It has been well over a week since I first walked through
the doors of Platform Communications and started my internship. Like many
before me who have been about to begin their internship, I was very nervous for
my first day for two reasons: a) would I be able to put my skills and
techniques that I have learned through my degree into practice and b) would I
be able to do a good enough job. There was no need to have been nervous as the
team at Platform were very friendly and welcoming.
Platform Communications is a consultancy firm specialising
in the mining and resources industry. They have an impressive client list and
their team is very talented comprising of marketing and communications consultants, and graphic
designers.
My first day was overwhelming trying to understand
everything about Platform and their processes. Every week they have a WIP
meeting which is an update of all the jobs they are currently working on and
new jobs that have come in for the consultants and the graphic design team.
There were quite a lot of jobs going on and by the end my head was spinning.
It is a fast paced office which is intimidating at first but
I found myself keeping up most of the time. I have seen improvements in my PR
skills, organisational skills as well as my confidence as I often find myself
using my initiative and taking on new challenges. From my experience so far, consultancy
is often demanding and it is an art to juggle the different tasks and clients.
I have completed a variety of tasks from researching a new client regarding
their operations, their performance in the ASX, their competitors and any
coverage in the media, managing the logistics of communication materials for
clients, creating design and job briefs, and collating media lists. While my
experience at Platform has been a positive one and I am really enjoying myself,
I have learnt an important lesson already which is something I will carry
through with me in my career as well as using the advice to drive myself to be
a better consultant.
Lesson 1 in my PR internship: I must be
ahead of the director, senior consultant and our client at all times.
