THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNSHIPS

Hi everyone!

So two weeks ago I started interning at the fabulous Public Relations Agency-The Wonderland. Headed up by founder and designer Gill Lawrence, this company is jam packed with professionals with tons of industry knowledge and experience. To quote the Fashion Review,

"If the name Gill Lawrence sounds familiar you would be correct in assuming that its not a new name in the Australian fashion industry. Her new label Mad Love is about to hit stores this August 2011, while her Toi Et Moi (which debuted in 2009) is the second major label by Gill Lawrence, who is also the previous (and ex-owner) of boutique chic label Milk and Honey."

As part of my university degree it is mandatory as a third year Communications Student to complete work placement and gain some on-the-job experience. I cannot stress how this is just as important as the study you complete, because no matter how much you write and learn, nothing can prepare you more than the real deal.

From my past posts you have have read that this is not my first internship, however I have found that employers look highly upon this and having more than one behind me has made me realise what industries I want to work in, which ones do not suit me and how to become an overall better communicator and one day publicist.


Things I have learnt on the job so far:
 
Social Media- This is fast becoming the way of communication in this ever changing industry we call Fashion. From Twitter to Facebook, Linkedin to Google, there are no limits as to how a label can market themselves and promote their product. If you want to be a part of this world, then you better become savvy to the World Wide Web, because it is just as prominent and equally as effective as our traditional mediums-newspapers, magazines, billboards, radio and television.

Networking- Building a database of prospective media contacts proves to be an invaluable asset to anyone in this industry. From editors to art directors to bloggers and journalists, everyone is a potential step into the door of possibilities-whether it career related or simply to share information with to help one another out i.e. the launch of a new product.

To do: There is always something to do! Whether it be merchandising, greeting clients, calling couriers, researching online, product calls, media returns, staff meetings or writing press releases-a PR agency is never slow. I live to keep busy, my attention span tends to die quickly and so I find PR to stimulate my mind and make me want to do more and be more. You should also keep an up-to-date TO DO LIST, even if it's just in your own diary or computer calendar or notepad. I love seeing when the job is ticked off as completed-I believe small achievements can be rewarding and lead to bigger things for those who wait!

Well that's all for now, more to come in the coming weeks!!

Cat xx