Hi all,

So my internship has finally come to an end - I can now relate to the thousands of other Curtin PR students that have completed their mandatory placement!

Last night was the night of the big event that the majority of my placement has been centred around, and it was so amazing for it all to culminate in such a positive way. The evening ran seamlessly, and whilst there were a multitude of hiccups and (sometimes) major issues and concerns that felt like they were occurring every day along the way, we achieved our end result - corporate partnerships.

A few weeks ago I was so worried that I’d have nothing to show for my time at BCRC-WA, given that all I’d been doing was ringing corporates trying to find and entice attendees. It wasn’t until last week that I realised I have created an incredible contact database that I can give back to BCRC-WA to help them in the future, with names of CEOs, PAs, EAs, receptionists, marketing managers, and sponsorship managers, with phone numbers, email and postal addresses, and notes on how best to contact, what I had spoken to them about and so on. This database is also an amazing resource for myself for my future in the industry. 

Similarly, the subsequent proceedings from last night’s event also has a multitude of work attached to it, such as a follow-up proposal letter, a sponsorship proposal, and a PR plan I developed for BCRC-WA over the next twelve months. Whilst it might not be perfect, and in no means akin to something that a professional consultancy would produce, it is a step in the right direction for the organisation. And hey, they got it all for free! 

Whilst I have been faced with a number of significant adversities over the course of my placement, it has been an incredible learning curve that will stand me in good stead for my future as a PR consultant. I have also networked with a number of influential corporates, whether that be in person or on the phone. Whilst a lot of the people I have rung were not able to attend last night, I have spoken to them a number of times on the phone, and they now recognise my name and know who I am (one of the few benefits of having an unusual name!). 

Ultimately, I have learnt a lot from my time with BCRC-WA. For the most part, I have enjoyed it, and it has provided me with invaluable experience for the future, as well as a good network of people, and an even better contact database. One of the biggest things my placement has taught me is that you can know all the theory in the world, but it doesn’t make up for experience. What you learn when you’re actually practicing the theory is far more valuable, and I think this is one of the greatest lessons that can be taught.

Hope you all enjoyed, or at least learnt something from, your placements!

Ashni