My internship coming to an end.

Upon reflecting on my time at Devahasdin I’ve realised the importance of this particular PR unit. I’ve gained professional experience in an environment which required me to step up to the plate and handle clients, events and business proceedings, all of which were activities I had little to no experience with previously. Before undertaking this internship I had no real understanding of what the PR industry was like even though I have studied the profession for almost three years I believe now it’s not until you’re thrown in to the deep that the real learning begins.

Whilst this experience was daunting initially I soon realised that it was invaluable experience, in which I will take and use various tips, tricks and practices throughout my professional career. I also managed to establish great working relationships and friendships with all my colleagues and it was great to feel like I was apart of a team and that my input was assisting with the overall success in the business, even if it was in a small way.

I now believe that there is a lot more work involved professionally in a PR career then what is studied and without this experience I wouldn’t have been able to understand the amount of work involved. When writing up strategies for various assignments at University it all seems relatively straight forward not having to take in to account contingency plans, competition and the overall industry. This work seemed relatively straight forward, focusing more on the creative side of PR. After seeing strategies comes together and the back workings of events and dealing with media and clients I’ve now understood that the creative aspect of the strategy (which during the time of our assignments seems like the hardest most detailed section) is one of the easiest, most straightforward elements of PR.

I think that this PR unit is designed to not only put all your University learnings in to action but also gain a practical understanding of the industry. I found this experience invaluable and gained immense knowledge and understanding of the PR industry that I’m so thankful for the opportunity to have interned, especially with Devahasdin. They’ve taught me priceless lessons and have always guided me through any tasks undertaken with helpful tips and tricks.

I hope that everyone else undertaking this experience will have enjoyed and learnt as much as I have and embrace the professional learning opportunities the unit provides.

Georgia.

The all-important social media.

 

During my time at Devahasdin I have learnt the true importance of social media in this day an age of tech-savvy consumers and clients.  Whilst it was relayed throughout my PR units at Curtin I didn’t fully understand the importance of the online reakm and it’s multitude until I went into a professional business and gained a greater understanding of its fundamental role.

Whilst Devahasdin is a prominent boutique PR agency, well-known both in Perth and nationally, the company has recently decided to update and rehaul both the companies website and social media pages in an effort to focus on a stronger social media strategy for the company. When speaking with Sandra she relayed to me that this move was to adapt to the ever-changing technological business environment and really emphasise the companies position and branding within the industry.

DPR’s employees are now required to update and monitor the company’s pages in an effort to communicate openly and timely with different correspondents. In doing so DPR aim to create more value for the company by establishing positive relationships with individuals who use the various online platforms.

I have personally used the companies Facebook page to like relevant events, clients pages and listings relevant to the company in an effort to stay ‘ in the loop’. This is an activity that I believe is easy enough to do on a regular basis, requiring minimum effort yet establishing an added platform for the company.

I believe that in this day an age it’s highly unlikely to find a successful business not utilizing this portal due to it’s easy accessibility and attributes right at the click of a button. The online realm is definitely one that will not die down anytime soon, continuously expanding as individuals become more tech-savvy. I’ve found this experience integral in understanding the importance of social media in today’s environment and hope you’ve been able to experience as well throughout your time at your internship.

Thanks for reading,

Georgia.