Where are they now? Kahla Spooner
Posted: July 29, 2013 Filed under: Industry Professionals, Intern Profiles, Where are they now? | Tags: Community and social media coordinator, fernwood, Fernwood Fitness, fernwood social media, Intern, Internship, Kahla Spooner, PR, Public Relations Leave a commentWhen we first met Kahla Spooner she was a “self confessed coffee addict, fitness freak and loves a spontaneous adventure.” Kahla had completed several PR internships across a variety of organisations. Two years on, Kahla tells us in her own words, about her journey finding a job and the pathway she chose that lead her to landing her current job as Community & Social Media Coordinator at Fernwood Fitness.
Where are they now? By Kahla Spooner
It seems like a lifetime ago when I was last interviewed for MIL but what a journey the past two years have been! Unlike most interns, I didn’t transition from University to the industry immediately; instead I have worked my way up the corporate ladder. After graduating and completing my internship with Milk PR in 2011, I found it extremely challenging breaking into Communications/PR world – even with the amount of practical work experience I had behind me, instead I opted for an alternative route.
With a passion in health and fitness I applied for a basic sales role at my local Fernwood club and within a few weeks the National Sales Manager (at the time) got a hold of my resume and called me in for an interview. During the interview stage she told me that I was over qualified for the role and promptly created a new role for me. She took me under her wing and two-weeks later I started working full-time as a National Sales Trainer with Fernwood.
With a strong desire to grow with the business and learn as much as I could, I remained committed to my role embracing and learning anything and everything that would assist with my professional development. I was fortunate to work throughout VIC, NSW and SA undertaking sales training with teams from all departments. Within a few short months my role advanced, moving into management followed by operations training and club development.
When I was working in clubs, much of my focus was based on local area marketing, cross promotion opportunities, sales training, implementation of policies and procedures, networking and brand management, all which I found to be extremely beneficial enabling my communications and PR skills to shine. The growth over this short period allowed me to learn a lot about my own capabilities and the experience truly shaped me for the better; expanding my skills and qualifications further than I would have ever imagined.
After almost two years working for Fernwood, a career opportunity arose in the Marketing department in our National Support Office. Wanting to always revert back to my communication roots, this deemed a fantastic opportunity to utalise my extensive knowledge of the business and apply for a role that nestled perfectly with my qualifications. After a three-stage interview process, I was successful and am now currently working as the Community & Social Media Coordinator for Fernwood Fitness (so yes, I actually work on Facebook and Twitter every day).
Sounds like a pretty sweet gig, right? Well it is and I honestly I can’t complain, Fernwood is a great company to work for, but managing social media platforms can actually be more challenging than many people think. My day-to-day tasks involve managing our main Facebook pages, overseeing and moderating our other club pages, managing posts for our Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest feeds, content creating, community engagement through our internal forums and social media sites, utilising analytics and insights to measure growth and performance, media monitoring, managing online campaigns and competitions, providing excellent customer service and staying abreast of new trends. Working in our head office also means I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of projects in other departments like working on-site for video and photo shoots, which is always so fun!
My advice to others taking a similar road to me is to always remember the path that you’re on. Taking an alternative route can back-fire as many people can get caught up in the financial gain of a job opportunity, get complacent and lose sight of where they started in the first place. For me, I always knew the direction I needed to go, so while I may have taken a couple of turns along the way, I ended up exactly where I wanted to be. For now this is a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow from great mentors and industry professionals and I’m looking forward to all the amazing possibilities to come.
You can follow Kahla on Twitter and read her internship post here.
5 tips to make it in PR
Posted: July 22, 2013 Filed under: Industry Professionals | Tags: account exec, account executive, communicado, internship pr, Melbourne, PR, pr intern tips, pr pro, Public Relations, public relations tips for interns, steph bateman, stephanie bateman, stephanie communicado Leave a commentStephanie Bateman is an account executive at Communicado in Melbourne working across a range of clients in the entertainment, tech and lifestyle space, in traditional PR as well as digital content and community management. She loves the dynamic nature of life in an agency, as well as the group of thoroughly talented people she goes to work with every day.
