Successful Intern Profile: Anthony Alsop
Posted: August 29, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Anthony Alsop, Communications, Digital Sports Summit, Essendon Football Club, Interns, Media, Melbourne Tigers, Richmond Football Club, Social Media, Sports Spiel, Swinburne University, Twitter Leave a comment »
Anthony Alsop has found his experiences as an intern, landed him to the dream job that he has today. Anthony is the Digital Marketing Coordinator at the Richmond Football Club and is able to combine his passions for technology and sport in his every day professional life.
After being an intern at the Melbourne Tigers Basketball Club (NBL) and Essendon Football Club (AFL), Anthony now finds himself hiring interns to help him with his job at Richmond FC.
Anthony interned with the NBL Melbourne Tigers for three years, while studying a Bachelor of Business (Ecommerce) at Swinburne University.
On his first day at the Melbourne Tigers, Anthony got to work straight away by doing admin for the basketball club, something he didn’t expect.
“I was a bit under whelmed by the facilities there, but that only made me realize how much more they needed interns like myself”, says Anthony.
He helped out at the basketball club once a week and then started working on game nights. Anthony had an incredible time working with the Melbourne Tigers, learning about the inner workings of a sport organisation. He also got the chance to meet some of his basketball idols like Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland and Chris Anstey.
In 2007 Anthony graduated from university and worked in IT for two years, but felt that his passion for sport was urging him to reconsider his chosen career path.
After leaving his IT job and a brief trip overseas, Anthony found that he could combine his passions for technology and sport by working at a sport organisation.
Anthony realised that one internship wasn’t enough, so he emailed the Essendon Football Club to apply for an intern position. He says that his three years experience with the Melbourne Tigers helped his application stand out from the rest.
Even without a sports degree, Anthony’s references and real world experience granted him the opportunity to intern at Essendon FC for six months in their digital department.
“My internships made me realize how hard it can be to get a job in the industry you love. Landing that dream job is a combination of hard work, luck, the right time [and] who you know all working at once”, Anthony explains.
On a day-to-day basis Anthony looks after all of the Richmond FC social media, like Twitter, Facebook and youtube, the official Richmond Football Club website, three weekly newsletters for members, forums, videos and photos.
Anthony has two interns come in once a week to help produce videos for the Richmond FC website. The Richmond footy club posted video internship positions on Twitter and on university job boards. However, Anthony says another intern emailed Richmond FC and they were given a position based on their application.
Anthony tries to make his interns experience at Richmond FC as enjoyable as possible, because of his own experience as an intern.
“I try to get them to meet the players, or get them into some behind the scenes areas they wouldn’t normally get into. We can’t afford to give these guys a wage but we try and say thanks with tickets, merchandise, etc where we can.”
Anthony’s advice to students looking to intern at a sport organisation recommends using social media as a way to create your expert online identity. He says using Twitter, LinkedIn and having a blog can help students network and connect with organisations that they want to work for in the future.
But most of all, Anthony recommends getting out there and putting your degree into practice by interning.
You can follow Anthony and Richmond Football Club on Twitter. You can also connect with Anthony on his LinkedIn profile.“[I] can’t stress enough how much I think it helps you elevate yourself from your competitors for that dream job,” Says Anthony. “You need to not only know the right people but once you’re there you need to know your stuff too, get as much real work experience as you can because that is what will stay on your resume forever. And while everyone has their different stories, I wouldn’t be working where I am today without my two stops interning.”
Anthony also has a blog called Sports Spiel, that organises the Digital Sport Summit, Australia’s premiere sport and digital media event.
For students wanting to apply to intern at the Digital Sport Summit, please email info@digitalsport.com.au
Intern Profile: Aimme Briggs
Posted: August 22, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Aimme Briggs, Communications, Interns, Media, PR, Public Relations, Soul Fusion Records, Trail of Ink, Victoria University, Western Bulldogs Football Club Leave a comment »
On her first day interning with the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Aimme Briggs giggled like a school girl when former player Brad Johnson walked into the room.
Being a fan of the Western Bulldogs FC since she was born, Aimme was excited, nervous and scared about working with the footy club she has adored her whole life. She says meeting all the Western Bulldogs players was a dream come true.
Aimme, 21, has done several internships and work experience while completing her Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations) at Victoria University.
She has interned with Soul Fusion Records and Trail of Ink who are independent record labels and managers to local artists. Aimme is currently at Milk Kiddle Langmaid PR interning with Shereen Kiddle.
