Week 4: Its Been A Month!

Wow! It’s already been one month since I started here at Carolina PR. I can’t believe how quickly time has passed, and how much I have learned in such a short period.

Let’s re-cap, shall we? In the past month, I have ...

- Figured out how to track my time using client codes in 15-minute increments

- Met with clients and pitched PR strategies and tactics

- Became a Google Maps master

- Learned a new media monitoring system

- Attended networking events

- Mastered walking in heels

- Recommitted myself to coffee

It has been amazing and I still have six weeks left! 

 However, today is not only the end of the first month of my internship, but also Halloween (translation: candy everywhere)! In honor of the day, I thought it’s fitting to share an article I found this morning by PR Daily.

 3 Social Media Lessons from 'It's the Great Pumpkin' by Michelle Wright

I look forward to seeing what is in store for me in November. I can only hope it’s going to be as fantastic as October has been. 

Don’t forget to 'Fall Back' this weekend!

See you in November,

Erin

Week 3: The Network

The phrase, "It's not what you know, it's who you know," should be on the wall of every prospective PR practitioner’s office or cubical serving as a constant reminder that networking is your greatest tool.

Now, I'm not saying knowing the right people is all you need to succeed in the PR world – you also need to have the right skills and knowledge of the business – but it doesn't hurt when you're trying to get your foot in the door. 

Just a little something I learned over the course of this week.  :)

Speaking of this week, it was CRAZY. It’s a good crazy, not bad crazy, but crazy none-the-less. I am really getting the hang of working with multiple clients on multiple projects and I'm really, really loving it! 

Tuesday, I went on a site visit to see a client’s new location and to brainstorm ideas for creative ways to use the space for a preview event.

Wednesday, I had the privilege of attending the 2013 PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) Charlotte Chapter Awards Ceremony. It was amazing to see all of the great things that PRSA does in Charlotte. Not to mention, I met some great people and made some great contacts. 

If you are an intern now, or plan to be one in the future, take advantage of going to these types of functions and participating in organizations like PRSA, if you can. Take every opportunity to network and make connections in the business world. If there is someone you want to meet, but haven't yet, ask your boss to introduce you to them. Or, better yet, go up and shake their hand and introduce yourself. Like I said, a lot about PR is who you know. 

Today was the biggest day of my internship so far, all three weeks of it. Today was my first official pitch meeting to a client.

While I did not do it alone – I am an intern after all and still learning the ins and outs of everything – I was involved in every step of the process and will continue to be as we begin to execute our plan. I’m not going to lie, I did a dance inside my head each time the client said she liked one of the ideas we had so carefully thought out. 

It’s a kind of rush there aren’t words to describe, and I am rarely at a loss for words … ask anyone.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I have figured out the time tracker system, and Dunkin' Donuts and I are still going strong!

Until next time,

Erin

Week 2: Gaining Momentum

The end of the week is already here! I don't know how it happened or where the time went, but today is in fact Thursday … I made sure to double check this morning. 

As I told you all last week, I am working with a client on opening a new location. That means this week was all about researching, budgeting and planning. Tuesday, I had the privilege of going to see the first location and meeting the owner. The place is fabulous – the owner even more fabulous. 

After touring the facility and meeting with the client, it was time for another brainstorming session to dive deeper into our PR approach. This one took place over lunch at Amelie's Cafe in Charlotte's NoDa neighborhood. 

 It’s amazing how much can get accomplished when there is delicious food involved. 

Some of you might be confused as to why a PR person would be worried about budgets since we are notoriously bad at math. In my case, this is true. I am not a mathematician. However, in the bustling PR world the lines between budget expert, event planner, marketing guru and media relations genius are blurred. You have to be a little bit of all of those things to succeed – a lesson I have most definitely learned this week.

Did I mention you also have to know how to juggle? Well, not literally, but working with multiple clients at one time means knowing how to do just that. 

I worked on multiple projects this week, not just the client opening. Some were fairly simple and straightforward while others were complex and required some elbow grease to get done. Simply put, I learned how to juggle in four days.

It was crazy. And fun. And completely exhilarating. 

Next week, I look forward to strengthening my relationship with the man in the Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru as I prepare for my first big presentation and getting more familiar with the time tracker system – even after two weeks I'm still not completely used to it yet.

Until next time,

Erin

Week 1: Getting Started

My name is Erin, I'm 23 and I'm an intern. 

As a public relations student, internships are what it's all about. Internships give you the experience and confidence to make it in the big, bad world. Monday, I started mine at Carolina PR in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

  

After getting past the torrential downpour that would have had Noah boarding the Ark and the terrible traffic that comes with it, I was ready to jump into my new position with both feet. The first task at hand, before meeting the staff, was my introduction to the coffee maker. Instantly, I knew this was definitely the place for me, seeing as I am a functioning caffeine addict. That feeling only deepened as I met the staff and got settled into my office. That's right, I have my own office, complete with windows and a door! 

Once I was settled, it was time to hit the ground running and I began learning all about our clients and my duties as an agency intern.

The best part of working at an agency, or in an agency setting, is never getting bored. There is always something to do and another client to serve. No two days are ever the same. No two hours are ever the same. 

One moment I am working with a campaign manager on a bond measure for the November election, the next, I am brainstorming ideas for promoting a client’s new store opening.

Did I mention I am never bored? 

My goal for this blog is to share with you my experiences. I have done internships before, but nothing like this. I want to take you on this journey with me, make you feel like part of the experience. I want to share with you the truths about the PR world, show you that even though it's not always like Samantha on Sex and the City, or Jerry McGuire, or even Don Draper, it's still exciting, and definitely has that adrenaline rush. 

Until next time,

Erin