No Pay? No Problem

By Bennie Sham, Internship Program Lead (@beesham)

In our current economic situation, many are finding it difficult to get a paying job. It's a very competitive time right now, especially between recent grads and recently laid-off workers.

The Boston Globe reported earlier today that recent grads are, once again, applying to internships to gain more experience and get their feet in the door.

While some are turning to internships, others are working pro bono. FoxBusiness reports how one marketing grad offered up his services, free-of-charge.

We all know it's difficult to work for free but when there are no other options, there is no way out of it (unless you decide to wait until the economy gets better). Good things do come out of unpaid opportunities -- experience and contacts. What better way up the ladder?

What’s Your Web View?

By Suzanne McGee, Internship Program Director(@mcgeepr)

Before the explosion of social media, your potential employer had several ways to learn about you: the interview, resume and work references. It was a relatively simple way to get information about your past performance to determine how you would fit in the new environment.

But, with the advent of MySpace and Facebook, along with blogs and Twitter, most college students have another reference: the online world. What does yours look like? Have you Googled yourself? What do you see? What happens if a potential employer pokes around?

FAST COMPANY’s Kit Eaton takes a look at a new CareerBuilder survey. Take a moment to read through her piece, “If You're Applying for a Job, Censor Your Facebook Page.” The survey finds that 45% of potential employers are checking social networks to see if they can learn more about you. What will they see?

Now is the time to make sure you are using your privacy settings to keep your private life private. All of these networks offer ways to control access to photos, walls, status updates, etc. Use them to ensure that your image is one you want to present to employers.

Summer Wrap-up

By Meghan O'Hara, Internship Program Coordinator (@meghan_ohara)

It is hard to believe that another class of interns have already completed their time at Fusion. We are always impressed with the amount of responsibilities that they are able to take on during their short time with the agency. While they begin their internship with training sessions, by the time they leave they have become an integral part of their respective team. Our interns leave Fusion ready to begin their career in public relations as an account coordinator already knowing how to:

• Develop media and analyst lists and briefing documents
  
• Research relevant trade show and award opportunities
• Reach out to editors to discuss editorial calendar opportunities
• Compile coverage and PR activity reports

Our interns also have the opportunity to develop their creative writing skills with helping to draft pitches, press releases and contributing to this blog. We are currently recruiting our new class of interns for the fall semester. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Fusion team, please send us your cover letter and resume.

How Is Your Internship Search Going?

By Suzanne McGee, Internship Program Director (@mcgeepr)

Are you still looking for a fall internship? What was or is your plan to find one?

Yesterday’s New York Times ran an article entitled, “Unpaid Work, but They Pay for Privilege.” Reporter Gerry Shih looks at how some students are hiring services like University of Dreams to find an internship for the summer. While Fusion has hosted some great interns from this service, you can also look for your own spots if you are willing to put some effort into it. Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Start With What You Want To Do – Not Where You Want to Intern: Sure, there are Web sites that specialize in internships – your college probably has one with lots of listings. Yes, many people want to intern at MTV or M&M/Mars, but what experience are you looking to gain? Sometimes just having a cool brand name on your resume isn’t enough. Think through what you want to learn and then let that determine what companies you select. This will help you better target your search and may even lead you to some companies that you might not have found.

• What Are Your Resources? There are numerous spots where you can check out people’s opinions on who offers the best program or what companies are noteworthy. But, check out local newspapers (print & online) and as well as local blogs. Many BizJournals like the Boston Business Journal or the Dallas Business Journal publish all sorts of industry Top 10 lists that include everything from law offices to construction companies to PR firms. This is another way to find companies you haven’t heard of, but that may be a great fit for you.

• Network, Network, Network: Ask your friends, parents or professors if they are aware of anyone looking for interns. Many businesses contact department heads at colleges to notify them of openings. Your parents or their friends may be aware of programs at their offices. Is there a professional in your neighborhood, church or area of government that you admire? Go talk to them to find out what they are doing and for whom. (This is how I got my first job!) People are always willing to help others in their internship or job search.

These are a couple of ways to expand your search. Do you have an experience that you’d like to share? Let us know. How did you find your internship? Have any tips to for fellow searches? Share ‘em here!

Stupid Question? No Such Thing

By Samantha Evans, Intern (@samevans24)

With less than three weeks to go, I wish I could stay at Fusion for much longer. It feels good to be able to say I am very confident and happy with the work I have done and will do in the coming weeks. I also find myself using my time at work successfully, even though I use most of it to ask questions. Blogging tends to be the only time I am not asking a question. I can continue to sit here and blog about the numerous reporters and members of the media I have reached out to, reports and research I have compiled and team meetings I have truly felt an integral part of. But who am I kidding, if you are following this blog, you know all of this already.

