So my internship has come to an end, as so with it my uni days (almost).
I never thought this day would come.
Placement was always something I saw as the end of my degree and as it fast approached I was quite daunted by the thought of putting all my learning and skills to the test.
But now that it's over i'm reflecting on just what a valuable process it has been.
When i began at 96FM I felt like a little fish in a big pond full of people with great skills and knowledge and wondered how i could ever have any impact on a large organisation such as this and continue into the workforce to pursue public relations.
But with ending my internship came a burst of confidence that it can be done and you can have an impact, be it big or small.
My supervisor gave me the feedback that I truly needed, even though I didn't request it, and it gave me faith that I had accomplished what I had set out to do and in her eyes had surpassed the expectations of an intern.
I have found blogging a great way to look back and reflect on what I have been learning throughout my internship as often we don't really focus on the bigger picture. But it has been a great way to see just how the skills we learn in the classroom are then used in the workplace.
Even if every little task I was given wasn't specifically PR, I can see that they have helped me to broaden my skill set. Even when you're handing out newspapers in the freezing cold, you're gaining great experience and putting those communication skills to the test. Being put under pressure in a professional environment has been a great experience in pushing myself and being a part of many exciting events and competitions.
Even though instead of writing media releases I found myself instead writing promotional scripts and letters and emails I have learnt a lot that will help in the future.
Good luck to everyone and especially to those graduating this semester.
Hope you have found it as rewarding an experience as I have.
Alicia
Showing posts with label Communication Skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communication Skills. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Getting out of my cocoon
Hello all,
I would like to give you an overall overview of my stay at Immedia. Personally it was an enriching experience. I have to admit that before my internship I happened to be very shy. However the internship helped me to get out of my cocoon and boost up my self-confidence. My 25 days at Immedia also gave me the opportunity to meet loads of people: Immedia's wonderful team, journalists, international musicians, local artists - poets and singers and other eminent personalities. I have been able to develop my communication skills and I am not afraid to voice out my opinions anymore. Even to get that internship, I personally went to talk to Immedia's director and my supervisor who is the agency's communication manager and told them about PR 393 requirements. Initially I hesitated but I dared do it and now I don't regret it at all. As we say, communication is the key to success! And this is how we at Immedia, managed to successfully attain the agency's goals- through communication.
Divya G
I would like to give you an overall overview of my stay at Immedia. Personally it was an enriching experience. I have to admit that before my internship I happened to be very shy. However the internship helped me to get out of my cocoon and boost up my self-confidence. My 25 days at Immedia also gave me the opportunity to meet loads of people: Immedia's wonderful team, journalists, international musicians, local artists - poets and singers and other eminent personalities. I have been able to develop my communication skills and I am not afraid to voice out my opinions anymore. Even to get that internship, I personally went to talk to Immedia's director and my supervisor who is the agency's communication manager and told them about PR 393 requirements. Initially I hesitated but I dared do it and now I don't regret it at all. As we say, communication is the key to success! And this is how we at Immedia, managed to successfully attain the agency's goals- through communication.
Divya G
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Taking Risks
A few things I have learnt throughout my journey as an intern at 96FM is just how much of an impact public relations can have on an organisation. When I started I knew there wasn't a straight out public relations department within this company, they have a strong focus on promotions and sales but throughout my journey you begin to see that PR has a small role within everything.
PR requires a high level of communication skills and working in this environment has helped me to really extend my skills in this area. Studying something such as PR, we all naturally probably have quite good communication skills but it's when you're in a professional environment that you realise how important it can be to convey exactly what it is you're trying to say and do. I realise the importance of working as a team to each achieve your individual tasks but the most important thing i've learnt is also to have a bit more faith in myself.
In the classroom there's definitely a safety net to make mistakes and learn what is right and wrong, in a professional environment you feel as though you need to constantly get it right. And in the past i've found I always second guessed myself and needed the affirmation of class mates or teachers that I was doing the right thing. When you're put in a position like an internship, you're often given a task and you need to go about it how you think it's best, often with not as much guidance as you may like. If there's anything I want to take away from this internship it's to remember what you've learnt and ask questions, but mainly to try your best and if you get it wrong it isn't the worst thing. The main thing is to show you've tried, have a bit of initiative and give everything a go. At 96FM i've been given numerous tasks I had never done before and used a lot of programs i've never seen before. Although it was daunting it's been a great experience to learn to push yourself.