Stephanie graduated Victoria University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations), and spent the last 18 months of her studies interning in the corporate affairs department at Citipower & Powercor as a media relations assistant, and considers this the most valuable experience she had at university. Stephanie was inspired to get chase a career in PR by her god father who worked in the industry, and Stephen Fry’s character in ‘Absolute Power’.
Five tips to make it in PR by Stephanie Bateman
It’s no secret that PR is a tough industry to crack, but it’s far from impossible. The questions I’m most frequently asked by students and recent graduates always relates to what it’s like once you’ve landed that first job. These are my top five tips on how to navigate the experience when you’re starting out.
1. Put your hand up
Regardless of whether you’re working in an agency or in house, no doubt you’re part of an organisation that has plenty going on. So when the opportunity to be involved in a new project or a new client looks like it might be on the table – go for it. It’s easy to second guess yourself and say ‘I’m not ready for that’ or ‘that isn’t in my skill set’. But you know what? You’ll probably never feel ‘ready’ and it will never be in your skill set unless you take the opportunity to learn. The best learning experience is in the doing, not the watching.
2. Expect to pay your dues (probably forever)
Generally speaking, coffee making and photocopying ends when your internship does, but you will still spend a fair amount of time building media lists, filing, researching, and reporting. In PR (especially in the world of agency) you will find a refreshing quality – no one is really ever ‘above’ a task. Whether you’re an Account Director with ten years under your belt, or 2 weeks into your career, if it has to be done, do it. In my short career I’ve driven a truck, bought jeans and hair product for a celebrity, and delivered paint and furniture to photo shoots. Did I ever think that would be in my job description? No. But I quickly learned my job description reads: whatever it takes.
3. Ask for advice
Your first job is no less of a learning experience than your time at university was, and your colleagues can be amazing teachers. Remember that everyone you work for was once sitting where you are, and they almost always want to help you. Ask to have your writing critiqued; ask if you can run your pitch by them before you send it to a journalist (or your boss).
4. Take criticism
But don’t take it personally. Because you’re going to get it whether you want it or not, so you may as well take it with the best attitude you can. It can be tough not to take it to heart, and we all do it sometimes, but once you recognise that it will serve to make you a better writer, speaker, or improve your pitches you’ll start asking for it.
5. Be Yourself
PR people are a certain type. We like to talk, we’re not shy, and we’re often described as ‘big personalities’. There’s a reason you chose this career. It’s probably because you couldn’t not choose it. Maybe it chose you. Being a wallflower will get you exactly nowhere in this industry. You’ll be surprised how what you’re passionate about personally can help you out in your career. Never underestimate the value of knowing stuff that no one else knows. You never know when some random geeky knowledge you’re hanging onto could be the missing part of a new business pitch.
PR is a demanding and sometimes all-consuming job. It’s a job you do for love not money (sorry). But it is job that will reward your competitive streak, push you to constantly improve and give you experiences you can’t have doing anything else. And why would you want to?
You can follow Stephanie on Twitter.
Intern Profile: Emma Bedson
Posted: June 17, 2013 Filed under: Intern Profiles, Internship Alert | Tags: Emma Bedson, how to get an internship at one green bean, how to get an internship at two birds talking, mango/ddb melbourne, Melbourne, one green bean, PR, Public Relations, RMIT, RMIT University, Sydney, sydney pr internships, two birds talking, undertow media, undertow media internship application 1 CommentWow. Has this girl got an impressive PR internship CV or what?
Read about Emma Bedson’s various PR internship experiences and see which company she highly reccomends for interns.
The Basics:
Emma Bedson, 20, currently studying a Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations) at RMIT, graduating in October this year.
Dream job?
