Category: Public Relations

Meet Clairemont Summer Intern Emily Tracy

Tracy LathanBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , ,

And last but certainly not least, meet Emily Tracy, Clairemont’s third “e” summer intern! Like Erin, Emily also joins us as a rising senior at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is a J School student. Emily has hit the ground running (no surprise as she ran cross country and track in high school) and we are excited to have her join the Clairemont team. I recently had the chance to sit down with Emily, and here are a few highlights from our conversation…

A Triangle native, Emily is from Apex and attended Middle Creek High School. She is into house music, running, blogging, and is currently pursuing a double major in journalism and political science. She is passionate about the non-profit sector. She studied abroad for the summer – not in Italy or Spain like most students – but in Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

I asked Emily about other jobs, groups or organizations she is involved with. Turns out Emily is a busy girl. Prior to joining Clairemont as a summer intern, Emily also completed internships at WCHL and KnowTheMusicBiz.com. She works part-time as a barista at Cup-a-Joe in Chapel Hill and has served on the PR committee for UNC-Dance Marathon, a UNC fundraiser. She is also a campus ambassador for Procter and Gamble and helps plan events and market P&G products to students. (Best part about this is she gets tons of free samples of great new products!)

We talked about her plans for after college and she shared that she would like to join the Peace Corps and hopes to someday live in New York City. She is very interested in the non-profit sector, and women’s health issues in particular, so hopes to find a public relations job in that area.

Other fun facts about Emily:

  • She is a terrible driver – so watch out!
  • Her favorite TV show is Girls on HBO
  • She loves any kind of dip or condiment – salsa, queso, etc.
  • She has two tattoos
  • The last book she read was Everything is illuminated
  • She has a new cat named Purrito
  • She drinks a lot of caffeine – not a big surprise since she works at a coffee shop
  • She considers herself to be technologically challenged, so new phones, cameras, and computers don’t stand a chance

I’m sad to say it’s been more than a decade since I was a senior in college, but I’m quite certain I was not this civic minded or focused on my future plans at this point. It’s exciting to see the next generation of PR practitioners – we are in good hands! So, welcome to Emily and all of our Clairemont summer interns – we hope it’s a worthwhile experience for us all!

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My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 13

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , 2 Comments on My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 13

 

10th Annual Gingerbread Benefit

Triangle Family Services’ Gingerbread Benefit isn’t until November 29 at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, N.C., but planning for this annual benefit is already well under way at Clairemont. The event’s past success coupled with Triangle Family Services’ 75th anniversary this year means the pressure is on for this benefit to be bigger and better than any other.

It may be only June, but we have been getting into the holiday spirit in the Clairemont office lately. We have been researching and compiling media lists and drafting and editing press releases and backgrounders in preparation to pitch long-lead publications like Southern Living, Bon Appétit and Our State. The best part, though? Researching gingerbread-themed goodies, bags, boxes and folders to use for media kits.

Ideas like gingerbread candles, chap-stick and sticky notes have been suggested, but personally, I’m still looking for gingerbread-scented paper (inspired by Elle Wood’s pink scented resume in Legally Blonde – “It gives a little something extra, don’t you think?”).

After working on these projects and looking at pictures from past Gingerbread Benefits, I almost forget that it’s still only the summer and more than five months until the event. It has shown me how much work and preparation goes into the event months and months ahead of time. It’s an exciting process! I am able to watch the planning, and in November, will see all of the hard work come together into a great event.

Fearrington House chefs created a beautiful gingerbread house for the 9th Annual Gingerbread Benefit!
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How to Get an Internship at a PR Agency

Josephine ButlerBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , , , , , ,

Our intern Erin Kelley not only landed an internship here at Clairemont – she also wants to share a few tips with you on how to do the same! Isn’t she sweet?

This could be your desk, too!

In the public relations field, internships are crucial for networking and eventually landing your dream job. Since I went through the internship process recently, I thought I would share six easy steps that helped me find my place at Clairemont:

  1. Research: Searching through massive amounts of internship postings and websites can be stressful and overwhelming at first. If you’re doing a Google search, try to narrow it down first by location, then by interest. Just from my experience, your best bet is networking. Don’t be afraid to connect to public relations agencies through social media! I actually found out about the Clairemont internship program from then-intern Margot Horgan’s post on the UNC Public Relations Facebook page.
  2. Understand the application process: Unless an agency specifically states otherwise, it is usually a safe bet to include your cover letter in the body of the email, with your resume attached. Employers may also want writing samples from past internships or class assignments, so choose from your best work! I usually include a news release and then something that shows my creative side, like a feature story or design project.
  3. Cover letter: The purpose of the cover letter is to go into depth about important experiences or previous internships that you couldn’t fully explain on your resume. You’ll also want to throw in a sentence or two describing why you would be an asset to the company. Always include a cover letter, even if it isn’t mentioned – it can’t hurt!  
  4. Resume: It wasn’t until this past year that I learned that your resume, specifically the relevant experience section, should be tailored to each position. For instance, if I were to apply for a nonprofit internship, I would highlight my work with the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina; however, for an agency position, I would include my experience as PR director for an on-campus organization.
  5. Email: The worst mistake you can make with an email is the dreaded typo or grammar mistake. As I learned in my public relations writing class, you can never rely on spell check! Sometimes it’s best to whip out the good ol’ AP Stylebook. Other than that, just be professional yet personable when explaining your interest in the company and past public relations work.  
  6. Follow Up: Arguably the most important part of the process is maintaining communication with the agency. I always make sure to keep a record of when I applied, sent writing samples, talked with them, etc., so that I can stay in touch and provide any information they may need.