I also learnt that you should always refer back and question yourself about how your position and the work you are doing could make a difference in the organisation cause the, how could you go wrong?
Alicia
PR requires a high level of communication skills and working in this environment has helped me to really extend my skills in this area. Studying something such as PR, we all naturally probably have quite good communication skills but it's when you're in a professional environment that you realise how important it can be to convey exactly what it is you're trying to say and do. I realise the importance of working as a team to each achieve your individual tasks but the most important thing i've learnt is also to have a bit more faith in myself.
In the classroom there's definitely a safety net to make mistakes and learn what is right and wrong, in a professional environment you feel as though you need to constantly get it right. And in the past i've found I always second guessed myself and needed the affirmation of class mates or teachers that I was doing the right thing. When you're put in a position like an internship, you're often given a task and you need to go about it how you think it's best, often with not as much guidance as you may like. If there's anything I want to take away from this internship it's to remember what you've learnt and ask questions, but mainly to try your best and if you get it wrong it isn't the worst thing. The main thing is to show you've tried, have a bit of initiative and give everything a go. At 96FM i've been given numerous tasks I had never done before and used a lot of programs i've never seen before. Although it was daunting it's been a great experience to learn to push yourself.
I also learnt that you should always refer back and question yourself about how your position and the work you are doing could make a difference in the organisation cause the, how could you go wrong?
Alicia
Thursday, September 20, 2012
IT’S ALL ABOUT ADAPTABILITY and MANAGEMENT
From sitting at the computer working on
communication campaigns to directly liaising with stakeholders, the work of
public relations professionals is consistently changing.
The past weeks at the one40william
office has been a busy and exciting time as the retail division 140 continues
to gain exposure in the CBD and beyond.
ADAPTABILITY
My roles over the past weeks have been
constantly changing, and I have seen myself needing to adapt to various tasks
and situations quickly and with ease. I have assisted with various elements of
140’s public relations sector, from assisting with a social media strategy to communicating
with key stakeholders.
The following are the roles (on
average) that I will complete during one day of interning:
- Media
Clippings
- Communication
Campaign Brainstorming
- Distribution
of Communication Packages to Retailers
- Taking
Instagram Photos throughout 140 (140 Instagram Strategy)
- Phone
calls to stakeholders
- Assisting
with 140 campaigns
- Conducting
research
It is through these wide ranges of
roles that I have had the ability to widen my experience of dealing with
adaptability and how to change from job to job. The fast thinking and role
changing work environment that I have been exposed to has increased my skills
within the workplace and will certainly assist me in my future career.
Through my placement at the one40william offices I
have been able to realise the importance of being adaptable to various
situations, roles and workplaces.
STAKEHOLDER
MANAGEMENT
Stakeholders, target market and target audiences are
the drivers behind any communication campaigns and releases that a public
relations professional develops and distributes. However, it is the level of
stakeholder management required to ensure that relationships are cemented with
those who are influential to the success of a brand or business.
140 Perth prides itself on maintaining high
communication relationships with its retailers. Therefore, I was required to
ensure that I had high verbal communication skills to interact and liaison with
retailers and other 140 key stakeholders.
When liaising with retailers, I was required to distribute
communication material from the one40william Building Management team
Recently, I ventured out to all of the retailers to
gain feedback and an insight into how the retailers are coping with the newly
passed legislation and implementation of Sunday Trading. This form of
one-on-one market research gave me the opportunity to really get to know the
retail managers, their concerns and gain knowledge on retailer issues.
I feel as though the level of verbal communication
that I use and the interaction with stakeholders (such as the retailers) has
increased as a result of this role at one40william.
Until next time for more exciting 140 experiences,
Alexandra Wheeler
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Chic Model Search Heat Two
Hi all,
Yesterday was the last Heat for the Chic Model Search and
now we are on the way for the Semi-final and the Final which is coming up next
weekend! I can’t believe how quickly my internship is flying by yet I still
have so much working needing to be done next week. I’m starting to find it
challenging to balance my internship with my University work as we only have
three weeks left of Uni.
