Lessons Learned During My Public Relations Internship

• August 30, 2022
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By Shania Simon, Social & Digital Intern

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As interns, we expect to hit coffee runs, move boxes across the office, and pass along urgent phone calls to our managers.

But there I was, less than two months into my internship at North Strategic, the coffee in hand was my own as I drove across Southwestern Ontario to bring the final French’s pop-up to life for a PR campaign that nabbed international attention with limited-edition ketchup-flavoured ice pops.

Needless to say, the expectations I had when I received an internship offer from North earlier this year have been exceeded tenfold!

As students, we are always hoping to land an internship that perfectly aligns with who we are and where we want to be. We want to pick up transferable skills, adapt, grow, and take in more knowledge than we can handle. Now that my internship is nearing its end, here are a few of the key skills, qualities and insights I’ve picked up along the way that I find worth sharing for North’s next interns.

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Confidence will take you beyond your expectations
Feelings of imposter syndrome may tempt you to stick within your introverted comfort zone. While that may keep you in a comfortable position, it will not enhance your experience to the fullest. Confidence starts with believing in yourself and knowing that you were brought on to a great team for a reason. Being unique is what makes you who you are. Bring that wonderful personality into your new environment and let it shine through.

Don’t hesitate to set up networking ‘coffee chats’
I was pleased to learn that North promotes a work culture of continuous and healthy conversation no matter your job title. This meant that I could set up “coffee chats” with anyone who inspired me across the agency and its partners, Notch Video and MSL Canada. Internships are a career launch and the best way to jumpstart any career is to build a good network of inspiring professionals.

Organization skills and a focused mindset are key
Being an intern means working alongside a wonderful team that depends on you for tasks that can sometimes be unexpected. It is good to manage your time to maximize your performance and hone a solid work ethic.

There will be a time when you wake up the morning after a campaign launch to a full inbox, your calendar stuffed with meetings, each account with action items for the end of the day. I can still look at this busy schedule of mine and say I’ll be OK. I am armed not only with the trust of my teams but the understanding that, even though I’ve been given opportunities to manage tasks on my own, they are there to jump in if I need them – no matter what the task.

Nothing beats first-hand experience
During my time at Humber College, my classmates and I immersed ourselves in practical situations that best reflected the real world. But there is so much more to learn beyond our PR textbooks. North has given me that opportunity to receive firsthand experience of the work I will dive into after graduation: Writing pitch notes for releases, participating in “Reason for Proposal” (RFP) meetings with senior leadership, maintaining media lists, and supporting the execution of several campaigns, to name a few. As I make my way into my fourth and final year of school, I can confidently say I’m more prepared than before.

As I helped execute one of North’s most successful campaigns of the year earlier this summer, these insights hit home. I hadn’t done coffee runs, moved boxes, or played email middleman. Instead, I was an integral part of the North team, putting my lessons from the classroom to work and growing my skillset as a PR professional.

This summer has been jam packed up with emails and unusually wacky yet creative ideas, but it has been an unforgettable experience with an agency. As I move forward into this new chapter filled with the utmost enthusiasm and drive for success, I’m 100 per cent certain that I will be incorporating what I’ve learned here into my final year at school and later, too, as I launch my career.

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@ya.girlshania Leamington definitely approved of @French’s Ketchup Flavoured popsicles and I think @DeaMasottiPayne would agree 🍅#Frenchs #Frenchsicle #roadtrip #leamington #leamingtonontario #fyp ♬ Sunroof – Nicky Youre & dazy