Those of you who have followed our blog for a while will know that we get each of our fabulous interns to write us a blog post about what they’ve learned while working with us. Charlotte Guy wrapped up her 12 weeks yesterday – and she’s shared a little bit about her own journey. From pitching to relationship to the Inker approach to what ‘public relations’ actually means, here’s what she had to say!

I finished my degree in Politics and Media Studies at the end of 2016, and unlike many graduates, I was certain of what I wanted to do – political communications. The only problem was that, although I could tell you anything you wanted to know about Mary Wollstonecraft’s political philosophy or the Sainte-Laguë electoral formula, I had no idea how to do anything that an actual job would require.

I knew that I needed practical experience, so I enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies majoring in Public Relations at AUT, a one-year hands-on crash course in how to be a public relations professional.

I also started looking for internships. My friend Sam had told me about his wonderful experience interning at a place called Intelligent Ink, with exposed brick walls, fairy lights, and an incredible team of young women. I was caught up on this place and felt certain that they were the only agency for me. Too shy to email out of the blue, I stalked their social media pages all year, and sent in my CV right away when they finally tweeted a call for interns in June. It all worked out, and I have spent two days a week as an Inker for the past three months. This is what I’ve learned:

It’s all about the story

At the beginning of my university course, we spent weeks exploring different ideas about what public relations is, and never reached a clear answer. But during my time at Intelligent Ink, I finally found a definition I like. To me, public relations is all about helping people tell their stories. Writing, reading, and storytelling have always been a big part of my life, so with this realisation I am now confident that I’ve found the right field.

I feel very lucky to have interned at an organisation that takes such a creative and story-focused approach to public relations – an approach that I know I will carry with me for the rest of my career.

You’re more capable than you think you are

On my very first day at Intelligent Ink, I was asked to pick up the phone and start pitching to journalists. I wasn’t expecting to be dropped in the deep end quite so quickly, and definitely doubted my own ability. But it turned out I had nothing to worry about. When my phone calls turned into real, printed stories, it was exciting proof that I am capable of pitching. In the three months that that followed, I learnt that I am also capable of interviewing, writing a wide range of content, and successfully balancing an internship with two jobs and full-time postgraduate study.

The industry revolves around relationships

One of the biggest PR clichés is that it’s all about who you know. I don’t think this is always true, but the world is a pretty small place and the communications industry in Auckland is even smaller. This was proven when a previous intern guided me to Intelligent Ink, and when we all realised that I went to school with one of the Briars, and Pony Club with the other one! Nothing is more important and helpful than your relationships with other people, so you need to value everyone you meet. You never know when they are going to pop up again as a potential mentor, colleague, or friend.

If you are looking for a public relations internship, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Intelligent Ink. I haven’t been sent on a single coffee run – instead, I have spent my days writing, pitching, and learning. I’m now off travelling for a few months before starting my first ‘real’ job in February.

I know that the experience I gained at Intelligent Ink gave me the edge required to land the job, and the skills required to be completely confident when I head into my first day. I am so grateful to the girls for all the mentoring sessions, feedback, and coffee – and I look forward to catching up with them all to hear about the exciting places Intelligent Ink is going next!