5 Reasons Why a Public Relations Internship Can Launch Your Career

Are you looking to break into the Public Relations industry but having a bit of a hard time forming the connections and building the relationships needed to get where you want to go in your career? A PR internship is a great place to start! 

Also, to note, I would never assign anything to my intern that I couldn’t/wouldn’t do myself. An intern isn’t free labor and isn’t an errand runner! Let’s dive in!

1.

Real World Experience

One of the best things about an internship is that it provides real world experience! It is one thing to learn about PR theories and practices in a classroom setting but a completely different experience when you’re able to apply that knowledge to a real world project. Through an internship, you’ll gain experience creating and executing PR campaigns, working with clients, and collaborating with other members of the agency’s team.   

2.

Skill Development

In addition to the experience you gain in an agency, you’ll also have the opportunity to fine-tune a skill set needed to succeed. You’ll have the opportunity to hone your writing, communication, and critical thinking skills, as well as gain experience with project management, research, and data collection/analysis. These are all skills highly valued in the PR industry, and will help you stand out when it comes time to apply for jobs. 

3.

Networking Opportunities

Not only will you work on your skills in the agency setting, but you’ll probably receive opportunities to attend events, too. These are the perfect places to network with professionals from other companies and make important connections that can help later on in your career.

4.

Exposure to Different Areas of PR

One of the best parts of an internship is that it can expose you to different tactics within the PR industry. For example, one week you might be working on a social campaign for a tourism client, and a press release for a fintech the next. This will give you a well-rounded understanding of the industry, and can help you figure out what area of PR interests you the most. 

5.

Employment!

Of course, employment isn’t guaranteed but many companies use internships as a way to identify and recruit new talent. So if you do a great job during your internship, there’s a fair chance that you’ll be offered a full-time job if they have positions available. Even if you don’t get hired by the firm you worked with, the experience and skills you gained will make you a more attractive candidate to other companies. 

There you have it!

PR internships can be incredibly valuable experiences! They offer real-world experiences, help you develop your PR superpowers, offer great chances to meet and greet, and gives you a great sense of the industry as a whole. If you’re looking to launch your career in PR, an internship is a great place to start!

Happy PRing! 

<3 Jess

P.S. Have questions? Want to chat? DM me on Instagram – @stanleysprucemarketingpr – or TikTok – @stanleyspruce. You can also send me a quick email to hi@stanley-spruce.com if you’d like to meet and talk through your questions.