It begins. Nervous but oh so excited!

Professional Public Relations (PPR), I could gladly stay working here past my work experience. I would of course have to give up my paid job I’m currently working 9 to 5.30 Saturday and Sunday. Oh the joys of a seven day working week, these 6am starts don’t sit too well with me to begin with but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. My days are already so busy they fly by and I find myself being told to go home as I lose track of time, there aren’t enough hours in my day for everything I need to do.

But of course it doesn’t stop there as I get home from PPR and dive into my university work, sleep is so far away. Again the grueling task of my 6am wake up, bumper to bumper traffic and rude drivers; it’s all forgotten as soon as I get inside the office, make some tea and sit back down at my desk ready to face the new tasks that have been emailed to me. I enjoy it, the constant thrill, the insight into what a PR consultancy is all about, the friendly staff, the office chats (the water cooler doesn’t work so it’s mainly around the coffee machine). PPR is kind enough to provide the team with black tea, coffee, Milo, green tea, a coffee machine, and a fruit bowl replenished daily.

So far I’ve been working on some items for Bunnings Warehouse; a few forward features. I have an overview of what the magazine is going to be about and then draft questions and answers on the topic that the Bunnings representative could be asked by the journalist, just like PR Media last semester. This is right up my alley due to the fact that I work at Bunnings so I get this done in record time, barely having to research the answers; I’m quite impressed with how much I actually know.

Next I’ve been given the task of tackling an A3 20 page contact database for every publication and media outlet I’ve ever heard of, and plenty I haven’t. My task…determine whether these people are still in the roles listed under the publication. I’m given a time frame; by the end of my internship. I start straight away and go through searching on the internet for verification. I find that there are a large number that are not available through the internet and I will have to call and harass the receptionist. I begin the dreaded task of calling, it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be, although there are a few people I come across who have woken up on the wrong side of the bed and aren’t in any mood to help me. Just keep smiling.

The clock ticks past 5.30pm and my co-worker, Bianca, tells me it’s home time. Thank goodness, I’m sick of the sound of my own voice through all the phone calls. Time to go home, eat dinner, do my university work, and head to bed ready for my 6am wakeup. I’ve decided it’s a good idea to put my alarm clock on the other side of the room; I’ve never been a morning person.