First week at DfC

Hey guys,

It is four days into my PR internship and I thought it would be timely for a post! I am doing my internship at Department for Communities (DfC), Community Engagement under the Community Relations Unit (CRU). While it is not my first week in DfC, it is my first week as a PR intern! I can still remember how nervous I was in the first week, getting all stressed up about quality contribution to the department. I definitely agree with the rest. If it is your first week, hang in there! It does get better!

So far I have done some really tedious filing and database jobs. I am assisting my mentor, Allan with contructing a database from scratch for a directory and that is a really major task that occupied me for a couple of days. I also had the chance to do a photo booth for the Community Engagement staff. It was a really great opportunity for initial induction as I walk around trying to recognise the faces and getting their personal details and job titles off my new colleagues.

Yesterday I had the chance to attend CRU meeting, which is held every fortnight. The meeting covers budgeting, sponsors for youth week, creating a job for designer or outsourcing it. The manager will give her report, updating the team about what has been approved and the latest news and issues followed by each individual team members' report. It was a really interesting meeting to sit in, the dynamic of the team and their willingness to listen and offer their help and expertise were awesome. Everyone is very friendly and it is lovely to come into that especially in a cold winter morning!

Media statements have to be approved by the manager first before it goes on to the Director General. The previous 4 media statements I have done are waiting to be approved by the manager, so I believe they are still sitting in her in-tray. After the meeting, I had 9 media statements and two intranets articles assigned to me. So far words start to swim after generating my fourth media release. So I guess...good luck to me!

All the best to those starting their first week soon, and press on for those who have started!