Top boss at a consumer PR agency. Or perhaps Founder/Director of my own PR agency. The possibilities are endless…
You’ve had a busy interning life over the past year, tell us about your internships
Two Birds Talking
My first internship was at Two Birds Talking. I was the typical PR intern -running coffees, media kit packing, phone handling, booking and receiving couriers, editorial monitoring, database updates and so on. I assisted on a couple of events for Kookai and Nike. Whilst I liaised between their Melbourne and Sydney office during this internship, I had a chance to work at Two Birds Talking’s Sydney office as a fill-in PR co-ordinator. I hit the ground running at that time working directly on Kookai and Lovisa. If there is anything that I got from Two Birds Talking, it was MEDIA IS KING.
One Green Bean
Throughout the first half of 2012, I confirmed an internship with One Green Bean. I saved up for six months to pay for accommodation, flights and living expenses to intern full time with One Green Bean. During this time I prepared press kits and coverage reports, assisted with the production of events and performed admin and ad hoc office duties. I worked on a number of clients such as IKEA, Dunlop Volleys, Virgin Mobile and CBA. One Green Bean definitely showed me the difference between Melbourne and Sydney based PR.
Undertow Media
I interned with Undertow Media briefly before going to Sydney last year. On my return, I came back as a contractor to assist their account co-ordinator on Mt Hotham, Kathmandu, Tupperware and Domaine Chandon. It was at Undertow Media where I learnt what the role of a junior PR professional is really like. I pitched to media on a daily basis, refined my writing skills, contributed to campaigns, proposals, brainstorms and meetings. I was also responsible for account administration & reporting, which inspired me to write my third year undergraduate thesis on PR measurement and evaluation.
Mango/DDB Melbourne
This has been my most recently internship. Having vast industry experience prior to Mango, the team delegated tasks to me not usually given to interns. I worked across a number consumer accounts creating, pitching and following up media materials. I secured multiple pieces of coverage both in print and online. I spent an extra week at Mango working with their social media team to create content and see how social media runs within a PR agency.
What was it about working at a Sydney based PR company that attracted you?
I researched a lot of agencies in line with the area of PR I’m interested in. Most of them are based in Sydney so I emailed a couple of dream agencies for an internship placement. I have previously lived in Sydney and have friends who live up there so making the temporary move up there was more exciting and thrilling than daunting. I loved the entire experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. Moving up to Sydney permanently after I graduate is high on my to-do list.
How did you juggle university course work and paid work while interning?
It’s challenging but it can be done. I wrote a lot of to-do lists and time management was crucial. I will admit there were more than a few all-nighters to get the assignments done but I managed to juggle it all. In fact, I actually prefer the adrenaline rush. It makes you more accountable to your tasks and there is no room procrastination.
What was your most valuable internship experience so far and why?
My time at Undertow Media was the most valuable experience, especially when I was contracted to assist one of their juniors.
I immediately felt part of the team the minute I stepped into the office. I gained a strong sense of responsibility and accountability for everything that was thrown at me. My time management skills were definitely tested (a crucial skill to master so I advise to get on top of it ASAP). Nonetheless, I completed tasks with a passion because I wanted to prove to myself and my colleagues I could handle agency life.
Undertow Media taught me so much about the industry and how to operate in PR. I recommend Undertow Media to anyone interested in a PR internship, I would safely say they have one of the best internship programs around.
Tell us about your favourite client pitch you got to work on and what you learnt from it
McDonald’s has been one of my favourite accounts to work on. I really got to own a project where I wrote media material, pitched to journalists and secured multiple pieces of coverage. I was able to learn how to develop relationships with journalists (a true love-hate relationship) and refine my writing skills. It was so rewarding seeing coverage and knowing you had some input in making that happen.
What’s next for you?
I don’t have any internships confirmed for the near future but you never know what’s around the corner. Right now I’m focusing on completing my thesis and graduating but I’m sure I’ll slip in a few more placements before graduating.
Emma shares her advice for other aspiring PR pros;
There have been so many quotes to get me through my interning ‘journey’. My mum told me this quote just before cold calling an agency and it has resonated with me ever since:
“Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it.” – We Bought A Zoo
For anything you want to achieve, it’s always going to be ‘no’ until you ask. No matter how whimsical your ambitions may be, throw yourself into the deep end and you never know what may come out of it.
