As many of you know, I’m currently studying towards a degree in Public Relations, for this I arranged some work experience over the summer in a local communications department.
Today I thought I’d give you a little low down on the experiences I’ve had.
During my time in the Communications Department I was essentially an acting ‘communications assistant’. Ever since opting to study towards a Public Relations degree I’ve said I wanted to work in Crisis Management, thus sourcing a placement in a communications type environment as apposed to a creative industry placement.
I loved every minute working with the team, and although at times it was less than taxing, I do feel I’ve learnt an awful lot about public relations, what it takes to work in it, and where I now see my future.
My number one realisation would definitely be that I’ll be working my way up from the bottom upon graduation ….. the very, very bottom! At no point will I be taking a job where the primary task is media monitoring! Though I don’t mind doing it as a little, very little once in a while though hardly ever, part of the position. Don’t get me wrong, I read the newspapers like everyone else, and using Google Reader to search through tweets and forums was really interesting! But as far as a full time position goes, its not for me; I much prefer being proactive.
I’ve learnt that whatever position I end up in, writing is going to play a huge part in my job role. I like the challenge of making a press release interesting and it almost makes me lean towards journalism as a possibility for the future.
Out of everything I’ve done, I enjoyed the events and organisation side of things most; coming up with tag lines, campaign ideas, meeting with the media and seeing plans become reality gives me such a buzz! I like the idea of seeing something blossom from a tiny idea into a massive event.
My placement were good enough to let me ‘lead’, with a little supervision on budgets and such, on a city wide project during the time that I was there. The sense of accomplishment and pride you feel when people are talking about your ideas and getting excited about them is unreal.
Hopefully this year during University I’ll have the chance to work in more industry placements, time permitting!
I’d love to work in something super creative, fashion? Advertising? Photography? Those industries really interest me, and if I could find some PR work within them then I’d be made up.
Working within communications has certainly made me realise my future carer doesn’t lie in Crisis Management, I want to be creative, I want to spend hours hunched over mood boards, coming up with ideas, organising events, being involved in product launches, anything like that would be a dream.
All in all, organising this work placement was probably one of the best things I could have done for my career. I really know now what it is that I would like to do, and what I wouldn’t.
If anyone reading this is in the same position as me, planning a carer they know little about, or feeling as though they’re not sure what to do in the future, or even dead set on a particular route, I would advise you to take up some work experience. I only worked part time for 3 months, and its done me the world of good!
On top of all that, it makes your CV look really good, and you look just that little bit more employable than your peers whom haven’t sourced work experience. And for me, I got to wear chic office clothes and little high heels every day, I worked in a lovely office and made some good contacts, and friends. Its not like we’ve had a summer good enough to not be working – so I can’t think of much better to have done with the time!
Next summer I hope to be undertaking a placement somewhere in the fashion industry, I’ll let you all know how it goes!
In the meantime, I’ll talk soon
Melissa x
