Overseas PR Internship: Coming back for more

Hi everyone! My name is Levia Kwee and I recently commenced my work placement a week ago with PT. Graha Agung Wibawa located in Bogor, Indonesia. To briefly introducing myself, I was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and currently I am a double major student in a PR and Marketing. PR Internship 393 is my only and last unit of my degree.

PT. Graha Agung Wibawa is an Indonesian shopping centre group undertaking ownership, property management, developing, leasing and marketing activities of Jambu Dua shopping mall. For the next 3 weeks I’ll be working under Nina Kohandi, the incredible woman who mask herself as the Operational Director, Marketing Manager and also Exhibition Manager of the company. The office is located in the basement of the shopping mall, making it easy access for managing and arrange meetings with tenants.

This is not my first time working with the company; I spent six weeks of my break interning under the same supervisor. At first, the company was uncertain with taking in an intern since they were not familiar with internship activities. Fortunately after a brief meeting between Nina Kohandi and me, she was interested with the PR and marketing skills I’ve learnt from Curtin and the youthful insight I have offered.

My first month working in PT. Graha Agung Wibawa were filled with different activities which varied from things I’ve learned from PR studies, things I expect to learn in a PR internship and things beyond my expectations as a PR student. To give you an idea of my number one surprise, I did not expect to face any sort of condition where I had to call out security in order to break out a fight between tenants during my first round of tenant damage control. Believe me, what I witnessed never came up in an exam question. Fortunately this event was taken care of without delay.

On the bright side I was part of a promotional event by one of the major tenant and an exhibition for the company in order to attract new tenants and extending current tenants’ interest.

One of the most valuable lesson I have learnt during my first round as an intern is that as a PR professional expressing confidence is the strongest key aside from skills like writing and creating a PR plan. I learned that when dealing with people, your aim is to make them trust you. My personal social skill was tested and I have to uniquely stand out for them to choose my idea, while keeping in mind my professional profile and not to go beyond my status as an intern.

The best thing that happened occurred on the last day of the internship. I was offered a full time job as the co marketing and exhibition supervisor for when I graduate in September. This came as a surprise since as they were not necessary looking for anyone.

You could imagine why I love to come back working for PT. Graha Agung Wibawa even as a PR Intern and how they nicely welcomed me back. I currently work with another person who graduated from a university in Singapore.

For my second round commencing my work placement, I was assigned to more work since now my supervisor is familiar to my capabilities and skill set. My tasks on my first week were:

1.    Create a competitor analysis brief

I had to visit the three main competitors on three different days and put on my customer hat for the day. With my iPad I jot down my personal analysis of the similarity and differences of the shopping malls to Jambu Dua and created a brief, which will be shown to my supervisor.

2.    Part take in a meeting for culinary exhibition occurring in three weeks

Involving myself with higher management and observe the different task from each departments. I experience what it is like to be quick on my feet as during the meeting my supervisor suddenly asks if I have any comments and ideas to improve the plan for the exhibition. I was reminded by the multiple PR plans I created as a PR student which is that the key to a good event is to be creative. I recommend various culinary game that citizens could part take in the exhibition.

3.    Travel to different culinary stations in Bogor with the Exhibition Supervisor

Alongside the Exhibition Supervisor I learn and did my own interview for multiple restaurants that are potential candidate for the Culinary Exhibition. The result of which restaurants to use will be discuss in the next meeting which I would do a casual presentation of my findings and recommendation.

4.    Respond to emails from tenants or meet them face to face to understand more of the situation

One of the culture shocks I experience was that the lack of email use as a communicating tool between managers and tenants. Calls that lead to face-to-face meetings are usually the common choice of communication. Tenants feel safer to directly communicate their state of affairs as they could observe the managers on a more personal basis.

This week another meeting about a different exhibition will be held where I would part take in organising the event from the start of planning.

Though I work in a corporate company I have had a good taste of the involvement of PR in a real organisation. I really enjoy my time here and understand why other students love this unit.

Levia Kwee

15617178

Curtin Bentley