After reading an email sent out by Victoria University, inviting students to apply for an internship with the Western Bulldogs FC, Aimme jumped at the chance and sent in her application within a few hours.
Although she said she didn’t know anyone at the footy club, her previous work experiences made her application stand out. Aimme felt that working for the footy club was a great opportunity as this is where she sees her career heading.
“Ideally I would love to work for a sport club or the AFL” says Aimme. But her dream job is to be head of communications at the AFL or a footy club.
At the start of her Western Bulldogs FC internship in February, Aimme was in her last semester at university and juggled interning with Milkk PR and working part time at Safeway.
Each week Aimme would arrive at the Western Bulldogs FC and start her day by going through all the newspapers for stories written about the footy club or players. Aimme would and then head to a training session where media were in attendance.
“I would go with my boss and speak to the media to get the vibe on the questions they would be asking the coach” Aimme explains.
She was also asked to write biographies on coaches, players, game day wrap-ups and any functions that the footy club was hosting.
Everything Aimme has learnt at the footy club has been beneficial to her. Working with a sport organisation like the Western Bulldogs FC, shows that she knows how an AFL club works, and most importantly how they deal with the media.
“It has made me more aware on where I want to go with my career and shown me what I need to do to get there” says Aimme.
Aimme says that her colleagues at the footy club made her feel like a worker not an intern and loved her experience there. Each week Aimee was experiencing what it would be like to have her dream job.
“I kept looking at my boss thinking one day I’ll be where you are,” says Aimme. “I think that if you have [a] dream industry you must try and get work experience in that field even if you get shut down a few times you must keep trying.”
Although she found it hard juggling two internships, university work and her part time job, Aimme still found time for herself. She was determined to make it work and she was successful in doing so.
Working with the Western Bulldogs FC has strengthened Aimme’s belief that she wants to work in the AFL and nothing will stop her from achieving this.
Aimme also says that her varied work experiences with different organisations and industries have helped strengthen her resume. “Work experience is all about showing what you can do in the hopes that in may lead to a job or give you a contact to put on your resume” says Aimme.
Aimme believes that there is no greater experience than being an intern, it will give you great insight into your chosen career or industry.
You can follow Aimme on Twitter here You can also follow the Western Bulldogs Football Club on Twitter here. Aimme wrote this profile on Western Bulldogs assistant coach Brett Montgomery.“With every internship there is meeting new people, that is vital within this industry, it’s all about who you know and interning is the best way to show people what you can do and build your own name within the industry.
It’s always hard entering the work place as an intern you’re not going to be perfect to start off with that all comes with time and trying different things. Interning helps create and shape you into the career person you will be, employers expect interns to make mistakes and we need to in order to learn. Never be scared to try something new or ask a question because that’s what employers expect you to do in order for you to learn and grow.
So just go out there and try no matter what you have to do or even if you think you won’t get the job there is nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Intern Profile: Luke Mason
Posted: August 15, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Collingwood Football Club, Communications, Interns, Journalism, Luke Mason, Monash University, PR, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter Leave a comment »
Luke Mason has a black and white philosophy; “hard work will always stand out, and you’ll go nowhere without it.”
To say Luke is lucky is an understatement. The 20-year-old university student currently interns with the Collingwood Football Club, one of Australia’s most successful sporting clubs on and off the field.
Sport is Luke’s passion and says that he’s “prepared to do [whatever] it takes to be successful.” He found he had a passion for sports writing, when he started publishing online articles for an unofficial Collingwood fan page in 2004.
Luke says that his dream job is constantly changing, and isn’t ruling out the idea of being a sports journalist. But ideally he wants to be a communications manager for an AFL club.
Collingwood FC had never taken on an intern position before, so Luke had no expectations when he asked his contact at the footy club about a possible internship.
Being a Collingwood supporter his whole life, Luke was excited about the prospect of interning at his beloved footy club. “[Collingwood] has two distinct branches, the on field and off the field, that work towards the common goal, and heavily influence each other.”
On Luke’s first day at the footy club, Collingwood player Leigh Brown asked him where another co-worker was, as if he was just another person part of the club. Although Luke was nervous on his first day, he was put at ease and found everyone to be welcoming. The fact that he knew a few familiar faces was also a great help.
On a weekly basis, Luke helps out in the Collingwood FC media department by completing the Match Day Program, he also wrote articles about up coming milestones, previews of VFL games and also researched how other AFL clubs utilize social media.