The Chic Model Search Heat Two held in Karrinyup shopping
centre was AMAZING. Our MC was so professional, she was able to adlib, and she
looked amazing and sounded incredible. The staging designed by centre
management looked incredible, the stage was huge so the entrants were able to
do a nice long walk for the judges and we were able to fit both the judges and
the DJ’s on the stage. I was very happy with the overall production.
This week I am focusing on the production of the Semi Final
held on Saturday the 22nd of September and the Final held on Sunday
the 23rd of September. All of the paper work such as running sheets,
MC notes, T-shirt and jean sizes, semi-finalist lists etc. has all been
completed. I must say calling 42 finalists to register their jean sizes was a
bit of a task! There have been copious amounts of emails sent and it’s only
Tuesday organising everything for both events this weekend.
Our communication skills between all three project managers
have strengthened like magic and I’m learning real skills more than I ever
expected.
Until next week,
Laura
14755174
14755174
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Heat One: Chic Model Search
Perth Fashion
Festival, Chic Model Search presented by Student Edge
Hi all,
Sunday the 9th of September I had Heat One of the
Perth Fashion Festival, Chic Model Search presented by Student Edge at Garden
City Shopping Centre.
The week leading up to the first event started very
smoothly, we were 100% organised with our cars packed, banners delivered, MC
organised etc. On the day of Heat One our DJ had cancelled due to illness, this
was the first sign of the day not going exactly as planned! We arrived bright
and early at the centre and briefed out volunteers, who were amazing on the
day! The day commenced as planned with registration leading from 11-12pm and
the Heat commencing at 12.15pm, this is where things started to slip. We had a
massive communication meltdown between the project managers and the MC, with
the heat going too fast and the judges not having the full amount of time to
complete judging. I learnt it is very important to keep your cool and to
continue with the event in a professional manner. Things aren’t always going to
go as planned but if you continue to stress over something that has gone wrong
it turns into a domino effect, so it is best to deal with the situation and
move on instead of dwelling on the problem if it cannot be fixed.
Overall the day was fine but it definitely was a learning
curb and the following heat will be delivered in a different way. It was nice
to see all of our hard work being put into action.
The week leading up to the event we also had a bad article
published about Johnny Ruffo. As the Sunday Times are one of our sponsors a
journalist was asked to write a piece about Johnny Ruffo attending the Chic
Model Search Final held at Forrest Place and is looking to be a great night!
There is a competition also in place at the moment on the PFF facebook page for
twenty lucky winners to win a meet and greet with Johnny and sit front row with
him at the Final. Unfortunately the journalist decided to make the article
about Johnny being “single and ready to mingle” whilst he is in Perth and wrote
the incorrect dates. This was not so great!
We have the next Chic Model Search heat tomorrow at Karrinyup
Shopping Centre with a new MC, fingers crossed things go a lot smoother!
Until next time,
Laura Johns
14755174
14755174
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Practical Experience on Public Relations
Hello everyone!
It's
my second post after two weeks! I have learnt a lot throughout the past few
days! First of all, my CEO Tanya Dapagne taught me how to manage Global Good
Foundation’s website. A content management system (CMS) is a computer program
that allows publishing, editing and modifying content on a web site as well as
maintenance from a central page. It provides procedures to manage work-flow in a
collaborative environment. I started uploading every newsletter that mentioned
The Global Good onto the website, so that people can revise any news about
Global Good. This is a great opportunity for me to learn something that I can’t
learn at school as well as giving me some practical experience.
Global
Good are organising a fund-raising event called “Jump for GGF”. Every day,
people are challenged to face their fears and find a way to escape situations
of domestic violence. GGF is asking people to jump from a plane, to assist
those who have to leap from their lives into the unknown and show them anything
can be achieved when we are willing to take a leap of faith. The money raised
will go towards The Global Good Foundation. GGF is setting up education centres
beyond crisis care for people impacted by domestic violence.
I
was informed to contact two of the people who joined this event and sent them
an e-mail in order to write my media release. Their message inspired me
immensely to do something meaningful as well as to help others. I hope that someday
I can explore the world and make a positive impact on it!
