A new view: agency PR

I’ve officially completed my first two weeks at Maple Creative, a Charleston, W.Va. based public relations firm. This is my first foray into agency PR after having worked the past two summers in corporate PR, and I’ve already seen in my very limited experience how different the two are. Here are some of my key observations of these differences:

1. Billing your time. At most agencies, you have to track the time you work for each client on a daily basis. For me, this has been the hardest thing to get used to. It does help me remember what I’ve accomplished each day, which is a definite plus in such a fast-paced environment. Which brings me to my next point:
   
   
2. Fast-paced environment. In any PR job this is likely to be the case, but in my opinion the agency world steps it up a few levels. Non-stop phone calls, e-mails, meetings and trying to fit in everything else in between is no easy feat. I finally gave in and invested in a BlackBerry, which has been a lifesaver in helping me keep up.
   
   
3. Time management. When managing several clients instead of one, there is a lot more juggling involved. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to stay organized, and so far that has been keeping an ongoing to-do list and making sure I write down everything I possibly can.
   
   

Regardless of the differences I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and I’m loving everything I’m doing so far. Good luck trying to catch me this winter break, ‘cause I’m going nonstop!

Blowin' in the wind

As I began my junior year at Ohio University, I thought I was completely adjusted to college. I was so excited to move back to Athens into an apartment with three of my best friends, to start classes and my new internship. I could handle anything.

Wrong. I was not prepared for cooking, cleaning, rent, utilities, and basically being an adult. I mean, how on earth do people have full-time jobs and still have time to do the laundry and throw something together for dinner and pay the bills? It floored me how difficult growing up can be.

Change is always difficult, even if it’s for the best. That has taken me a long time to figure out. I am so thankful for friends and family, and have realized what things are truly important in my life.

I try to look at new things in my life as adventures. There is always an opportunity to learn something, even if things don’t work out the way you want them to. Every experience I have had, personal or career-related, good or bad, has made me who I am, and I don’t regret any of it.

I also would not be able to advance in my career without my mentors. The amount of knowledge I receive simply from talking to them is something I will be forever indebted to them. I am so lucky to have them as my backbone, supporting me in all I do. I hope one day I will be able to offer the experience and advice that my mentors have so graciously given me.

I have to admit, I’m still afraid of growing up. It is inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any less scary. Even with my doubts, I’m excited about what the future holds. I love PR more and more every day, and I’m happy to have found something I am so passionate about. This year is going to be extremely busy, but I’m already loving every minute of it.

My summer internship experience

I have successfully completed over 200 hours interning at CAMC Marketing and Public Affairs. As I sit here thinking about the past three months, I have nothing but good memories from my summer internship. Not only did I gain more experience than I could have imagined, but I made a lot of great friends (who also happen to be my new mentors!)

I got tons of experience; more than I ever could have imagined. I wrote, edited, observed, assisted with social media research, sat in on meetings, and helped develop advertising campaigns. I even got to head up my own design project!

Something that really stood out to me this summer was how close the marketing team is and how well they work together. I’ve been spoiled working with them and I know it will be difficult to find another team like this one.

I can’t wait to start this school year and all my activities and I will take everything I learned this summer with me.

Hospital intern without the MD

After a month of working at CAMC Marketing and Public Affairs, I cannot believe how much I’ve been exposed to. I’ve attended countless meetings, sat in on phone calls and written press releases for media and various other writing assignments.

It never ceases to amaze me how much goes into a PR plan or a communications campaign or even the way the talent says the words in a radio spot. But the most valuable experience I’ve received so far is simply getting to talk to so many different professionals. Simply getting opinions about how to send press releases or how to contact people for interviews is invaluable stuff.

Even though I’m only the intern, I still feel like a part of the team. I am asked my opinion and it actually counts! I get constructive criticism that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I simply cannot say enough about how amazing this experience has been.

The best part about my internship is that I actually enjoy going to work. I’m not usually a morning person, but when my alarm goes off at 7 or 7:30 a.m. I actually want to get up. (My office loves coffee as much as I do, so that’s an added bonus!) Sometimes I go in early and stay late so I can be a part of every experience possible.

I still have one month left as an intern and I will be sad when summer ends, but I know this experience is a great foundation for building my career.

First week in hospital communications

I just completed my first week as a public relations intern at the Charleston Area Medical Center Public Affairs and Marketing office. I’ve already gotten to do so much. I’ve attended a photo shoot, several meetings and an event with pediatric oncology patients. I have a few projects of my own to start working on and am getting to know everyone in the office.

Growing up, I always wanted to be a doctor, specifically a pediatric oncologist. Of course, my dream changed after I took chemistry and had not interest in it whatsoever, but I still have a secret love for the medical field. I’m an avid consumer of Grey’s Anatomy and reruns of ER. This internship is letting me get as close to the field as I can without actually picking up a scalpel.

I love the connection of putting what I learn in school into use. I’m still getting used to all the rules and regulations of working in a hospital, but I think I’m going to really enjoy my experience this summer.