You can follow Emma on Twitter and ask her any questions about her internship CV. Emma Also reccomends interning at Undertow Media – click here to apply.
Top 5 tips for interns from a PR pro
Posted: May 27, 2013 Filed under: Industry Professionals, Internship FAQs | Tags: Angie Bradbury, Dig + Fish, Dig and Fish, FAQs, Intern, Internships, Katey Power, PR, Public Relations, tips for interns, top 5 tips from a pr pro 1 Comment
About Angie Bradbury
Founder and Managing Director of Dig & Fish.
A leader of best practice marketing and communications programs for the food, drinks and leisure industries for more than a decade, Angie currently chairs Wine Communicators of Australia, and is a member of the Victorian Food and Wine Tourism Council and Starlight Children’s Foundation Advisory Board.
With a reputation as a straight forward, direct and pragmatic strategist who always pushes for the better answer or solution, Angie is the brains-trust for Dig&Fish, instilling best-practice operations and leadership across the entire way we do business.
Angie’s TOP 5 TIPS for Interns:
1. Take the initiative – the best interns make themselves indispensable by getting involved, asking good questions and becoming important members of the team. Be positive and get involved, it really helps.
2. Can do – just say yes and get stuff done, again the more value you add and the better experience you are going to have.
3. Ask – it’s not always easy to know what interns want to get from the experience so ask to get involved, ask for help and ask for information and learning. If you do points one and two then companies will be much more likely to provide education and knowledge opportunities
4. Add value – in media and comms if you’re asked to do the media monitoring then read with a purpose and add value to media lists, update contact details and identify opps that might be relevant for the employer and / or their clients. If you think things can be done better or differently, speak up.
5. Be organised – communicate your timetable and exam commitments well in advance – don’t make yourself really useful and then not be there when you’re needed or change plans last minute.
You can tweet Angie at @digandfish if you have any questions.
Intern Update: Isobel Loschiavo
Posted: May 6, 2013 Filed under: Industry Professionals, Intern Profiles | Tags: Flourish PR, Intern, Internship, Isobel Loschiavo, Ogilvy PR, PR, PR assistant, where do I find PR internship Leave a commentIsobel Loschiavo has been a very busy intern.
Since we last met, Isobel has interned at two other PR agencies and has recently landed herself a job as a PR Assitant. Isobel will be juggling PR work plus her final year university studies. How does she do it you ask? Find out below…
Tell us about what you’ve been doing since we last heard from you
The last time I spoke with MIL was mid last year and I had just finished an internship in Sydney at Burson-Marsteller. Since then I have completed a month long internship at Ogilvy PRin Melbourne and an internship at Flourish PR. I am also now officially a member of the Flourish team as PR Assistant, which really is a dream come true.
You’ve just finished an internship at Flourish PR – tell us about what you did there
Flourish was amazing. I definitely hit the intern jackpot! The Flourish girls are the most incredible mentors a young PR student could ask for. They made me feel so welcome and were always so encouraging (and still are!). I am forever in their debt for the way they have influenced me along my PR journey.
Of course I had to do all the usual intern jobs. But it was definitely worth it. Day to day I had to read newspapers from Melbourne and Sydney finding coverage on our clients. I would assist the girls in making follow up calls on pitching they had done, make media kits and doing research to name a few tasks.
I was also given the most incredible opportunity to attend the concerts of some of our clients. I got to see Guns N’ Roses, Chris Isaak, Guy Sebastian, Apia Time of My Life Tour and Aerosmith twice. Here I was able to interact with photographers and see how everything happens behind the scenes. I was also given the
most amazing opportunity by my boss Angela to go with her to assist at Chris Isaak’s press interviews at Club 23.
You’ve had some amazing internship experiences – tell us about your application process
For me the first thing I do is to research agencies. I will never apply for an agency that doesn’t stand out to me. Whether that be in the way of their clients or even just the vibe I get from their social media sites. Once I have applied, if I get asked to come in for an interview I make sure I do further research about the company and their clients. You never know what they will ask. It’s all about being prepared for anything.
