"Adieu, Adieu, to you and you and you..."

Hello once again (and for the final time),

I'm happy to report that while my internship with Marcia Ball for the purpose of this unit is done and dusted, I'll be continuing it indefinitely -- it seems that there is lots to be done now that we are working on revamping Style Voyeur, and now that the Jaime Lee label is growing rapidly thanks to press we received (and are still receiving) for her show at the Perth Fashion Festival.

There were many exciting times during this internship and there are many exciting times ahead. I've learnt a lot about the way the industry functions and how public relations can work (or not work) in an atypical working environment like the one I was in, which was extremely relaxed compared to some of the government departments some of you were at. Even so, I learnt and great deal, especially about myself and my capabilities.

1. Love what you do and it won't be a 'job'. The best kind of work isn't even work -- if you're doing something you're passionate about, it will translate into what you produce. So figure out what you love, and find out what industries will work for you, and then go for it. The rest will come naturally.
2. Sometimes things don't go to plan, and that's okay. Whether it's a big crisis that undermines an entire project or someone who just won't pick up the phone or email you back, you just have to take a deep breath and tackle it as best you can. Some things are just entirely out of your control.
3. The importance of a 'can do, will do' attitude in approaching tasks big and small. Do anything and everything! No task is too small or beneath you -- as an intern, you may have to do things like walk dogs (I'm looking at you, Simon), pick up dry cleaning or update boring databases, but your enthusiasm will show your employer that you're up for anything, and that in turn can and will lead to more responsibility. As for the big tasks, no matter how daunting it seems, it's always better to jump into it and ask the questions you might need to ask than to decline or be unsure. I've learnt that employers often want to know that you're at least willing to do the job, and are happy to help you along whenever they can.
4. A thank you goes a long way, and both ways! An honest "thank you" from your superiors can re-energise you with your tasks and make you feel appreciated for your hard work, but sometimes a "thank you" to your employer also shows them that you appreciate the opportunities they're giving you and the things you're learning from it. Gratitude is key in making the most out of your experiences.
5. No two organisations are the same, and they all operate in very different ways. I was worried before I began my internship that I would not get as much out of it as I would if I were working in a more corporate environment, and I was wrong. My internship environment utilised public relations functions in different ways, and in some cases not at all. That allowed me to assess the brand in ways they hadn't previously been able to assess themselves. At the end of the day I still got a lot out of it, and while I perhaps never wrote a media release or published a marketing strategy, I still learnt a great deal and used public relations in the way I knew how to bring another dimension to an existing brand.

Thanks for reading thus far; I hope you got as much out of your placements as I did. Good luck with anything and everything you decide to do after you graduate, whatever that may be. Judging from your blog posts, I have no doubt we're all capable of going out there and taking the public relations industry by storm. Who knows -- maybe I'll see some of you around!

Good luck for wherever your degree takes you,

Nicole