Luke also attended VFL games and conducted live chat commentaries about games on the Collingwood FC website using the Cover It Live program. “It’s something that no other club does and it’s something that I think really adds to what the club can do for its supporters” Luke explains.
A highlight for Luke during his time interning with Collingwood FC, is that he has been able to interview some of his Collingwood heroes for the Match Day Program. So far he has interviewed, John Greening, Shane Morwood, Doug Gott, Mick McGuane, Tarkyn Lockyer and Simon Prestigiacomo (links are to Luke’s work).
Luke is putting into practice his journalism skills in the interviews he conducts, by getting his interviewees to expand on the key moments in their football careers. “It’s really rewarding, because a number of those players I grew up watching each week, or on old videos, so to interview them one on one is a bit of a thrill” says Luke.
Luke says the Collingwood media department is a great working environment, and is a “real eye opener as to the standard of work ethic and ability you need to possess to cut it in a full time job in the industry.”
The way his co-workers have treated Luke has helped him feel part of the team and valued. “It’s at an organization I have such a passion for…any opportunity at a place like [Collingwood] is incredibly precious to me” says Luke.
Anything that Luke is contributing to Collingwood FC is his way of repaying the footy club and the people that afforded him the opportunity. Luke is savoring every moment and absorbing everything he has learned at the footy club.
While juggling university, part time work, an internship, attending AFL games and several 21st birthday parties, Luke has been able to find a balance between his personal and professional life.
He is expecting to graduate from Monash University with a Bachelor of Professional Communications (Public Relations and Journalism) at the end of this year.
Luke’s advice for students who want to intern with a sport organization:
“Go for it! You lose nothing by trying and getting rejected or told that there are no opportunities at a particular organization. If you’re passionate about your industry, you’re likely to have some form of experience in it at some level already”, says Luke.
“It’s the best way to learn and meet people who are relevant to your profession, and it’s a great feeling to be involved in improving or servicing something you’re passionate about. Like everything else, it’s what you make of it!”
You can follow Luke and the Collingwood Football Club on Twitter.
You can also read Luke’s article about Collingwood’s decision to have a stand alone VFL team.
Intern Profile: Erin Doyle
Posted: August 12, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Australia, Communications, Cosmopolitan, Erin Doyle, Girlfriend Magazine, Gyan Yankovich, Interns, Journalism, Leigh Campbell, Media, Sydney, Twitter, University, University of Wollongong Leave a comment »
Erin Doyle, 22, loves to travel and see live music. She’s already backpacked her way around Europe for three months, and has seen many live music acts varying in genre from Pink, rapper The Game and Aussie band, Little Red.
Erin’s ultimate goal and dream job is to become a magazine editor. But ideally, Erin would love to be a features, lifestyle or entertainment writer or editor.
She is expecting to graduate at the end of this year with a Bachelor of Communications and Media (Journalism) from the University of Wollongong.
Since September last year, Erin has been interning at Cosmopolitan magazine one day a week. Coming from Wollongong, Erin has to travel an hour and a half each way just to get to her internship in Sydney.
Cosmopolitan magazine is what some women would describe as the ‘bible’ and, is the world’s biggest selling magazine. There is no doubt that Erin’s experience and, current internship with Cosmopolitan will set her apart from other graduates applying for publishing positions.
It was during high school that Erin first decided she wanted to work in magazines. After doing some research, Erin discovered that “the majority of people who had my dream job started off through doing work experience.”
As a way to get her foot in the door, Erin applied to many publications in her first year at university. She ended up doing work experience with Cosmopolitan and Girlfriend magazines.
Doing a week’s work experience at Cosmopolitan must have been a dream come true, as Erin has been reading the magazine since she was 15 years old.
After finishing her work experience with Cosmopolitan and Girlfriend magazines, confirmed Erin’s belief that she was on the right career path. “If one industry could be the perfect fit for a person…this one is for me.” Erin kept in touch with Cosmopolitan and was invited back to do further work experience with the magazine.
Although Erin didn’t know anyone in the industry initially, she says that she wouldn’t have known about her current internship with Cosmopolitan, if it weren’t for her continued work experience at the magazine. Erin says that she is,
“Proof that getting an internship without initially knowing someone can be done…networking is crucial when trying to pursue a career in this industry and work experience [or] internships is a great way of meeting people and building contacts.”
Eventually, one of the Cosmopolitan interns left and Erin put her hand up for the role. She says landing her intern position was a “combination of hard work and good timing…without being there, I never would have known about the vacancy.”
