As I go into my last few weeks it has been interesting to look back at all that I have achieved in what I thought would be a long time, but flashed by me so fast. I have experienced first hand exactly what we were taught during our PR classes but also learnt so many new lessons that I can carry with me in my future of Public Relations.
Thus for my last post, I thought I would share some of the little lessons that I learned along the way:
1. Networking is the key to your future!
While you have probably seen this on a hundred articles, heard it a thousand times and seen it with your own eyes once or twice, it has completely blown my mind just how incredibly important networking is, especially in this field. You can be the best public relations practitioner in the whole world with the top grades and the best ideas, but if no one knows that you are there, then you're just another fish in the big corporate sea. It is so important to go out there and meet people and share your stories and ideas. I saw it every day of my internship with Barbara McNaught, founder of Momentum Forum Events. She believes fully that networking is the best way to achieve goals and actively seeks out events to attend where she can meet new people. She has used this skill to seek out many of Momentum Forum Events sponsors and clients and attract the likes of the Bachelors Blake Garvey and the minister of foreign affairs, the Honourable Julie Bishop to her events.
2. Words matter!
Whether you are writing a media release, posting a Facebook status or talking to a client, what you say and how you say it matter. Words can easily be miscommunicated, whether it be by the choice of words or the way that those words are used. It is so important to make sure that your facts are always 100% correct and so important to check and recheck and then get someone else to check everything that is getting published to a third party.
3. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it!
Public relations can seem like a tough gig from time to time, especially after you've made a million phone calls with rejections every time or after you've spent a long day on your feet running an event. When I'm in one of those situations I just think to myself, "if it was easy, everyone would be doing it." This industry is not for everyone, but for those of us with the passion, it is worth it in the end to finally talk to that positive client or to experience the magic of an event unfold. It might take a lot of hard work, long hours and stressful days but it is worth it in the end.
All in all it has been a wonderful semester and I hope everyone has had the most insightful and wonderful time at their own internships. Now to see what the future has in store for all of us...
Good luck for your future
Taila
1 comment:
Hey Taila,
Thank you very much for these tips. I particularly liked your point about if it was easy everyone would be doing it; such a positive way to look at the situation. It also ties into the comments many of my tutors have made about Public Relations having a ‘fluffy’ image when nothing could be further from the truth – it’s hard work! Like you, I’m realising this more and more as I step into the real world. Regarding your first point, do you find networking come’s naturally to you? And what sort of things are you doing to get your name out there?
Thanks!
Molly
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