Congratulations on your transition from intern to employee – how do you plan to juggle it with your final year at university?
Thank you. I am very happy. To be honest, it’s not something that ever crossed my mind as being difficult. I definitely love being busy so it’s very exciting. I will initially be doing three days at Flourish PR so I will be able to get to uni and also have time for assignments.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt along your intern journey?
Two simple words: work hard.
It’s something both my parents instilled in me but it’s only now I realised the true meaning of working hard for what you want. I would also stress that you need to make sure you are doing everything you’re asked to do. Even if you think it is boring or not something that interests you, just give it your best shot. Also ensure you show your passion for the company. Don’t be fake but if you truly love the agency you are interning for, don’t be afraid to dive in headfirst and prove to them that you are worth keeping.
If you could write a letter to yourself before you began your internship journey, what advice would you give yourself?
Be confident, believe in your own opinion or ideas, never doubt yourself and stay passionate.
—-
My Interning Life wishes Isobel all the best.
Flourish PR are currently looking for a PR Intern in their Melbourne offices. Find out more here.
My Interning Life: Contributors
Posted: February 22, 2013 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Communications, Contributors, Interns, Internship, Isobel Loschiavo, Media, PR, Public Relations, Remi Gordon, Social Media, Twitter Leave a commentHi Interns,
Please welcome to the My Interning Life team Remi and Isobel who will be contributing to the website, social media pages and the upcoming MIL event.
I’m really excited about how well My Interning Life is going so I need all the help that I can get! You might remember Remi who was my very first featured intern on this blog and Isobel who moved to Sydney to intern.
About Remi
@remikins Assistant Victorian State Manager for Live Below the Line. In my final year of PR at RMIT, I’m a lover of good food, cheap cocktails and cute dresses.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Dr. Seuss
Previously a coffee girl at Glamourflage Cosmetics, Milkk, Style Counsel, and now, The Oaktree Foundation.
Dream job? Somewhere I can use my PR prowess and fabulous communication skills to make a positive contribution to society.
About Isobel
@isobelloschiavo Currently an intern at Ogilvy and Flourish PR. I am also about to enter my final year of PR at RMIT. I am a social media junkie, self-confessed Kardashian expert, iPhone dependent, shopaholic with an addiction to coffee and dreams of living in NYC. Follow me on Instagram @isobelloschiavo.Intern Profile: Anne McGaffigan
Posted: February 18, 2013 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Anne McGaffigan, Communications, Cosmopolitan, fashion week, how to intern in NYC, Interns, Internship, john varvatos, LinkedIn, massey knaknal, Media, New York, NYC PR Intern, Pace University, PR, Public Relations, Social Media, Staff international, The PR Intern Leave a comment All I can say about this weeks featured intern is WOW. Anne McGaffigan is a Pace University student at their New York City campus and she is a super intern. She’s currently interning at a match making events company but she’s also interned at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Staff International, Massey Knakal and for designer John Varvatos.
Full Name: Anne McGaffiganIf you want to find out more about Anne and her experience as an intern, check out her blog The PR Intern or connect with Anne on LinkedIn.My advice is that if you’re just starting out, don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a call for an interview right away. Finding a good internship takes a lot of patience and persistence. Also, don’t forget to network at your internship. Your supervisors are great connections to have, but if you are at a larger company, remember to always be friendly and nice to the other employees in different departments. You never know if they can help you out (or vice versa) in the future. After all, the more people you know, the more opportunities you will have.
Intern Profile: Stephanie Hume
Posted: January 29, 2013 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: CHE Proximity, Clemenger, Communications, DDB Network, hard work, Intern, intern at the ripe, Internship, Mango Communications, Master of Communications, persistence, PR, Red Agency, RMIT, Stephanie Hume, The Ripe, The United Nations Global Cities Programme, write for the ripe Leave a commentToday on My Interning Life, Master of Communications student, Stephanie Hume, says that persistence, hard work and self-belief are key to having success while undertaking internships.