As I have said time and time again, from my first day, I knew this internship would be different. No more mindless filing and coffee runs, but true public relations. I could honestly say I have never asked so many questions in my life, but I have never been so happy I did. I am comfortable enough with my superiors here at Fusion to ask anything, even if it is the 100th question of the day, in order to learn something. The team morale leads everyone from account executives to account managers to senior vice presidents to the CEO, to feel comfortable asking question upon question. Questions lead to answers, and answers are what you come out of an experience learning and growing from.

In the past three weeks I have been involved with all of the preparations for two new clients to join the Fusion team, and therefore asking a million questions along the way. I not only experienced the new business process first hand once, but twice. This includes all of the preparatory meetings and brainstorm sessions, the new business meeting with the client and then finally the kick off meeting. Most interns and even account executives at larger firms and corporations have never met their clients in person. I am very grateful I was able to interact with two Fusion clients face-to-face, a concept that seems to be a rarity in the world of PR and most media professions with the advent of new technologies.

Your Internship Could Last Forever

By Suzanne McGee, Internship Program Director (@mcgeepr)

You’ve successfully landed your first internship. You are preparing to head off to your first day with plans for learning and doing amazing things. Before you step foot into the office, think about your goals for the program, your learning and resume. What are your ethics? What stand will you take for your work?

Why the caution?

Recently a summer intern at The Gazette in Colorado Springs, Co, made the mistake of plagiarizing on the job. She wrote four articles that included text lifted from The New York Times. As this piece was published in the newspaper, the editor felt responsible for correcting this action and calling this out to his paper’s readers. Here’s his response: http://www.gazette.com/articles/gazette-58112-stories-four.html.

In an Internet age, her actions are now part of a permanent record for all future employers to see. When Googling her name, they’ll find not only that she plagiarized, but was then fired. Yes, people make mistakes or cut corners, but keep in mind that your career is a precious thing to grow and nourish.

As a follow up, many PR folks have taken a look at this and debated whether or not the editor should have called the intern out by name. Here’s a link (http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/07/09/should-newspaper-have-outed-an-intern-for-plagiarism/) to a blog co-written by Dave Mullen and Lauren Fernandez and posted on Communications Catalyst. See what your peers and future bosses are saying.

What do you think?

She Said What?

By Bennie Sham, Internship Program Lead (@beesham)

One of the best things about working on the internship program is that I am able to participate in the interview process. It's interesting to hear the applicants' views on how/why they chose PR, where they see themselves going in the next several years and what career path they'd like to ultimately follow.

Most, if not all, our applicants are juniors in college and still undecided as to what they'd like to focus on for their careers. When asked why they've decided to do a PR internship, responses vary from "I've always wanted to do PR" to "I don't know what PR is but wanted to try it out" to "I don't know." However, there are some that have a specific goal in mind. For example, one such candidate was hoping to open up her own PR firm one day. (I find that amazing. When I was in college, PR was not even on my list of career paths.)

There have only been a handful of times where I've spoken with an applicant and she/he was completely unprepared for the interview. Most of our interviews are done via phone calls, since we receive applicants from different cities across the nation. I've learned a lot on these calls. Mainly, what not to do and what not to say. There are a lot of tips I can give but the most important piece, which everything else would fall under, is professionalism.

This week, I had a chance to meet with the chairperson of BYU-Idaho's Communication's Department and their NYC liaison. They asked what is an important characteristic that applicants should have when applying to Fusion. Suzanne McGee, director, answered simply, "Professionalism." She mentioned that as students begin applying to internships, they have to think about what their brand is, how they are presenting themselves.

Everything you do, online or in-person, adds to your personal brand. A badly written resume, an unprepared interview, provocative photos online, an angry blog -- it all affects your image and in turn, your career. So, I urge you, whether you're a veteran at interviews or a beginner, be careful what you say and what you do.

Suzanne recently sent me a link to a blog post titled "How Not to Get a Job in Public Relations," written by an account executive at Newman PR. While the title should really explain it all, the post shows that even applicants applying for entry-level positions need some help with professionalism.

Nowhere else to go but UP

By Samantha Evans, Intern (@samevans24)

A real feel for the public relations field does not come along too often at the intern level. In fact, I experienced this first hand at my internship last year. I interned at a large corporation and was successfully smothered in busy work (filing mostly) all day for twelve weeks. After that experience, I knew that a smaller public relations firm was right for me. It is so refreshing to be spoken to and receive work and tasks like a real member of Fusion. The staff, the true public relations work, and the general atmosphere prove that Fusion PR is an exception to the many so-called PR internships out there.

Now, what is this true public relations work that I just mentioned? I am continuing to develop media and analyst lists as well as engage in extensive research regarding the wide array of Fusion’s clientele. I have also created numerous briefing documents. Going further, I even compiled an entire briefing book for the very first time. I also began my first PR monthly activity report for the month of June. It is so refreshing to no longer file all day but be able to complete tasks, like monthly reports and briefing books, which account executives do on a daily basis.

