How to Become a Public Relations Intern
GETTING a full time position in your public relations careers is getting rather difficult now due to increasing stiff competitions and downsizing of multi national companies. As a result, most careers consultants would recommend most college graduates to do internships before graduate in order to get that extra experience to remain competitive in the job market.
Becoming a public relations intern is relatively easier compare to getting a full time position in public relations careers. Besides, a public relations internship will definitely give you an edge towards a full time job in public relations. Read on to find out more.
1. Before starting an internship, you should talk to your profession or director of your department about the availability of internship program. Your professor should be able to recommend where to look for an internship and he or she might know which public relations firms are hiring.
2. Other than asking your professors, you can call up some local public relations agencies to ask if they have an internship program or opening.
3. Determine the best time for your internship with your academic advisors. Most public relations internships are often done during the summer holidays. Nevertheless, check with your teachers on the best time and types of the internship.
4. Take note that most public relations internships are unpaid or lowly paid. If this is the case, consider taking a second job if you have to live outside of your home. The situation will get more difficult if the internship is done during school period as you will have to attend classes and study while working as an intern.
5. Meet your professors to seek approval of them as references for your internship applications. Other thing that you might need to tag along with the internship application is the official transcript from the university’s registrar. To increase your chance of getting an internship offer, send in the applications to a couple of public relations agencies.
6. When you get an invitation for an interview, always dress professionally for it. Be prepared for it with your portfolio and be on time. Take note that no matter what the place for the interview is, it’s better to overdress than to look too casual.
7. Thank the person who interviews you the day after the meeting by sending a thank you note or an email. The thing you can write on the note is to appreciate the interviewer and reiterate your interest in becoming an intern for the agency or firm.
8. If you get accepted as an intern, there is some paperwork to do. In general, your superior in the pubic relation firm will be the one who will evaluate your performance and feedback to your school.
9. You will be receiving due credits for your internship and the credits will be reflected in your transcript accordingly.
More tips on how to become a public relations intern
1. You can always contact the public relations firms that you have sent your applications to if you don’t get a reply after a few weeks.
2. Expect some tough interview questions such as what you hope to learn and the reasons you like to intern at the particular public relations agencies.
3. If you are short of money or the internship don’t pay at all, seek help from your professors. In most cases, the school or the alumni will give out scholarship to needy students to help pay for their costs of living during internships.
All in all, becoming an intern in public relation is not that difficult. All you need is some preparations for the interview questions and try to know as much information about the public relation company as possible. Having an internship is a great way to advance your public relations careers. The rewards and the experiences gained as an intern will definitely help you to get a better full time position after graduation.