The basics:
My name is Stephanie Hume, 23, and I’m studying a Master of Communication at RMIT and expect to graduate this year.
Dream job?
That’s a tough one as I feel I change my mind constantly, as new avenues from things I read and hear about always inspire me. However, I think it’s wise to have a few ideas and to be flexible at the same time.
Nonetheless, I’d love to get some experience in an agency such as Ogilvy or Edelman and then work in the marketing department of the NGV or the theatre’s of London or New York or even for film production companies like The Weinstein Company. It’s really quite endless. That’s what I love about PR I have so many ideas and industries I want to pursue.
Tell us about your internship experiences
My first break was at Mango Communications, which is part of the DDB network. After un-enrolling from a post-grad course that really wasn’t my thing I rang up Mango that exact same day and asked if they offered internships.
Coincidentally they needed one week to fill as their current intern was going to be away. I believe this moment was the universe extending me a slice of opportunity pie.
My week there was a dream. I was exposed to a bunch of hard-working, talented and friendly individuals and given real responsibility to coordinate coverage with the media for their client, Disney.
After getting into my course mid-year I finally found motivation to pursue internship opportunities elsewhere. I have been fortunate enough to spend a week at CHE Proximity part of Clemenger, three months at The United Nations Global Cities Programme and just before Christmas I spent a month full time at Red Agency’s Melbourne office.
It’s been an amazing 6 months and I’m still excited about what 2013 will hold.
Tell us about the the ripe and what you do
The Ripe is a music website started by Huw Nolan and Tom Pitney. It was launched last February and is supported by writers, photographers, videographers and editors. We review band’s work and provide media coverage of festivals and concerts in Melbourne. It’s been a great tool for us all young to contribute to our portfolio and we’ve also become really great friends too.
I am one of their writers and also do PR work for them on the side. It’s enabled me to keep up my writing and as there are talented writers onboard it keeps me motivated to constantly improve and find original ways of expressing myself.
It’s our first birthday this February 14th at The Workers Club. We’ve locked in City Calm Down, Collarbones and Panama to play there. It’s going to be so much fun. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short time.
What has been the most important lesson you learnt while interning?
Persistence, hard work and self-belief are the three big things for me. There are times when I was overwhelmed with how much work I was given. I just had to breathe in and acknowledge that being nervous or unsure of myself was what happened to everyone in new experiences and when you are constantly thrown into new experiences it happens more often. There really is no reason why anyone should be self-doubting as we are capable of pretty amazing things.
Persistence pays off in bucket loads too. At one of my internships I spent most of my time developing a media report and had to call up pretty much every media outlet in the country for information the client needed. Its enormity was overwhelming but I just kept on putting on a brave face and calling those numbers and people eventually got back to me and I even formed a few relationships in the process. Persistence and hard work cannot be substituted.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Giving myself space is key and researching new music to review is a good distress. I do love spending time with my parents too. My favourite thing to do during semester is staying in on Saturday night and having dinner with them and then watching a movie. Bliss. Other than that I love reading and seeing my friends. Looking after my health is a big thing and the only way I get through how much I put on my plate. I can’t take big nights out anymore.
How do you juggle interning, course work, paid work, and having a life?
Last semester all I did was uni work, interning and saw my family and added socialising in sometimes if I had the chance.
I did an Arts degree at The University of Melbourne before my Masters and didn’t put as much of my heart into it. I’m being a massive nerd but I am absolutely loving it all and the opportunity to learn again. Plus my course only goes for a year and a half so I’m happy to make sacrifices now if it means I have a better chance of securing a job on graduating.
Stephanie shares her advice
You can check out all of Stephanie’s work on The Ripe and connect with her on Twitter.It really is a no brainer. Do as much as you can. Email, call them up, search places online that are of interest and just put yourself out there for an internship, a week’s work experience, or even to meet up for a coffee to discuss their role.