Erin knows how lucky she is to be interning with Cosmopolitan, because “it’s also part of ACP – Australia’s biggest publishing company so it’s a great way to network and find out about jobs at other mags in the same company before anyone else.”
Now interning one day a week at Cosmopolitan, Erin says her jobs can vary each week. The tasks she has been asked to do include, “transcribing interviews, typing, doing research for articles, hitting the streets to conduct vox pops, thinking up questions for upcoming interviews and the occasional coffee run.”
Erin has also been asked to write articles for the magazine, one of which was published in the recent August issue. She has also been apart of a photo shoot, covered Editorial Co-ordinator, Gyan Yankovich’s desk when she’s away and has helped beauty editor, Leigh Campbell clean out the beauty cupboard. After which, Erin was given a bag of beauty goodies, one of the many perks of working at a magazine!
Erin explains that Cosmopolitan is a amazing and friendly environment to work in, nothing like The Devil Wears Prada but that the women working at Cosmopolitan work extremely hard. “I get to be around some pretty talented women who I’ve learnt quite a few skills from” she says.
All of Erin’s experience at Cosmopolitan and Girlfriend magazines will definitely be an advantage after she graduates from university and applies for publishing jobs.
Erin has been able to put what she’s learnt at university into practice, while at the same time she is close to her dream job of working for a magazine.
Her passion and enthusiasm has gotten Erin to where she is today.
It really proves to every student out there, that with persistence and a willingness to show that you want to learn and help out more than once, you will eventually be rewarded for your efforts.
I can only imagine the feeling Erin had when she saw her name printed at the end of an article that she wrote published in Cosmopolitan magazine.
Erin’s advice for students wanting to apply for work experience in magazines:
“I definitely recommend trying to get as much as work experience as possible and ideally an internship. You learn so much that they don’t teach you at university, make invaluable contacts and it puts you so far ahead of your peers when competing against them for jobs in the future. Start as early as possible and don’t be afraid to apply to as many places as possible. Competition for internships (especially in magazines) is strong and rejection is inevitable but don’t let that get you down. Just keep knocking on doors and eventually someone will open it. Then do whatever it takes once you’re there to prove yourself.”
You can read Erin’s article in the August issue of Cosmopolitan by clicking on this link: Erin Cosmo page – co0811YOUtwitter[1]
Look out for Erin’s article in the November issue of Cosmopolitan (it will be her first paid article).
You can follow Erin on Twitter here and you can also follow the Twitter account for Cosmopolitan Australia here.
Intern Profile: Kahla Spooner
Posted: August 8, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Communications, Haystac, Interns, Kahla Spooner, LinkedIn, Public Relations, Tourism Victoria, Twitter, Tyrrell PR, Victoria University Leave a comment »
Kahla Spooner is a self confessed coffee addict, fitness freak and loves a spontaneous adventure. She is also extremely dedicated and dreams of one day being a Getaway presenter.
Kahla is 21 years old and, has recently graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations).
Kahla’s commitment to gaining work experience is exemplary. She has interned for several boutique consultancies, agencies and in-house PR firms.
Eight months after graduating, even with her experience, Kahla is finding the PR world a “tough industry to crack.”
At the beginning of 2011, Kahla interned with Haystac and, is currently interning with Shereen Kiddle at Milk Kiddle Langmaid PR.
Like Remi, Kahla was also surprised that many of her peers at university weren’t interested in finding work experience until they were required to in their final year.
For Kahla she always knew that in this industry, “it’s who you know, not what you know”, and says, “gaining contacts and experience was essential.” In her second year, Kahla began looking for work experience.
Although Kahla experienced many rejections, which she says became extremely difficult, “the key is to be persistent and never discouraged and eventually someone will take you on board.”
Kahla’s first PR work experience was with Tourism Victoria. Working with the team at a government agency, gave her the confidence to continue to apply for more intern positions. Kahla also said that Tourism Victoria set an extremely high benchmark because of its professional setting, work ethic and positive environment.
From the contacts Kahla made at Tourism Victoria, she was then referred on to Tyrrell Publicity and Promotions where she interned for three months.
After graduating, Kahla knew she had to keep in touch with the PR world and contacted a friend working at Haystac. At Haystac, Kahla was given the opportunity to work with Jetstar Airways for their 2012 campaign.
Through that experience, Kahla was invited to apply for a graduate position with Jetstar but was overlooked for a senior person with more experience, much to Kahla’s disappointment.
