Looking Forward...

Hi everyone,

As it comes to the end of your professional placements for most of you, I have applied to the consultancy of my placement to continue on after finishing my university placement. I found my work experience so insightful, I thought why not just keep going with it? You can never have too much experience!

Another reason I have asked to stay on at Sinclair Consulting, is because I have been so inspired by some of the proprietary frameworks in which the consultancy use for providing public relations and business development services. I feel they are unique tools that really give this consultancy a competitive advantage and will help its business operations to successfully grow - a process I would love to be a part of.

I am hoping with enough hard work that my continuation on with work experience will help me to develop my skills further whilst seeking for employment in professional practice of public relations.  

After all, doesn’t “practice make practice makes perfect”?!

I wish everyone the best with their future endeavours!

Kind Regards!

From Beginning to End

To begin with,

I began my placement only a short while ago at the start of April with Sinclair Consulting - a Perth based and operated, boutique public relations firm.

The opportunity to work at Sinclair Consulting was certainly fortunate; I had already been participating in some work experience activities with the consultancy as they arose, and found them to be highly valuable in gaining an insight into how a public relations consultancy might run.

Before I had started my placement I was still contemplating what type and which, organisation I should apply to, and thought a small PR firm like Sinclair Consulting (that is expert consultant-based), would probably not would probably not have much use for an inexperienced undergraduate. As the deadline loomed to find a placement, I decided find the courage to ask Sinclair Consulting if they would take me on. And Lucky I did - as their answer was an unexpected yes!

The last twenty days or so at Sinclair Consulting have by far been the most valuable learning experience I have encountered yet. I have been lucky enough to work alongside the director, as well as four highly experienced consultants that complete the team at Sinclair Consulting. I feel I have gained much insight into understanding the fundamentals of how consultancies – (as well as a small business) are operated, in the arena of public relations.

Through this placement I have been able to take on a position that is at the forefront of real-world projects (not just behind the scenes), with an invitation to attend client meetings and see how a project is executed from start to finish. It really was inspiring seeing a proposal on paper, be pitched and brought to life!

Finally, I must express my gratitude towards Sinclair Consulting for taking me on as part of the team over the last two months. It really has been a valuable experience and positive ending to my degree.

Communication management: simplifying complexity

This third post arising from my internship experience seeks to clarify the path I have been following as I advanced along my journey with my colleagues during the last fifteen days.

I have been the witness of the change in the team attitude as time and events unfold, creating a network of bonds among individuals. This is a reason for hope and rejoicing.

The intern is both in and out, close and distant. Because of his external perception of a situation he is able to simplify complexity. His thinking is clear, may be not encompassing, but at least cuts through much of the clutter.

Our training in PR planning has accustomed us to objectives, goals and targets. Unless we can measure our achievements, we cannot manage and achieve results. Communication objectives are just part of the overall business objectives of PPP (People, Profit and Planet).

This 3P paradigm can be relevant to our travel agency business: profit is the fuel of the business, people are the end and the basic resource, and the planet is the space within which all things happen. Of course this theory is applicable more largely but what is important is that this theoretical application was rediscovered and applied in the context of this internship.

Referring to system thinking, Public Relations is basically inter-relations at a macro level. We apprehend at any one time only the part of the system immediately in contact with our senses. It is this myopia, which allows the system to function, since inter-connectivity does not mean the absence of firewalls or barriers to communication…