Saturday, October 24, 2015

The start of a new chapter...

After 4 months of interning, my internship chapter has now officially come to an end in the best possible way - a new job!

I could simply not believe it when I was asked if I was interested in joining the team at Detail as a PR & Marketing Assistant. My absolute dream job was being offered to me (subject to an interview and test press release of course) and I had not even thought that it would be an option.

So here I am - in the real world, a full time PR/Marketer!

There is no doubting it, I would not be in this position without completing my internship, working hard and proving myself. I honestly believe that this experience has been so beneficial and it goes to show that dedication and a positive attitude can most definitely pay off.

The past four months have provided me with self-confidence and self-growth. No two days were the same and to have such wonderfully talented and dedicated supervisors as my mentors has allowed me to learn immensely and soak in as much as I can.

Here's a few things I have learned during the past few months:

1. Every little detail counts
All of it, every little bit! From the media release, the invitation, the Instagram post to the way you tie a ribbon in a media kit - it all must be perfect. Check, check and check again to ensure your spelling is correct, your formatting is perfect, the links in your e-newsletters work, you are emailing the correct person and so on. 

2. Confidence
This is a big one for me - I struggle with self-confidence, something which most interns can most likely relate to. If you don't believe in your work then no-one else will. Don't be afraid to ask for guidance, it's better to ask a team member than to send something out without asking and not achieve the expected result. This also ties in with point number 3.

3. Communication 
Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and communicate! Yes, some people prefer emails, however many are too busy and may not see your email at all or simply forget about it. Have confidence in what you are pitching and call people. I found that most people are open and willing to listen to your story and we achieved some great results simply from a conversation.

4. Preparation
Be organised and be prepared. If you are attending a media call, ensure you have all the relevant information with you that you need. A journalist may ask you for some interesting facts or some more information on the story - ensure you are prepared for questions that may be asked! Have your phone charged, your contacts set up and be organised so you are always on time. If you are managing the client's social media, always have your camera ready as you never know when the perfect shot may appear!

5. Be passionate  
This is what I love about the team I work for - they are so dedicated and so passionate about their clients. Work hard and do anything you can to help the client - our job is to get them publicity without them having to do much of the work! Go that extra mile, in most cases it will pay off and you will build long-lasting client relationships.

6. Build relationships 
I believe this is particularly essential in Perth! Network at events and get to know the who's who of the industry (particularly journalists and editors, industry influencers, bloggers, etc.). You never know when you may need to call on a contact for a project or client. Ensure you maintain these relationships and never speak badly of someone in the industry - you never know who knows who!

I am so grateful for my time spent at Detail and the opportunity that has now been presented to me. I am so excited to start the next chapter of my life in knowing how lucky I am to be in a role that I absolutely adore!
 

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