What I Have Learned and What is The Next Step

I can’t believe that my internship is over now. Fabulous 5 weeks that I will never forget.

When I look back I can see how much I’ve learned and grown. As a Uni student I know the theory, but that is NOT ENOUGH!!! Things have become easier and more understandable now ... simply I know what is expected from me when it comes to PR. I have a clear idea of my future full time job position now.

It is the end of August and I have someting like six months to concentrate on my dissertation. In January I want to begin looking for my graduate job and start sending out copies of my C.V. I must say that I feel that I have a huge advantage already. I’ve already been there and know what is expected from me. I know that I won’t be held by my hand and that I will have to show 100% commitment, enthusiasm, creativity and will to deliver a fantastic job.

Working with lots of different clients can be challenging though. I’ve learned how to prioritise my weekly tasks when it comes to 2 clients and it was tough sometimes. Having a job in a PR consultancy is even more demanding yet fun in the same time. You work on lots of different projects and try hard to deliver them all. Time zones will see me work around the clock but hey, it is all totally worth it. I may moan about working long hours but that is the career I’ve chosen to proceed. I haven’t decided whether I am going to do fashion, technology or any specific PR yet. No, I think I am quite versatile and able to get to know any industry. I suppose that my first full time position will determine it all.

Hai Media Group gave me a chance to learn a lot about online PR. The rest is up to me. Since I take my laptop everywhere (even on holiday) I think that I could be good in online PR and social networking one day. Who knows? My professional life is not decided yet and I want to discover a bit of everything before making my final decision.

My last week with Lisa Devaney was one of the best ones. The Press Release finally got approved! This happened tiny bit too late – towards the end of the contract but still. We didn’t waste our time and published it online. It is now live on PR Web and on the PitchEngine, this backs up our hard work and add credibility to our communication. I was the one in charge of publishing the press release on the Pitch Engine so I can say YES I know how to do it! Great for my C.V. too and we’ve had more than 100 hits over the last 4 days!!

During the upcoming weeks I will monitor the situation with this client and look for blog posts that can be added to my portfolio. I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a professional portfolio of my PR cuttings. The only thing that I have to do now is to find the right place for it. I was thinking worldpress perhaps...? Not sure.

Since my internship is over and the beginning of my senior year at Uni still a few weeks away I decided to treat myself and take some time off to summarise my thoughts about dissertation and PR and everything. Right now I am sitting on a gorgeous balcony that belongs to my fantastic apartment it Lagos, Algarve (south Portugal) and I’ just hit published.

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Coming out of my shell

My second week as an intern for the Hai Media Group has been great. My blog database has turn into a massive list of essential bloggers and their contact details, I went to an exclusive party for audioBoo, I also learn a lot about social networks and many more.

To start with I discovered www.alltop.com. This website helps a lot when you are trying to find the right blogs for your PR 2.0 strategy. Technorati blog directory seemed great at the beginning but the blogs tend to appear more than once, which only mean more work for you.
It would be fantastic if somebody managed to get all those categories, names, and contacts into one online database or programme. I think that people would be willing to pay for it. It would save so much time! I know that FeaturesExec and Media Disc can do a lot but still...the online world is different every day.

Just in the middle of my hunt for bloggers, the hidden reality of living in London came unexpectedly and hit hard. My boss Lisa Devaney had a serious incident with a ruthless biker in the middle of the day! He nearly poked her eye out! When I received the news I was completely horrified. Middle of the day, a busy street and the last thing you expect is this to happen. We all should learn a lesson from this. We don’t know what is going on in other people’s minds. The reaction that we expect may not happen at all or happen but in a completely sick way. And you can end up with a swollen eye or maybe worse.

Thursday was a highlight of my week. I was heading to the exclusive audioBoo party held down at SUN Microsystem. Lisa overcame the shock from the incident, which was very brave of her as her eye wasn’t properly healed yet. My very own beautiful business cards arrived and we were ready to network.

This certainly sounds like fun for most of people but I was tiny bit nervous as I didn’t know anyone there. I am a member of the famous Generation Y, people who understand technology, computers and the online world but when it comes to face to face contact ... Oh dear! I am not good and I know it. Well, need more practice I suppose and lots of courage. I didn’t really feel like coming to the party at all but Lisa made me come, which turned up to be the right decision. The party was fun! You got to talk to really great and well respected people. As a Uni student you only sit and listen to the great people but there you can actually join in a conversation about the future of the newspapers (or something). Isn’t that great? I think that every Uni should think of putting on event for students as well as lecturers.

Internship is considered to be a hands-on experience. Students are supposed to learn and improve all sorts of skills to become more competitive in the current job market. Unfortunately some people end up making teas and coffees and picking up dry cleaning. This certainly doesn’t apply to me and I am thankful for that. I am slowly coming out of my safety shell and getting used the idea that I am a PR consultant (at least for the time of my internship).

The next week will bring even more interesting things but for now, let’s enjoy the rare sunshine that decided to come to London this weekend.