I can only count on one hand the amount of meetings I sat in on last summer. Thankfully, at Fusion, I take part in weekly team meetings and editorial sessions. At these meetings, each person talks about what they are currently working on, their goals, questions, and look to the other members of the team for input. I am able to give my input about anything and today I was even asked what I thought about a new pitch. If it was June 10, 2008, or this time last summer, I would never be able to think or dream about being looked to for an opinion. If I have already received all of these opportunities after only two weeks, I am excited to see where my internship here at Fusion takes me after 10!

The Pursuit of Happiness

By Samantha Evans, Intern (@samevans24)

I never expected to feel as comfortable after only four days, as I do here at Fusion Public Relations. I am not only thrilled with my high comfort level but I am also extremely relieved that I have finally found an internship I am happy with. This is in most part due to the staff at Fusion PR. They have been extremely welcoming, and made me feel right at home from the first minute I arrived at the office in the always exciting Times Square in New York City.

As I began writing this blog, my first ever, I began to make a mental list of all of the things I have been doing the past four days. However, after doing so, I came to realize that the question I should really be asking myself is, what have I not been doing? I compiled media and analyst lists as well as briefing documents, engage in research about media outlets, publications, award and tradeshows and will eventually dive into composing press releases, editorial calendars and monthly activity reports.

While completing all of these tasks, I am learning about the latest technologies, a topic that I typically stayed clear of in the past. Those who know anything about me would be shocked to find out I am interning for a tech savvy public relations firm. Just as Bennie Sham, an account executive here at Fusion, and now one of my co-workers (yes, I can call her a co-worker) said during my interview, “we are extremely tech heavy but still fun!” I truly am having fun and learning something new every single day. I am excited to be spending ten weeks here, not only having fun while learning and growing, but I am even lucky enough to receive hands-on public relations experience.

Survey on Internships

By Bennie Sham, Internship Program Lead (@beesham)

To emphasize what our interns, and myself, have been saying about internships, I found a press release by The Creative Group on a survey they developed on the benefits of internships. They conducted 250 phone interviews with randomly chosen advertising and senior marketing executives from over 4,000 companies. One question they asked was "Aside from pay, what do you think is the greatest benefit to students or graduates who participate in an internship program?"

The number one answer? "Experiencing different work environments" (31%), while improving soft skills (24%) and improving technical skills/knowledge (22%) trailed close behind. The Creative Group also offered some tips for landing internships.

This survey helps to prove my point that internships, whether paid or unpaid, are really worth taking the time to apply for.

Doesn't This Feel Like a Public Service Announcement?

By David Eisele, Intern

Two days. That’s all I have left. Two days. Wow. I’ve had a blast here, and I’m sad that my time is coming to a close.

This experience has taught me more about myself, what I’m passionate about, what I’d like to pursue professionally, etc. Even though I’m planning on a different career path (Law school), I know that my time hasn’t been wasted.

If you’ve thought (or are thinking) about doing an internship, do it! It’s a great opportunity to be surrounded by and work with professionals, learn how a business is run and gain some much-need experience, amongst other valuable skills.

I recently read an interesting article in The Marquette Tribune Online (a Marquette University news site) entitled "Unpaid interns value experience," (from April 2008) by Rosemary Lane. She writes in her article that while some students feel "used" in an unpaid internship, other students feel that "the experience gained from unpaid internships far outweighs the lack of checks."

Experience gained, or not gained, really depends on the internship itself, as well as the person. It's what you make of it. Don't let this experience pass you by!

What to Know Before You Go

By Collin Willardson, Intern (@cwillardson)

As this internship is coming to a close, I find myself listing off things I wish I could have improved on or done differently. I know I have potential to be great, it’s something that my parents have instilled in me, but instead of climbing the huge mountain we often call success, I tend to sit there with my gear and be a bystander. I never realized that once I actually start to climb this mountain, things can become easier with a natural flow of things.

If I had a time traveling device and were able to do this internship again with the knowledge I now have, I would have done some things differently. This whole experience has taught me many things and it's all from going outside my own box. I have never worked in an office before, I have never had deadlines before and I have never had people depend on my work to benefit them or someone else. This pressure was sometimes enough to make me stare at this daring mountain and say “Isn’t there some hill I could just hike?” Woody Allen says “Only 70% of success is showing up.” I showed up to the mountain, but had a hard time making that first step towards climbing to the top.

To sum up my two cents on advice for interns coming into this internship, I would say:

1. Own and use an AP Stylebook frequently
2. Always show up and if you're ten minutes early, you're late
3. Be aware that deadlines actually matter; this isn’t college where if it's late, you get marked off 10%. If it's late, a lot of bad things can happen.
4. Work hard, play hard and don’t be afraid to think outside the box and shine.

I can’t believe this is almost over and I wish it was longer. I am learning so much out here, and I know I could be learning so much more. I wish I hadn’t been intimidated by any mountain and truly rolled with the punches. No doubt did I learn a lot here, but I know there are a lot more learning experiences I could have gained only from doing an internship. I know this isn’t the typical intern blog, but I feel that this was the biggest task I had this week -- the task of finding out how I tick and how learning can make me tock.