Hi All...
My second week in Bintulu Port, this is a new week for me too. Starting from first day onwards i will be in Corporate department for my intern. I am so excited and hoped that something interesting will come to me. My first day at corporate affair department, i had been introduce to the staff at this department. Basically, there are not much staff at this department, it's build up with a manager, 3 executives and one clerk. My first day end up with a brief briefing on what is doing by the department, and i had arranged to sit with the clerk.
My second week for intern but first week be in Coporate department, my supervisor only introduce their yearly event and told me what do they do for the company. I did not participate in much event during this week, all i had asked to do is helping them done the documentary work. I am so suprise that every billing is all under this department and i am quite upset with this. A PR department not doing their role but doing office documentary work. I start realize that the knowledge i learned will not totally the same as in real work force, especially at my hometown, PR only start getting important and function in many industry certain years ago and Hotel firm is the one who practicing this more beside that, only foreign company or huge organizations will concern on PR work by having a PR post in their company.
At here, Bintulu Port, Corporate affair department basically divide into two part which is public affair and corporate affair. Public affair will basically handle any public visiting from school, or public who was interesting on port facilities and want to have a look. Corporate affair will basically handle and function which regard to business, such as visiting from side staff, visiting from other port or visiting from investors.
During this period of intern, i will only work with public affair executive. So my job will only due with entertain the visitors from school. they will allowed me to brief to the school kids if i had a better understand on the company operations. I wish it can happen to me, because i wanted to train my public speaking skill which i never done it before. APart from this, i will also helping in the arrangement for tea time during the coparate visiting. Normally they will having meeting during the visiting, my job is halping to arrange the tea cup, and dessert to the visitors.
Within this week, i only can wish i can learn more and get use with the work as fast as i can, as my intern will end 2 weeks later, i do my best to get trust from them and wanted to have more try during my intern.
3 comments:
in my opinion, PR dept actually have less jobs then other departments like what happens to me. Pr dept only active when there's events going on but like most ppl said theres no such things as a 1 size fits all so they probably thinks that by having 2 kinds of PR departments will lessen the burden.
Hi ling,
In my opinion, the role of PR is depends on the nature of the organisation. For your case, the work scope of Bintulu Port is not much contact with customer and therefore the PR department have lessen work to do. If the organisation requires to contact with customer or media frequently then the PR department will not just doing paper work. Look forward for your next post :)
You highlighted a very important point, Ling: PR can mean many different things to different people. While during your degree you are studying public relations from a strategic, integrated perspective, many people/organisations/departments still perceive public relations as little more than publicity.
If some of you perceive PR to be little more than coordinating events, than we - as in your lecturers and tutors - have truly failed. There are definitely departments and even agencies that solely focus on event management, but there are many other aspect to public relations. Depending on where you work - or complete your placement - the main focus of the PR department might be on media relations. In Western Australia, thanks to the mining and construction boom, community relations has gained more and more importance. As PR professional you might end up focusing on internal communication, strategic planning, financial PR - or you might simply love writing and end up working on publications, including brochures, media releases and annual reports. The opportunities are endless.
I strongly encourage you to complete more than one placement to gain a more comprehensive insight into how different organsiations perceive and value public relations. I am very much aware that our students from Mauritius had to fight their own battle in educating potential placement organsiations that PR is much more than working at the customer service desk or serving drinks. You have spent the past three years studying public relations -please don't forget what you have learned beyond event management and press release writing. If you feel like you don't get the most out of your placement, please seek out a face to face meeting with your supervisor. The most important thing is for you to demonstrate that you are keen - and happy to give everything a go. This is the kind of attitude potential employers are after. Enjoy the final days of your placement!
Katharina
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