Hi everyone,
Just as everyone else, I am busy contemplating my time at my placement and attempting to write these thoughts into words. Report, Report, Report, I look forward to handing you in!
Looking back, my placement was not what I imagined it was going to be like. I thought I would come away with some real 'tricks of the trade' and would have got to see real 'pr' in action. I thought I would come away brimming with new knowledge. I didn't realise that the organisation I was about to work for - did very little 'pr' beyond maintaining a Facebook page and writing a press release here and there, when time permitted. (This is by no means a criticism, the label is run by two people who are extremely busy running every other aspect of the business - that pr just wasn't a priority.) This is not what I expected in terms of gaining new knowledge, I expected to come away feeling 'mentored' or something similar.
In hindsight, this is not necessarily a bad thing though. It simply meant that I was to run the show! Just as I had expected to learn from them, they expected to learn from me. And I didn't want to let them down. So over the next twenty something weeks I initiated,implemented, suggested, developed and created to my hearts content.
At times this was hard work, and I doubted my abilities as an almost 'pr' graduate. How am I suppose to know what this organisation needed when I hadn't even graduated yet!? But I began to trust myself. I think some of my tactics strayed into the area of marketing at times but overall I'm quite proud that what I achieved with very little guidance and I think my organisation is happy to have some new tools under their belt for the future.
So things work out in the end; I got to see that I am capable in creating something worthwile, my degree has given me skills to use in the 'real' world' and I have now redefined the words 'real world.' Also I have now started Pilates and love it!! (note: my placement was at a Yoga, Pilates and Active Wear clothing label)
Ok now back to this report!
6 comments:
Hi Erin,
It is a shame that you feel you have not been able to utilise your PR skills fully, but I can see that it has helped you apply your already developed knowledge and gave you the opportunity to take leadership and control of what you wanted to do.
On the other hand in my placement there was not much room to take control and go off on my own little projects as everything was set out for me to do. So in some ways you have been able to challenge yourself and you should be proud of being able to handle the pressure and sharing your knowledge.
Hope you are trekking on with your report!
Nazanin Motiee 14139820
Hey Erin,
I've been facing the same situation.In fact I've joined a very small NGO where PR is quite shapeless.But despite the fact that I did not have some kind of "guidance", I feel that the best part of it was to learn things by myself and to be out of my comfort zone!
Hi Erin,
As a PR student I can understand what you felt when you realised that you were the one who will think, plan, create and implement for your placement purpose. It can be scary as, as you said in your post, we are only PR students with, for some of us, only PR studies experience.
We are hoping for some help from those who already gain experience and expertise into this specific field, so as to learn from them.
On the other hand, you have been able to highlight what you had learn during your degree and to put it into practice by yourself, while proposing something that you thought could be relevant and interesting for your company.
In my opinion, what you have done is great as you have been 'forced' to work by yourself so as to have the maximum of tasks to complete for your report.
Good luck for the rest.
Elodie Charoux
14103265
Charles Telfair Institute
Hi Erin,
In some ways I do understand how you feel. It can be frustrating at times not being able to apply what you were taught at uni, however I'm sure this has given you the opportunity to expand freely, allowing you to creatively apply what you know to your organisation; which in many ways could be beneficial to both you and them.
Bryan
Hey Erin,
Firstly, you should be extremely proud of what you've achieved! Introducing PR into an organisation that probably didn't consider the importance of it is quite impressive.
Even though you weren't able to learn from a 'mentor' as such, I feel as though 'being thrown in the deep end' would have also taught you some valuable lessons. Often in my internship I wasn't given too much guidance but it was an opportunity to truly test myself and prepare for the real world.
Making the best out of a complex situation can be difficult, but it sounds like you've done a great job in your placement, under the circumstances.
All the best,
Hayley S
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