Moreover,
Tanya and I had the chance to meet up with the Mayor of the Town of Kwinana,
Carol Adams, and Liberal candidate for brand, Donna Godin. It was a photo-shot
meeting with the Public Relations officer of Weekend Courier, Town of Kwinana
local newspaper. It was really a great pleasure for me to meet them and learn
the workings of the real public relations world.
I
am so glad that I have the opportunity to work with The Global Good and to do
things that are meaningful to those who are impacted by domestic violence.
That
is all for now! Have a good day and enjoy your placement!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Lessons learnt so far...
After almost completing my placement there are a couple of lessons that I have learnt about working in the fashion PR/Marketing industry.
The communication doesn't stop - Everyone I work with has a work phone that they have with them all the time constantly checking emails, answering phone calls and updating social media platforms.
You must proof read everything - I have been triple checking every email that I write not only for the sake of spelling and grammar errors but to ensure that the content is written in a professional manner and has clarity.
Time management is crucial - I have found that time management skills are crucial in this industry and prioritising tasks is so important.
Using initiative when in doubt - In situations where i have been in doubt, using my initiative has proven to be the best option and has worked out well for me so far.
Working hard leads to good things – A lot of the ladies I work with have done a lot of overseas travel with the company and when I ask them how they got to that point they all say 'a lot of early starts and late nights!'
Of course I could write a huge list of exactly everything I have learnt but I feel as though these points are the most important in my journey so far. I have had an amazing time at my placement and made a lot of friends. I am not looking forward to having my last day tomorrow!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Hand over Day...
Hi,
Excitement is brewing and I will say I am rather nervous. My supervisor left on holiday on June 1st, this meant that she had to hand over tasks to all of us in the office as she will be away for 5 weeks. Today the CEO Fiona Kalaf, took us out for lunch so we could have a proper de-briefing session, coffee and macaroons!
Melissa handed over to me the following:
. Social Media
. HBF Run Prizes
. HBF Run database log
. Media Monitors
. Stress Down Day
. Suicide Prevention Month
. BDSC - Wine Wall
- EDM
- Fashion Shoot
- Social Media (Twitter Account)
It seems like a lot but I am very excited to take over and be able to show Lifeline WA what I can do. Of course I still have a supervisor, Natalie Bird, Fundraising coordinator, I report to her and she tracks my progress. I am excited to be able to take on these tasks and really use what I have learnt, I will admit I though it weird at first for a company to hand over so many different jobs to a volunteer. I have realised that it must mean they think I have the skills necessary to be able uphold and do these jobs well. The one task I am looking forward to the most is Stress Down Day.
Stress Down Day is a National Lifeline initiative that all Lifeline networks get on board. Lifeline WA are taking this initiative and putting a spin on it. What they have asked me to do is put together a booklet of information using both Lifeline's information and my own research that ask for a call to action from corporate clients to fundraise for us. Within the booklet I must talk about where the donations go, how to donate, what stress does to the body, fun activities that work places can get involved in etc... I then have the privilege of sending these to our corporate clients. Along with that I also must come up with an idea that the Lifeline WA offices can get involved in as well.
I look forward to posting about how I'm going on all these new tasks, till next time...
Regards,
Karla Cavalli
Excitement is brewing and I will say I am rather nervous. My supervisor left on holiday on June 1st, this meant that she had to hand over tasks to all of us in the office as she will be away for 5 weeks. Today the CEO Fiona Kalaf, took us out for lunch so we could have a proper de-briefing session, coffee and macaroons!
Melissa handed over to me the following:
. Social Media
. HBF Run Prizes
. HBF Run database log
. Media Monitors
. Stress Down Day
. Suicide Prevention Month
. BDSC - Wine Wall
- EDM
- Fashion Shoot
- Social Media (Twitter Account)
It seems like a lot but I am very excited to take over and be able to show Lifeline WA what I can do. Of course I still have a supervisor, Natalie Bird, Fundraising coordinator, I report to her and she tracks my progress. I am excited to be able to take on these tasks and really use what I have learnt, I will admit I though it weird at first for a company to hand over so many different jobs to a volunteer. I have realised that it must mean they think I have the skills necessary to be able uphold and do these jobs well. The one task I am looking forward to the most is Stress Down Day.
