Thursday, July 2, 2009
My internship I had with Forward PR was the most amazing experience I have had that has been remotely close to what I want to do after I graduate. I learned so much in the past three weeks but it was not all about what everyone thinks PR is about. Yes I learned about how the firm handles the media and clients but I also learned how to really talk and network with people and handle myself in a professional manor. The first day was great, I was given the opportunity to meet some of our clients. I was given the task of visiting our clients, picking up their pieces and delivering them to magazines that would in turn feature our clients on their pages. I was also asked to do what my boss called press checking in which I would go to Selfridges and look at magazines and news papers to see if any of our clients are featured. If I did find our clients I was to buy the paper or magazine bring them back to the office rip out the pages and scan them. Once the pictures were scanned I was to send the scans to our clients so they could have them on virtual file, I would then put the pictures in "The Black Book" which holds pictures of every client we have represented. I was also given the task of making inquiry calls to magazine and stylists about our clients pieces that have yet to be returned. It is our job as the PR firm of our clients to keep track of pieces that are sent out and pieces that are returned. We make sure that there is no damage or anything missing. I was also in charge of emailing magazines any questions we had about features and what the process was in getting our clients out in the fashion world. The most exciting part of the internship and possibly the most important part I had to perform was attending fashion shows and events. It was so important to go to these events because I learned how to network and get my name as a business woman out there. I talked with many people about what I was trying to accomplish with my internship and what I aspired to to when I graduated. I also got the chance to see how my co workers networked and dove into conversation with people. I learned that in order to figure out how other firms work and how other people work within those firms I need to talk and pitch myself and my company to others. The office was not all running around and work, the boss was really keen on making a point of not making the work place a negative environment. She wanted us to know that she is open and relaxed and ready to hear any suggestions we had about clients or events. I thought that was really important because I know that I can not work in an atmosphere that is negative and strict because I would be too afraid to ask questions or to make mistakes and without mistakes I would never learn. Even though it was a laid back environment I knew that there was a fine line between casual work and being lazy and slow; I always made sure that I was constantly given tasks and got my work done within a reasonable amount of time. It will be very interesting to see the differences between the ways firms are run in the U.S vs. firms in London. I feel as though firms in London specifically Forward PR work hard but take time to rejuvenate energy as well, I think that firms in the U.S are more strict and more keen to get the job done and be successful and don't take the time to make sure that the employees are relaxed and get the job done successfully and thoroughly.
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