day and ended up being on a digital segment! You never know when you might need to snap a cute pic or meet with someone important. While it’s not necessary to dress to the nines every day for work, I’ve learned that it’s always important to feel cute and comfortable. (It also helps you to be more productive when you don’t feel gross or self conscious).
- Always ask questions or clarify assignments or ideas
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This is especially important for interns, or employees who are still learning the ropes. We often are afraid of being a pest or seeming like we don’t really know what we’re doing. (Hey, we might not.) In reality, an employer will most likely be thankful you took the time to clarify directions before wasting yours and the company’s time on a task that was unnecessary. If you’re stumped on a project or running some ideas, having a quick brainstorming session can almost always set you on track. You’ll thank yourself.
- Learn the company culture and adapt to it
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Every company has its own unique culture. Some companies love collaboration and communicating ideas, while others prefer quiet and independent work. It can take a while to learn how a company functions and how you fit into the daily operations. It’s important to understand company dynamics so you’re not gabbling while others are trying to work independently or missing out on a fun office convo.
- Be respectful of other employees
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This is true of employees at the same company as well as employees who may work in the same office building. It’s important to be respectful of everyone. Be nice to the security guards or mailroom workers and don’t abuse shared appliances. Most importantly, never microwave fish in a shared microwave!
- Be a team player
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Many internships require that applicants be “able to work independently.” This usually means you don’t need someone to hold your hand through every assignment. Just because you’re expected to do your own work doesn’t mean that you’re not apart of the company team. Being apart of a team means willing ask for and to lend a hand. Not to mention that other interns are not your competition, but rather your teammates, and learning to work with them is going to make your internship experience so much better.
This semester I’ve had the opportunity to learn so much more about Public Relations than I would in any class, as well as getting the chance to work real “work days” and feel like an adult. It was a wonderful experience that has me feeling more confident about entering the “adult world” after graduation.