Heading into my internship I had high
hopes I would be deeply involved in real, riveting public relations work. To an
extent I have been, but for the most part the work has been fairly surface
level. Generally this is to be expected and honestly, I don’t suppose I would
trust an unqualified intern with work that could jeopardies my
client-consultancy relationships either.
On my first day I walked into the office
thinking, ‘please don’t give me a spreadsheet, please don’t give me a
spreadsheet.’ Five minutes later I was given a spreadsheet. I sat at my desk
editing it for hours and, for a moment, I honestly believed time was going
backwards.
The spreadsheet I was working on was a
media contact database. It’s an essential tool for PR practitioners because it
enables them to reach editors or writers instantly to pitch a story and
generate interest in a client. Without an updated media database, pitching
becomes a lengthy and clumsy process. So, although the task I was doing wasn't intensely fascinating it was still real, necessary PR work.
Over the next few days, in between the
meatier PR work, I was given other menial tasks to do such as fetch stationary,
draft travel plans for client trips, take client work to be packaged and, on
one particular day, I was given three hours to find one hundred small green
luggage locks that needed to be delivered that day. No small task for those who
know anything about retail stock management and the chance of someone stocking one
hundred locks specifically in green. But moving swiftly on...
Even though the tasks weren’t particularly stimulating
they still provided opportunity; an opportunity to show work ethic, efficiency
and attention to detail. So, each time I was given a small task I did it to the
best of my ability. I did it quickly, thoroughly and with pride.
The way you approach small tasks may
very well define how an employer perceives you. All those small tasks are
essential for the completion of larger, more important tasks. If you do them incorrectly
you risk laying a weak foundation for your team.
4 comments:
Hey Angie, I like your post and the writing is good. I understand how when people assume they are given something so great as an intern with almost 3 years of knowledge in their field. But ended up getting very mundane work to do in the beginning, like the world owes them. People should understand why the basic things are there in the first place, it is a test to see if the basics are done well and also like the title of the post "started from the bottom now we're here" reflects true to all the experienced people that an intern is working with. All the best in your report and your future.
Regards,
Lorraine.
Hi Angie,
I can relate to your post all too well!
My first day in the office also included a spreadsheet and ever since that moment they have been popping up in different shapes and forms throughout my internship. My most recent spreadsheet included filling out the details of 180 participants from our corporate VIVA 7s game night, and although I had wished I could get onto tasks that required more brain power I knew that this was the most important task of the day as we needed it completed to send follow up emails to all participants that same afternoon.
Having pride in everything you do and a good attitude goes so far in the office and people do notice. One of the managers helped me out by delegating some of the data entry to staff who weren't as busy, so it was nice to have people in other areas happy to help and to know that every now and again we will all have to go back to 'working on a spreadsheet'.
Your placement is lucky to have someone with such a great attitude.
Goodluck for the remaining intern days,
Laura
Hey Angie,
I too can relate to your post more than I care to admit!
Making databases and spreadsheets seems to be my designated job at my internship at the moment. Though I do find researching clients and potential event sponsors a lot more relaxing and somewhat therapeutic on a Monday morning than trying to write a succinct and in-depth event running sheet. I also think it's turned me into a bit of an excel wiz, which I think will come in very handy should I be required to do more spreadsheets in the future.
I admire your work ethic, and your determination to utilise such menial tasks to show just how well you can do your job. As Lorraine has mentioned, these tasks are an important test of your ability as a future PR practitioner.
Well done on your perseverance, and all the best for your remaining intern days!
Clare
Thank you for the input ladies. It can be tough sometimes to persevere but as we all agree menial tasks are still beneficial on a professional level. I hope your internships have gotten a little more in-depth! Mine is almost at an end.
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