Most people hear the word “intern” and immediately think of someone whose job is to fetch coffee and make photo copies. If that’s something you’re looking to do, Matter isn’t the right place for you.
If you’re looking to gain invaluable insights and a meaningful working experience, Matter is the right place for you. If you’re looking to be a part of something where your hard work and dedication matters, Matter is the right place for you. And, if you’re looking to kick start your career in PR at one of the best places to work, Matter is the right place for you.
I started my career here as a PR intern last November – and through months of challenges and new learning experiences, I was able to turn my career goals into a reality. Here’s how you can do the same:
Do your homework. Though you may have just graduated with a degree and think you’re past the point in your life of having to do homework – think again! As an intern, you want to make sure you fully understand the clients that are handed to you in order to gain a general sense of what you’re working with. Having this knowledge in the back of your head will inspire you and stir up some new ideas that you can share with your teams. And, showing that you’ve done your homework will impress your team members and give you a better sense of what projects they might be working on that you can help with.
Be ready for anything. One thing I learned on my first day at Matter that will stick with me forever is: PR can be crazy. Walking through that door with your morning coffee, you never know what the day will bring or what new deadlines will have to be met. This can be both challenging and exciting – the best thing you can do is take one day at a time and remember that at the end of the day, there’s always more coffee.. Kidding. But just know that every day isn’t going to be the same – and expect the unexpected. Be ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Take it seriously. You may be thinking, “I’m just an intern. It’s not like what I do matters.” WRONG! As an intern, you’re part of the company and are expected to work just as hard as everyone else. Be punctual and professional and always know that you are valued by your team members and aren’t going unnoticed by any means.
Prioritize. As an intern, you might get thrown a million different tasks at once. You’re going to feel very overwhelmed at times and the best way to deal with this is to prioritize your tasks. Make yourself a to-do list at the start of each day and complete each task as quickly and efficiently as possible. But remember – you’re only human. If you feel that it’s physically impossible for you to send out those 10 packages, make a trip to the store, update coverage trackers, and have that media list ready in time – don’t worry. The last thing your team members want to do is overload you – they want you to have the best learning experience possible. So, if you ever feel like you have too much on your plate at once, they will completely understand.
Prove yourself. Whether you’re in this position just for the experience, or you’re hoping to gain more out of it along the road – you should always put 110% into everything you do in an effort to prove why you belong there. Ask questions as much as possible and always be willing to help your team members. When presented with a task, go above and beyond. Often times while interning, I found myself leaving work only to go home and spend some extra time working on projects or doing some additional research. Staying on top of your game at all times can say a lot about yourself and really make you stand out of the crowd.
If you’re looking to spark your interest in PR and be able to walk into an office filled with fun and talented PR professionals, this is the right place for you. Starting as an intern has laid a solid foundation for my current career and I couldn’t be any more grateful for the learning experience I was able to gain. I wish the best of luck for all interns to come!