However the advice she was given by Jetstar’s senior account manager, Louise Laing, was to,
“Get as much experience as possible, you can knock on 100 doors and get knocked back 99 times, but someone will give you a chance. She also told me that the fact that [I was] willing to work for free, shows passion and dedication and that is what makes you differ from the rest.”
Within a week after narrowly missing out on the Jetstar position, Kahla started at Milk Kiddle Langmaid PR through her contact and friend, Aimee Briggs.
Each week Milkk PR provides Kahla with an opportunity to stay in touch with PR. From working on databases, compiling media kits for Sexpo, running errands like picking up a famous Collingwood player’s jumper, to writing features for Milkk PR client and Channel 10 traffic reporter, Emma Notarfrancesco .
Kahla has learnt that, “Agency work is extremely full on and can become at times stressful dealing with multiple clients and campaigns at once and boutique work is great to get a more personal hands-on experience, putting much of the skills you learn in university to use.”
Kahla’s commitment, passion and dedication have created opportunities for her to experience the PR industry on several levels. In such a broad industry, Kahla suggests that students find an area that best suits them. Multiple internships and work experience will help with finding this out. “After completing several internships, I was assured that I wanted to work in a corporate communications role as apposed to PR as such, as it’s predominately more writing based. I would also prefer to work in-house apposed to boutique.”
Kahla also says that from her internships that, “you also discover the ins-and-outs, such as ethical practices, lingo and the amount of work you should and can be doing, not just coffee runs…it’s also a time to challenge yourself and your capabilities”
Kahla also suggests in getting your name out there as many jobs aren’t advertised on Seek and that industry contacts are key. She further recommends having at least three internships on your resume, so students know what type of job they are looking for after graduating.
She also uses Twitter and LinkedIn for connecting with contacts and prospective employers.
Kahla’s advice to students who are looking to intern:
If you are struggling to find an internship, Kahla recommends contacting Haystac, Style Counsel or Spice & Soul PR, who are willing to take on interns (subject to application). Kahla wrote some articles on ‘Wining and Dining’ for the Tourism Victoria website during her internship. You can read them here and here. You can also follow Kahla on twitter.“DO IT! …Experience and contacts are imperative in this industry, and start at early as you can. Don’t wait for your teacher to help you, start emailing, calling or speaking to people to get your foot in the door and learn, because you will learn more in a day at a company than in a lecture. The last thing you want is to do is graduate and say, “well, I should have just done it then.” I know so many students who had one bad experience and turned away from the industry, without realizing on how much they are missing, I assure you there’s more to it than database building!
Also, take advantage of the fact that you’re at university as many places don’t offer internships after graduating for insurance purposes. It’s also a great time because you’re career focused, and it becomes much harder to stay driven after graduating when money becomes the motivation.
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the people I met along the way, you never know when you’re going to need help. Always be kind, give 110% and people will remember your efforts, even if it’s not at that moment – think Devil Wears Prada! It pays off.”
Intern Profile: Remi Gordon
Posted: August 5, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Blog, Communications, Glamourflage, Interns, Melbourne, PR, Public Relations, Remi Gordon, RMIT, Social Media, Twitter 1 Comment »
Meet Remi Gordon, she is a 18 year old Brisbanite turned Melburnian.
She blogs, she tweets, and her dream job is to work for Channel 10 or for a fashion magazine, “just like every other PR girl out there.”
Remi has just finished a two-month internship with online beauty and cosmetics company, Glamourflage
Remi is currently at RMIT studying a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Public Relations. She hopes to graduate in 2013.
Remi is in her first year at university and decided to start interning because she wanted to “gain a broader understanding of how the industry works.” Although working in the industry isn’t a requirement until her third year, Remi decided to start early.
She searched online but felt disheartened when she realised how competitive internships are. However, Remi was determined to put the theory she was learning at university into practice.
Luckily a friend at Remi’s university knew someone at Glamourflage who was looking for interns. Cosmetics and beauty are a girl’s dream to work in. So Remi took the opportunity and got in touch with the company.
On her first day at Glamourflage, the butterflies kicked in. Remi didn’t know what to expect and discovered she’d be working in a small office environment. “Working in a smaller team was beneficial because I got more responsibility” says Remi.
She worked closely with the Glamourflage team consisting of a marketing manager, accountant and import/export manager. She says it was a very laid back environment, “everyone was very casual in jeans and sneakers”, but expectations were still very high.
Remi interned at Glamourflage one to two days a week. Her official title was ‘social media intern’, where she looked after Glamourflage’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as assisting with blog writing on the website.