Stress Down Day is a National Lifeline initiative that all Lifeline networks get on board. Lifeline WA are taking this initiative and putting a spin on it. What they have asked me to do is put together a booklet of information using both Lifeline's information and my own research that ask for a call to action from corporate clients to fundraise for us. Within the booklet I must talk about where the donations go, how to donate, what stress does to the body, fun activities that work places can get involved in etc... I then have the privilege of sending these to our corporate clients. Along with that I also must come up with an idea that the Lifeline WA offices can get involved in as well.
I look forward to posting about how I'm going on all these new tasks, till next time...
Regards,
Karla Cavalli
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Final Blog Post on KAB Internship
Hi everyone,
How is everyone going with the placements and placement reports? It is amazing how fast time flies when we are having fun with our placements and university life! I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement and this shall be my final blog post for my internship with the Keep Australia Beautiful Council WA.
Just a summary of the placement with the KAB, I was in charge of an agency project named "Communicating with ESL Communities in Western Australia" and after intensive desktop research and interviews with stakeholders, wrote up a 76 page report consisting of important information on the major ESL groups, statistics as well as recommendations for the KAB to implement in order to reach out to these groups and effectively target litter-free messages to them which you can see on this link http://pr393reflectiveblog2.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/communicating-with-esl-communities-in.html .
I was also involved in two projects by the KAB which were the Kwinana Freeway Clean Up with Main Roads WA as well as the project at the Perth 2011 World Sailing Championships. To read more about my experiences during these two projects, please click on this link for the Clean Up project http://pr393reflectiveblog2.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/kwinana-freeway-cleanup.html as well as this link http://pr393reflectiveblog2.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/kab-volunteer-at-perth-2011-sailing.html for my involvement at the sailing championships.
Apart from that, I carried out minor office tasks such as cleaning up and putting away the tools used for the Kwinana Freeway Clean Up as well as tidied the cabinet for the KAB which consisted of caps, vests and pick up tools. I was also given the task to prepare the necessary tools requested by members of the community that were registered with the KAB for clean up purposes at their neighbourhoods and preferred places that consisted of a set of pick up tools, a KAB diary and wrapped them with brown paper before sending them off. I was in charge of calling up KAB volunteers that were registered in the KAB database to check whether they were still interested in taking part in projects organised by the KAB and sent them emails that linked them to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) website featuring the most recent volunteering opportunities as at that point of time there were no projects by the KAB. Another task was to update the contact details for Clean Marine project by calling the (DEC) employees or by checking for their details on the DEC employee database.
I've learnt a couple of things during the internship with the KAB :
1) Communication skills
- Excellent communications skills, both written and oral, are vital in workforce, especially in the public relations field. It is mindful to have professional writing skills, research and interviewing skills in order to perform well in the public relations field. So hone up those skills PR peers!
2) Reaching out to stakeholders
- I have realised just how difficult it is for government departments to establish relationships with their stakeholders, and in KAB's case- the Western Australian community coming from all walks of life and are different in every way and to engage their awareness and action in taking part in environmental projects and in changing littering habits that may be acceptable in their home countries but not in Western Australia. It is therefore very important to have a goal and identify the stakeholders that the government departments would like to focus on and to implement a well planned strategy.
3) Deadlines and good time management
- It is vital to follow strict deadlines in the government department as there are many procedures that has to be taken before the approval of reports and it is best to practice good time management to avoid delays. Good time management also demonstrates to employers the ability to multitask and perform well on the job without having to worry about the progress of tasks given.
4) Empathy and understanding
-After carrying out consultations with stakeholders from war-torn backgrounds, it is difficult not to have that sinking feeling felt for the experiences by the unfortunate ESL communities. It is crucial that all Australians play a role in making these people feel welcome in the society and feel safe in this country. They should also be given ample moral support to adapt to their new lives here in Australia.
5) Littering and Environmental Issues
-Western Australians need to be aware of, and practice good environmental practices by totally refraining from littering because litter from only one person may seem insignificant, but it does accumulate when littering is carried out by a large number of people and it is very expensive for the governments every year to clean up the environment caused by ignorant and selfish litterers.