These are just a few tricks of the trade that I used this past year when searching for an internship. Overall, the key to securing a PR internship is perseverance and a bit of luck!

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My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Days 9 and 10

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Public Relations, , , , ,

A little more than two months ago, I was still an intern at Clairemont, but as a full-time employee, it is now one of my responsibilities to help manage our three new summer interns, Erin, Erica and Emily (our “E” interns). It has taken some getting used to being on the other side of this relationship, but I’m finally feeling more at ease giving the directions instead of taking them.

Of course, managing interns has taken some practice, and I haven’t always been the best leader. It takes time to delegate and explain tasks, but in the end, having these women in the office has been a huge help, and they make such a great addition to our team! Here’s a little list of the top things I have learned from our interns:

  • Don’t forget to check in and make sure they have work! Just last week, I left one of our “E” interns without a task. Our interns are quick workers so don’t forget to keep track of their progress!
  • Interns are invaluable when it comes to completing a seemingly endless to-do list. Many hands make light work!
  • Our interns have introduced us to a lot of great new apps. With so many apps available, we love new suggestions to help make our lives more convenient and fun!
  • I’m not as good at explaining things as I thought I was. I might know how to do something, but not necessarily explain the task very well to our interns. This is an on-going lesson and work in progress!

When I was an intern, I didn’t realize how much I helped with day-to-day tasks, but in hindsight, I can see how much interns really do contribute to agency work. We are very lucky to have Erin, Erica and Emily working with us this summer. Keep posted because we will be introducing each of them to you in our blog over the next few days!

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Meet Erin: Another “E” Summer Intern at Clairemont

Josephine ButlerBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , ,

Say hello to another one of Clairemont’s summer “E” interns, Erin Kelley! She joins us as a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is a J School student. Already, Erin has shown us what she can do, and without further ado, we’d like to share this interview with you (no, we did not mean for that to rhyme – it just did).

Meet Erin!

So Erin, you’re from Winston-Salem. How long have you lived in North Carolina?

My entire life…so almost 21 years.

That’s a long time.

Yeah, and my family has always stayed in the same house, even. We never moved.

Sheesh. You’re quite the NC lover. Is that why you love UNC so much?

It is!

So, about that. How did you decide to study PR in college, anyway?

I declared public relations as my major the day after I finished up my freshman year. The real answer is that I took Business 100, and it wasn’t what I thought it would be…so I added marketing and communications to the mix to make things more interesting.

And now you’re going into your senior year. What are you looking forward to the most?

A class called Branding of Me with Gary Kayye. I want to integrate all of my social media accounts and have a website where you can find me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest and on my personal blog. This class should really help me with that.

Do you know Gary Kayye? He’s pretty awesome. I spoke to his class last year.

He presented at one of our PRSSA meetings this past year, and that’s how I heard about his class.

So how involved are you in PRSSA?

I was attended a lot of meetings this past year, and next year, I will be the treasurer, making everyone pay dues! It has been such a great experience because it has helped me with my resume and cover letter, and it’s great for networking. It gets you in with the speakers, and from there, you can build meaningful relationships and get a better understanding of what life will be like after college.

So you realize the importance of networking?

I feel like with today’s economy and the way journalism is evolving, that’s the only way to get into an agency. And, of course, having the UNC connection is always really helpful.

I’d say so. That’s why I was so excited about your resume – I saw the UNC email address!

Thank you! I guess the thing I am really working on right now with networking is keeping in touch with important contacts and making sure I reach out to someone if I have any questions or need advice.

And that’s really important. It can be the difference between forgetting about someone and keeping them at top of mind….So what have you learned so far at Clairemont?

Well, first off, I have learned that I love working in downtown Raleigh! I have also learned the importance of using the correct tone when you’re speaking to different audiences. For instance, when I am helping to write a Drexel Heritage blog post, I am always cognizant that I need to be using the voice of a fashionista. I have also learned a lot about the importance of media lists and thinking about strategy when you’re pitching. Oh, and I’ve been thinking a lot more about the appropriate channels to go to with my stories. I never realized how involved it all is!

Indeed, it is! You’re a quick learner, Erin! Anything else you want people to know about you? Any hobbies?

I signed up for the City of Oaks half marathon in November. It will be my second. I am following in the footsteps of Dana!

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