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How to Find a PR Internship

Find a PR Internship

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So you are interested in working with Marketing and PR and decided to apply for an internship? You might still be in college looking to enroll in a company and gain experience, or you are a graduate who is looking for opportunities…it all counts!

Before you embark on the journey of finding companies and sending out your applications, knowing these things will save you a lot of time searching among the vast pool of available opportunities.

Tips for PR Internships

Marketing and PR in Companies mean different things depending on the industry.

Marketing and PR activities differ greatly depending on the company, what they are selling, their target groups, which industry and markets they are operating in, and their branding strategy.

PR for food companies will significantly differ from PR done for a sports company or a cosmetics company. Before you launch into this field, discover your interests and what companies will best help you achieve your goals. 

Remember, it’s not just about the job; it’s about the impact you will create while doing the job.

There are two sides to PR: the positive story-telling side and the negative damage-control side.

Looking for an internship doesn’t necessarily mean that you grab and take on whatever opportunity you see. You have to be knowledgeable about what you want to take from the whole experience.

There are two sides to PR, and you need to understand what they are before you get into practice.

Positive story-telling is all about an organization investing in a PR professional to help them portray a positive brand reputation, idea, product, position, or accomplishment. 

Damage-control PR is used for both story-telling and mitigating any damage that could weaken a client’s reputation.

Size of the Company matters

Before applying for an internship, you should consider the benefits of interning in a large and small start-up company from a learning perspective.

Small Companies offer you an opportunity to define and shape your role within the company. You get close mentorship from your CEO, generally experience a relaxed working culture and flexibility, chance to grow and move up ranks in the company.

Big companies give you a chance to learn from a broad group of people with years of experience in the industry, learn the politics of working in a large company, and how you can navigate it. This experience can position you well for a future career.

It all goes back to your long-term goal: Are you looking for a space to make your mark or just an opportunity to craft your skills.

What are the duties of a PR Intern?

duties of a PR Intern

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The responsibilities of an intern are not any different from what an experienced PR professional does. As a PR, you have to be creative and open to contributing to your organization on a larger scale. 

Primary responsibilities include:

  • Fully supporting your organizations PR strategy and execute it 
  • Create engaging content for distribution
  • Communicate and establish relations with current and prospective clients
  • Effectively make use of organizations social media and web platforms
  • Assist in administrative duties
  • Organize, Schedule, and attend various PR events
  • Conduct market research activities for organizational goals.

Depending on the industry you are working in, your duties as an Intern may vary. Flexibility is required to perform to your full potential.

Public Relations Requirements and Qualifications

PR requires many skills. It is challenging mainly for two reasons. You need to mix your creativity skills (create campaigns, come up with new ideas, change existing ones, find new ways to go) with complex data and pure math (estimate, calculate the effect, and measure them). 

However, it’s not as hard as it sounds.

Let’s focus on particular requirements and qualifications you need:

  • Current enrollment in BA/BSc in PR, communications, journalism, or related fields.
  • If you are a graduate, a bachelor’s degree or master’s in PR, communications, or a related field.
  • Expertise with social media management(Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Aptitude in presentation and public speaking.
  • Passion for PR and its outstanding practices.
  • Applicable knowledge in copywriting and editing
  • Solid organizational and management skills.

 

Note: Before applying for an internship, research the company or organization you’re interested in. Get to know some of their clients and read bios of their most essential members on board. Show the firm that you are genuinely interested in them-not just the PR job.

How to get a Public Relations Internship

get PR Internship

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The world of PR is a competitive one and one that is constantly changing. Something you need to know is that you can represent almost anything. 

  • First, research the company, what they specialize in, and who their clients are.
  • The next step is to familiarize yourself with the executives that work at the company. Read executive bios and any other information that you may need.
  • When it comes to your interest, get down to what type of PR you want to practice. I.e., If you want to get into celebrity PR, look up your favorite celebrities and see who represents them. Send out your applications to them and wait for the best.
  • Tailor your resume to attract PR companies. Give the company a reason to want to hire you.

Final Thoughts

Research before writing your application or attending any interview can be an advantage. Please share that you understand that particular company, what they face as challenges, and offer possible support where needed.

One of the several core skills you can demonstrate is that you did your business analysis before you showed up. Figure out what area you want to grow PR, what type of industry and size you think you would thrive in, and all.

If PR is indeed your passion, there is your answer on where to start looking.