Lastly, thank you for reading my blog post and do check out the Keep Australia Beautiful Council WA's website at http://www.kabc.wa.gov.au to find out more about their efforts in the fight against litter in Western Australia and do take part as volunteers in their exciting projects! All the best for the remaining days for your internships and have a wonderful semester.
Debra Tan
14626063
Curtin Bentley
How is everyone going with the placements and placement reports? It is amazing how fast time flies when we are having fun with our placements and university life! I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement and this shall be my final blog post for my internship with the Keep Australia Beautiful Council WA.
Just a summary of the placement with the KAB, I was in charge of an agency project named "Communicating with ESL Communities in Western Australia" and after intensive desktop research and interviews with stakeholders, wrote up a 76 page report consisting of important information on the major ESL groups, statistics as well as recommendations for the KAB to implement in order to reach out to these groups and effectively target litter-free messages to them which you can see on this link http://pr393reflectiveblog2.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/communicating-with-esl-communities-in.html .
I was also involved in two projects by the KAB which were the Kwinana Freeway Clean Up with Main Roads WA as well as the project at the Perth 2011 World Sailing Championships. To read more about my experiences during these two projects, please click on this link for the Clean Up project http://pr393reflectiveblog2.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/kwinana-freeway-cleanup.html as well as this link http://pr393reflectiveblog2.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/kab-volunteer-at-perth-2011-sailing.html for my involvement at the sailing championships.
Apart from that, I carried out minor office tasks such as cleaning up and putting away the tools used for the Kwinana Freeway Clean Up as well as tidied the cabinet for the KAB which consisted of caps, vests and pick up tools. I was also given the task to prepare the necessary tools requested by members of the community that were registered with the KAB for clean up purposes at their neighbourhoods and preferred places that consisted of a set of pick up tools, a KAB diary and wrapped them with brown paper before sending them off. I was in charge of calling up KAB volunteers that were registered in the KAB database to check whether they were still interested in taking part in projects organised by the KAB and sent them emails that linked them to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) website featuring the most recent volunteering opportunities as at that point of time there were no projects by the KAB. Another task was to update the contact details for Clean Marine project by calling the (DEC) employees or by checking for their details on the DEC employee database.
I've learnt a couple of things during the internship with the KAB :
1) Communication skills
- Excellent communications skills, both written and oral, are vital in workforce, especially in the public relations field. It is mindful to have professional writing skills, research and interviewing skills in order to perform well in the public relations field. So hone up those skills PR peers!
2) Reaching out to stakeholders
- I have realised just how difficult it is for government departments to establish relationships with their stakeholders, and in KAB's case- the Western Australian community coming from all walks of life and are different in every way and to engage their awareness and action in taking part in environmental projects and in changing littering habits that may be acceptable in their home countries but not in Western Australia. It is therefore very important to have a goal and identify the stakeholders that the government departments would like to focus on and to implement a well planned strategy.
3) Deadlines and good time management
- It is vital to follow strict deadlines in the government department as there are many procedures that has to be taken before the approval of reports and it is best to practice good time management to avoid delays. Good time management also demonstrates to employers the ability to multitask and perform well on the job without having to worry about the progress of tasks given.
4) Empathy and understanding
-After carrying out consultations with stakeholders from war-torn backgrounds, it is difficult not to have that sinking feeling felt for the experiences by the unfortunate ESL communities. It is crucial that all Australians play a role in making these people feel welcome in the society and feel safe in this country. They should also be given ample moral support to adapt to their new lives here in Australia.
5) Littering and Environmental Issues
-Western Australians need to be aware of, and practice good environmental practices by totally refraining from littering because litter from only one person may seem insignificant, but it does accumulate when littering is carried out by a large number of people and it is very expensive for the governments every year to clean up the environment caused by ignorant and selfish litterers.
Lastly, thank you for reading my blog post and do check out the Keep Australia Beautiful Council WA's website at http://www.kabc.wa.gov.au to find out more about their efforts in the fight against litter in Western Australia and do take part as volunteers in their exciting projects! All the best for the remaining days for your internships and have a wonderful semester.
Debra Tan
14626063
Curtin Bentley
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