Six things to do in your internship

Professional Practice 393 has been the most rewarding unit I have done at university. The placement with Corporate Sports Australia has been the highlight of my time at university. I’d like to thank all of the girls at CSA for guiding me and allowing me to give everything a go. We got on so well that I was even offered a job with CSA!

So as I graduate and head out into the workplace I would like to wrap up the six things that I think are essential in trying to prove your worth and for getting as much out of your internship as you can.

Jump at opportunities

When someone asks you to do something, even if it is out of your comfort zone, then get out there and do it! It is all experience and you only move forward.

Know how to write

...Press releases, email pitches, website and blog content. If there’s one thing in PR that you need to memorize it’s the structure and layout for a press release.

Pick up a phone

You need to be a good people person – it’s all about building relationships with people. Because at the end of the day it will be a person who decides whether their company is going to sponsor your event, or run your story, or give you a cheaper price for a job.

Get creative

Punchy headlines, cool designs and different unique ideas will get you noticed.

Be time efficient

Set deadlines for each task and get them done pronto! Every minute counts – don’t be one of those people who waste time on their phone or Facebook during work – not appropriate!

Have Fun

Be enthusiastic, friendly and have fun with everything!

Good luck to everyone with your final reports and best wishes to those about to start your internships!

Steph Price

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Things aren't always Rosy!

Along with all the great achievements you do for companies or events in PR, there will be days where things go wrong and you might have to cop a bit of abuse from people. I think it is important to be exposed to this now so you are better equipped to handle it when it is your responsibility to do so.

The second event at Corporate Sports Australia that I have been working on during my internship - Perth Garden Festival - was last weekend. The event has had a overhaul and been spruced up since last year. The first thing to note: people do not like change. So there was a bit of backlash against the this change and in turn a lot of complaining visitors!

When working in events you are dealing with an extremely large mass of people, where you cannot ensure each and every person has the best possible experience at your event - as much as you would like too - it just isn't humanly possible when such a small team are putting the event together.

I admired the poise in which my mentors at Corporate Sports Australia managed the complaints, hearing everybody out. This can be very mentally taxing having people shout at you for something that is not solely your fault.

I feel I am going to be able to handle situations very well now that I have experienced it in my internship before full-time employment.

What I learnt

• Preparation is key


Always have your back covered by preparing for a crisis before it happens. The girls the office have template press releases set up for the worst possible outcomes you could imagine for events in order to make sure a response is given quickly if something goes wrong.

• Nip the problem in the bud before it gathers momentum


When there are complaints, it is important to speak to the unhappy people and resolve the issue before they go to social media to voice themselves. When negative comments are posted on the Facebook page responses are written up for each possible issue (i.e. parking complaints, ticketing, etc). All of the responses at the very least include thanking the complainant for their feedback and then telling them how you are going to rectify the problem. 

• Have a thick skin 


People like to let their anger out on someone - that someone might be you - do not take it personally, you are just a face. Once people have vented they feel better, once they have felt they have been heard and acknowledged. Just by hearing them out you are diffusing the situation. Talk to them as a human-being!

But along with the bad you have to remember all the positives, good feedback and happy visitors!

Top left - floristry workshops, Top right - Peppa Pig show, Bottom right - me and a crazy lady on The Project!

I feel so much better equipped to handle crisis situations in the future after being exposed to it now in my internship. Try to get involved in the not so nice tasks now so that its easier in the future.


Steph
Events Assistant
Corporate Sports Australia

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You never know what you'll be doing next working in PR!

I have been at my internship for a few weeks now and the first event - Bupa Bike Hike for Asthma - is finally here for Corporate Sports Australia.

A great thing about working in the PR and Events industry is that you are not sat at a desk day in day out, you get to go out on site and do exciting, unexpected things. And this is definitely what happened to me!

Two days until event

With two days to go until the event we ran a collection point at Langley Park where participants would come and collect their ride number and official ride shirt.

After being on the help desk all day helping participants who had lost their e-ticket or wanted to make a last minute registration, Sarah - our Marketing and PR manager - called me over, “Steph you’re going to be in our segment on The Project Metro WhipAround!" With nervousness and excitement I went along, pulled on a Jetts Fitness shirt (one of our sponsors), jumped on a exercise bike and pedaled behind our presenter 92.9fm’s ‘Hot Ross’ as the Channel Ten TV camera was set in place. 

After a few practice runs the 30-second live segment was filmed and over in a flash.

But I can now say I have had my fifteen minutes 30 seconds of fame on TV! I have been exposed to so much I would never have been able to without this internship.

Event day

The Bupa Bike Hike for Asthma ran on the 23^rd March and was an absolute success with almost 8000 people riding in the event. Csports pulled off a successful closure of all the roads and a very successful finishing festival in Langley Park.

Bupa Bike Hike for Asthma finishers.

On the day I helped run the Bakers Delight Breakfast Marquee where riders could come and have a delicious cooked breakfast after the ride.

Throughout the day It is so amazing to see every little individual thing we had been doing in the office come together to make such a massive event run with out a hitch.

It was a huge task for Corporate Sports to ensure all the operations ran smoothly with the closure of the Kwinana Freeway and making sure Perth people were well informed to avoid chaos on the roads!

So as the last few riders left Langley Park and the event team congregated in the breakfast marquee to pick at the food that what was left, we here a voice “So, where are we at with Perth Garden Festival?” from Csport's Event Director.

The team has to now refocus their attention to the next event with less than a week to go until the Perth Garden Festival!

Steph Price

Events Assistant 

Corporate Sports Australia

14855689