Tag: PR internship

Superhero Interns Wanted!

Dana PhelpsBlog, Professional Development, The Clairemont Team, , , , 2 Comments on Superhero Interns Wanted!

What’s your PR superhero power? We want it! 

Clairemont is seeking a creative, highly motivated candidate for an internship with its award-winning public relations team. The candidate will work with team members to create and implement public relations strategy and creative campaigns for Clairemont’s clients.

Responsibilities might include:

  • Crafting creative messages and blog posts
  • Drafting key documents (news releases and media alerts) and distributing as appropriate
  • Contributing to team and client meetings
  • Creating formative research for the agency and clients
  • Developing and maintaining necessary client database information, including media contact lists and online/digital communicators
  • Reading and tracking key coverage and crafting reports for clients
  • Drafting and implementing social media strategy
  • Managing on-site events as needed
  • Attend industry and networking events

…and much more!

Qualifications:

  • Completed at least two years of college, preferably in journalism, PR or communication/marketing
  • Strong skills in creative and professional writing, critical thinking and effective teamwork
  • Proficiency in social media platforms, networking sites and trends
  • Experience in design, photography and videography highly preferred
  • Ability to work a minimum of 10 hours per week
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • A previous internship in PR is preferred
  • A zany sense of fun and creativity

Compensation: This is an hourly paid position with course credit offered if applicable.
Terms: Clairemont typically offers spring, summer and fall semester internship terms.

To Apply: Send your cover letter, resume and writing samples to Dana Phelps at d@clairemontcommunications.com.

 

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Meet Anna, Clairemont Intern

Clairemont InternBlog, Professional Development, The Clairemont Team, , , ,

From Pre-Med to PR

As a freshman, I came to college with a lot of uncertainty in regards to what I wanted to spend the next four years of my life studying. I thought for sure, however, that my degree would be in the field of science. Perhaps I would earn a Bachelor of Science in biology with plans to go to nursing school, medical school or dental school. Four years later, I’m a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in advertising with a minor in cognitive science. What happened, you ask?

The Transformation

After taking an introductory biology course paired with a lab and a statistics course my first semester, I soon realized that science wasn’t for me. I learned the hard way that college level science courses were a bit more advanced than the standard high school curriculum. Hoping to find a subject I was passionate about, I spent the following semesters taking various classes to fulfill my general education requirements. I found psychology interesting and picked up a cognitive science minor along the way. By the end of my sophomore year, I still wasn’t sure what vocation I wanted to pursue. Naturally, I was confused and began to panic.

Soon after, I walked into academic advising to declare my major to advertising through the UNC-CH School of Media and Journalism on a whim, not having taken a single class within the discipline. I heard great things about the program and the professors, but I simply hoped for the best.

The Transformed

The rest was history, and the best came. I have highly enjoyed all of the courses I have taken and the skills I’ve gained during my time as a journalism student. From working with Cartier in a creative advertising course to traveling to China on a global immersion program to learn about how the advertising, PR and journalism industries function in a communist country, the experiences I have gained will prove useful in all of my future career endeavors.

Not only do I have my professors to thank but also my internship opportunities that have provided me with real-world experience within the advertising, PR and marketing industries. As an intern at Clairemont Communications, I hope to expand upon my knowledge in the PR industry by working closely with clients to help them achieve their business goals. From creating social media campaigns to delivering media pitches and assisting with long-awaited grand openings of businesses, I am excited to meet new people and learn new things.

As they say at UNC-CH, “The ceiling is the roof.” At Clairemont, I hope to achieve new heights.

Written by Clairemont Intern Anna Ostrowski, a senior at UNC.

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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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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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My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 4

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Professional Development, , , , ,

It takes time adjusting to a new team, club, internship or workplace. Some lucky people can fall right into step with a new experience, but for the most of us it takes a little practice before we can perfect a new routine.

In a public relations agency, it’s necessary to think quickly on your feet and transition from one project, to the next, then back to that project and then on to a new one. Slowing down for a few seconds or even a few minutes to think something through or clarify the instructions feels too time-consuming and trivial. Better to just figure it out as you go along, right? Wrong. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Today, I was tasked with organizing and assembling several e-books that we use for professional development. It seemed like a simple enough assignment, but I misunderstood how the books should be organized, bound them incorrectly and needed to redo it. This was a mindless blunder on my part, and it could have easily been avoided had I clarified the instructions beforehand.

The lesson of the day? It may feel unnecessary to clarify a seemingly obvious assignment, but it’s better to ask for help than to do your work completely wrong. Take some time and ask questions. You’ll end up wasting more time redoing the project than you would have if you had asked the necessary questions before you started it.

For any readers out there looking for an internship or entry-level job, this lesson is for you! When working at my various internships, I was tentative to ask questions or clarify instructions given to me. I felt like I should already know how to do certain projects and didn’t want to look stupid for asking. This was a bad habit to develop, and it hurt my productivity today! Stop focusing on looking dumb, and start focusing on getting it right! That’s my biggest lesson today, and it’s all about the learning process, right?

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