You can’t expect a potential employer to give you a shot if you merely have a university degree. Experience in the industry is just as much an indicator of dedication to a career as it is a catalyst for personal growth.
It’s just a matter of starting somewhere. I’ve emailed places or called them before and received a stern ‘no’. But you can’t get put off by ‘no’ from one, two or three people. You’ve got to put things in perspective and realise the bigger goals and aspirations you are trying to achieve to motivate yourself to keep on calling and emailing.
Make the most of it whilst you are at university too. As whilst I wasn’t enrolled at RMIT, despite my enthusiasm and people liking my writing they wouldn’t take me on as I wasn’t covered by insurance that your university will cover. And if you are lacking inspiration go onto Pinterest’s quote boards. My, the time I waste on there. Good Luck.
Intern Profile: Jasmine Ceni
Posted: November 27, 2012 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Communications, Deakin University, Intern, Intern at victory w-league, Interns, internships on linkedin, Jasmine Ceni, Journalism, Journalist, LinkedIn, Media, melbourne victory, PR, Public Relations, Social Media, Sport fan, The Football Sack, Twitter, w-league Leave a commentJasmine recently accepted an interning position with the Melbourne Victory Women’s team. Today she shares how she scored her internship by connecting with her future employer using professional networking site, LinkedIn.
The Basics
Jasmine Ceni, 20 years old. Currently completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Journalism and Public Relations at Deakin University.
Dream job?
Sports Journalist
How did you find out about your internship with W-League?
I followed the communications officer of the Melbourne Victory W-League team on LinkedIn and he approached me with an interning opportunity which I took without hesitation. I always wanted to get into sports journalism however wasnt too sure about the W-League at first (I hadn’t watched a women’s football game ever before and wasnt sure what to expect) however I’m glad I took the opportunity. Women’s football has grown on me and will hopefully gain some more coverage in the future.
Is LinkedIn a useful tool for connecting with prospective employers and internships?
Definitely. Within a week of joining LinkedIn I was offered the internship, I don’t believe I would have found the opportunity any other way.
Tell us about what you do on game days
I control The Football Sack’s Twitter account throughout the game – list teams, yellow and red cards, goals, substitutions and interact with fans as much as I can. I also complete a match report at the conclusion of the game and can (if I needed to) interview players and coaches at the end of the game.
How are you juggling your internship, uni and casual work?
I work three days during the week, studying for my university trimester subjects on my days off and, intern on the weekend at Melbourne home games. It is a fair bit to juggle however I can’t complain too much as I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to do something I enjoy. As I only report on Melbourne home games there are weekends where I don’t have to intern which also makes it a little easier to catch up on uni work.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Not too much spare time on my hands at the moment but I’m a huge sports fan so usually watch or attend sporting games, spend time at the beach or catch up with friends.
Take any opportunity that comes your way because you’ll never know what you’ll get out of it. Join as many social networking sites as you can to build relationships with potential employers or workmates. Hard work always pays off in the end.
You can follow Jasmine and the Melbourne Victory W-League team on Twitter. You can also check out Jasmine’s articles on The Football Sack.
Intern Profile: Clair White
Posted: October 8, 2012 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Clair White, Communications, Interns, Internship, PR, Public Relations, RMIT, Twitter, Victorian Police Media Unit Leave a commentToday’s featured intern is PR student, Clair White.
Clair recently interned with the Victorian Police Media Unit and gives us insight into her intern experience.
The basics
Clair White, 21, studying a Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) at RMIT University, graduating at the end of this year.
Dream job?
I’m still not sure, but media relations for a sports club in a national league is at the top of my list at the moment.
Tell us about how you scored your internship experience in the Victoria Police Media Unit.
My internship coordinator sends emails to everyone in my course when internships arise. She sent out an email about a four week internship at VicPol and I thought I’d give it a go. I sent off my resume, had an interview and got the position.
What did you do on a daily/weekly basis?
My position in the unit varied depending on which team I was working with, as there are two sections of the media unit: proactive and reactive.
