Working 9 to 5: A Dose of Reality
By Kelly Ponce
Part-time PR Intern at IABC and the San Francisco Convention & Vistors Bureau
Summer 2003
In less than one year I will be receiving my diploma in Journalism with an option in Public Relations from California State University, Chico. Since it is going to be my final year of college and last summer before I technically enter the grown-up world, one would think I would've made this the best summer possible.
By best summer possible, I mean going to the beach, hanging out with friends, taking vacations… living life to the fullest. Once school is over its going to be time to face reality, get a job and support myself financially. This horrible nightmare is quickly becoming a reality. It would only be natural to have made this summer one that I would never forget. As it winds down, I can't help but think how it actually turned out. Instead of doing all the wild things I had planned, I decided to take a different approach and for the past 10 weeks I spent it as an intern!
Yes, I said intern. When it was scorching hot in the Bay Area at least, in spots where the fog finally lifted, all I wanted to do was swim and sunbathe. Instead I sat inside an office building, in a cubicle, in front of a computer screen, in the heart of San Francisco. Sound boring? Probably. But honestly, in one summer, I learned more than I would have in a semester-long course!
This summer I was offered two separate part-time jobs to work at two well-established companies as an intern. One position at the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) and the other at the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) headquarters in San Francisco. Both companies had many opportunities to offer me and each tested my ability to show dedication to my work. As I look back on it, I was incredibly lucky and remain very appreciative to have been given such great opportunities.
Every week Monday through Friday I was up by 6 a.m. and headed off to the city on Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). I had to say goodbye to my favorite pair of denim shorts and trade them in for some nice slacks and a collared shirt. Tiring and uncomfortable yes, but at the same time it gave me a sense of what work will be like from this point on. At least I wasn’t wasting away in front of the television - - instead, I was out being productive. At the Bureau, I focused more on media relations and at IABC, I learned about marketing and communication functions. This provided insight into the different lines of work, under the communication umbrella. I had two really great mentors, which I found interesting, talking to and learning more about each of them. As I listened to their stories of how they got to where they are now, it was intriguing and made me think about where I might be at that point in my life.
Once school is over and I do enter the work-field, the reality of it is it's not school anymore. The relaxed school atmosphere won't be there and my experience of being an intern gave me the opportunity to see what it is like. Everything I learned in college, how to write a lead, what makes a story newsworthy, how to put together a press kit, and how to edit properly - - I was able to put to use. The difference was that in school I would have a few days to complete an assignment and for my internships I was completing my assignments in one day. In the beginning there was a lot of pressure. I remember thinking should I be going faster, slower, I didn’t want them to think I wasn’t doing a good job.
What made my internships far from boring was the challenge each gave me. I didn’t have to get coffee and I didn't have to clean. I’ve heard such rumors in the past and thought I would be doing this. Instead I was given the chance to do the public relations work my mentors do everyday. I wrote press releases, updated contact lists, worked on their web sites, and attended meetings and conferences. Each organization treated me with the respect that I hoped for. As an intern I wanted to make sure I was going to take away valuable information, which would help me in the long run. I sincerely hope that I was a contributing member to their team; I would assume so – never a minute of down time!
I admit this summer has not been all fun and games. However, it was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. I was given the chance to work with some talented people who make a difference for their companies and the members/media they serve. I went into this not knowing anything about either company and now I know more than I ever expected. Who knows where I will end up in a year, but wherever it may be, I have these two internships to thank.
Truth be told, it wasn’t a waste a time and to anyone who wants advice on if it is something they should do, the answer is yes! Internships validate your skills and give you more tools to add to your belt. Listing an internship on a resume shows initiative and that you are committed to learning. Yes, it was challenging, but if it hadn’t been, it would’ve been one boring summer.
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