Although there are some shops that stock Glamourflage’s products, the majority of their orders come via the website. Remi had to pack orders for customers and respond to call-outs from magazine editors.
Like all university students, Remi had to learn how to juggle her work load with interning and casually working at a jewellery store. She said, “[it was] difficult at first…you have to be organized but my social life and uni (sic) grades weren’t affected negatively.”
Although Remi has finished interning with Glamourflage, she believes the experience was helpful and has now steered her in the direction of fashion and TV. She feels that beauty and cosmetics isn’t the area for her but she believes that, “any experience is good experience.”
Remi’s career ambition is to one day work in television, but says she’s more realistic in hoping to work at a PR firm with a variety of cliental.
Remi also hopes to do more work experience and interning, preferably in the area of business. “It’s really important in our industry to network and gain contacts so that one day you can use those to your advantage.”
Using Twitter has also helped Remi keep in touch with prospective employers,
“I follow a lot of PR firms in Melbourne and try to interact with them where appropriate so that if the time comes that I wish to intern or apply for a job there, I have already put myself out there.”
Remi’s advice to fellow university students who are thinking about work experience or interning:
“Definitely just put yourself out there. I believe in giving things a go, and if you don’t try something, you’ll never know! Also, remember that you are there to LEARN, so don’t feel bad if something doesn’t turn out right the first or second time. Remember that the people you’re working with are professionals and have probably been in the industry for a while. Everything you do, you learn from, so even if you learn that you never want to work there again, you’ve still learnt something.”
Remi also has her own blog, Ardente Buttercup where she writes weekly posts titled, The Sunday Seven and Wordless Wednesday. You can also follow her on twitter
Introduction
Posted: August 4, 2011 Filed under: Aubrey, Intern Profiles | Tags: Interns, Journalism, La Trobe University, Media, Public Relations Leave a comment »Welcome to ‘My Interning Life’
This blog is simply about university students who are interning in the media industry. Each week interns will be profiled and talk about where they work and what they do. This blog has been created in an effort to encourage other university students who have not done work experience to get out there and do it. It is well known that work experience in the industry will help you stand out against other graduates without experience.A little about me:
My name is Aubrey and I am 22 years old. I have been attending La Trobe University since mid 2008. I started off by doing two single subjects and then applied for a Bachelor of Arts in 2009. Half way through ’09 I decided to apply for a transfer into a Bachelor of Media Studies.
I am currently finishing off my Bachelor of Media Studies, majoring in journalism. I plan to graduate at the end of 2012.
Throughout my studies I have always thought about doing work experience in the media industry.
I always thought about it, but never actively applied for anything. Until the beginning of this year, I decided to set some goals for myself.
- To get an internship or work experience
- To get published
- Sign up for twitter
- Get a Blog
I can proudly say I have achieved all of those things before the year was half way over!
What motivated me most was sitting in my first broadcast journalism tute. Our tutor went around the room for introductions. He asked us what course we were studying and to raise our hands if we had done any work experience in the industry. I was surprised to find that 4 out of 25 students raised their hands.
4 out of 25These were final year students. I suppose I am lucky in some respect because I am behind in my studies. I should be in my final year, but due to dropping subjects and taking a semester off, I have the luxury of doing more work experience while I am still at university.
The majority of the 25 students in class that day, also admitted that they did not know what they wanted to do when they finished their course in nine months.
So how did I come across my internship?In February my brother’s girlfriend Eden, referred me on to Shereen Kiddle.
Shereen has her own PR company and has since joined with Kellie Langmaid to form Milk Kiddle Langmaid PR.
When Eden told me to send Shereen an email, I didn’t think I would be accepted. I felt very nervous writing an email to her, explaining I had no knowledge of public relations but was willing to learn.
Shereen replied instantly and all formalities went out the window. I quickly learnt that PR girls always end their emails with a kiss ‘x’ or two.
I started in March and have been going to Shereen’s home office every week since.
I guess its that old saying, “its who you know, not what you know.” And in some regards, this is very true. Eden is an editor for a group of magazines and Shereen would send her press releases relating to those publications.
I love working at Milk Kiddle Langmaid PR. Each week there is something different to do, or follow up on. Shereen’s home office is always interesting. I am not the only intern; there are about six other girls who help out on different days.
Of course the office does sometimes get a bit loud and we do take time out to gossip and talk about our personal lives.
Interning each week has made me think about my career options. I am not entirely set on who I want to work for. I just want to write for the media, whether it is for a magazine, newspaper, online publication or PR company.