The majority of my time was spent in proactive. In this team, public relations issues are broken down into portfolios, with each of the full time staff members responsible for different portfolios. Some of the portfolios include: road policing, public transport and specialist support (air wing, water police, mounted branch, dog squad, Public Order Response Team, etc). The job of the proactive team is to gain media attention for issues VicPol want covered. This can include launches of new initiatives, blitzes and campaigns. The proactive team also work closely with prominent feature writers to collaborate on stories relating to their portfolios.
During my time in the proactive unit, I was ‘thrown in the deep end’ as they are quite understaffed. I relished the responsibility though, as this allowed me to do work that was actually needed, rather than just ‘intern work’ that was created for me.
Some of the more interesting things I got to do in the proactive media team included: media releases (including pitching to regional, metropolitan and major print, TV and radio), organising and attending press conferences, visiting 3AW’s Neil Mitchell program and ABC 774’s Jon Faine program with Chief Commissioner Ken Lay, writing a police member profile piece for the Herald Sun Career Expo guide and liaising with police members and media on a state-wide initiative in conjunction with V-Line.
I was also given several administrative tasks in the proactive team. These included collating daily regional press clippings (through media monitors), daily road policing clippings, monthly coverage reports (e.g. PSOs) and creating/updating divisional media contact lists.
I was also given great responsibility during my time in the reactive team. The reactive team deal with major current news issues relating to VicPol. All of the police coverage on nightly news, in major newspapers and on radio source their information from the reactive team.
Unlike the proactive office which is displayed in a traditional setting, the reactive unit is a much more collaborative environment. Instead of separate cubicles, team members in reactive sit along a long desk, with one supervisor overseeing all staff. From these stations, we field media enquiries from journalists from all over the country.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned while at Vic police media?
During my internship, two major lessons kept popping up.
- Get the basics down – you need to have your writing and communications skills on lock. Whether it’s a simple email to a colleague or a phone call to a journalist, you need to know what you’re saying, why you’re saying it and how you’re going to say it.
- You can’t anticipate media attention – some days I’d have stories that I thought we get heaps of attention and some that I didn’t think would get any coverage and it was those little stories that turned into bigger events. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill – you don’t have to send out a press release for every little thing. Go with the flow and deal with media attention as it comes to you.
You’re in your final semester at uni, what are your plans for 2013?
It’s so exciting. The idea of no more homework or timetabling is equal parts ridiculously exhilarating and terrifying. I’ve applied for an internship with a US not-for-profit organisation called To Write Love On Her Arms. They exist to promote help and provide hope to those dealing with addiction, selfy injury, depression and suicide. If I get the position, I’ll be in the States from mid-January to early May. After that is up to future Clair! Presumably, I’ll come home and find a ‘grown up job’. All I can hope for is that it’s something I’m passionate about, as I wholeheartedly prescribe to the notion that if you love what you’re doing, you won’t work a day in your life.
How did you juggle uni, interning, paid work and having a social life?
Very precariously. All I can say is that you can never underestimate that value of a good support network. Those days when you come home and you’re that frazzled you try to use your myki to get cash out and can’t really remember how you got into your pajamas, they’re the days where you just have to love and appreciate those around you who are wiling to help you out.
Will you do more interning?
I’m a work experience junkie – I love the stuff! I’ve helped on PR events, spent time at a boutique fashion/lifestyle agency, done social media and comms for a not-for-profit and shadowed some of Melbourne’s best PR practitioners.
I believe that we never stop learning and whether my future holds more internships or not, I know that there are so many things that I am yet to experience professionally. I am however, really interested in gaining some more experience in sporting organisations and media outlets themselves.
Clair shares her advice
While you may think the big bad world of media is scary, it’s made up of people who have come from the exact place you are currently. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t think that just because you’re young means that you can’t contribute. Listen to and learn from those around you. It sounds so corny, but if there’s something that you want/a place you want to intern at/someone you want to talk to – make it happen. You can do it.
You can follow Clair on Twitter.
My Interning Life 