Internship: PR & Marketing departement - Essay Example

And last, but not the least, the number one reason people join internships is to be able to get into a favorable job after they graduate. I entered into the internship in the PR and Marketing department of a reputed law firm for legal media, nudged by quiet the same expectations and hopes. In the retrospect I feel really satisfied and proud to convey that my experience as an intern endowed me with much valuable and priceless skills and experience, which will go a long way in helping me secure a career as a successful professional.

The biggest asset that I acquired as a PR and marketing intern in the law firm was the ability to listen to others. Many a time people do overestimate their listening skills. In a team scenario listening is a job that does often get neglected. While communicating in a group, one is required to deal with multiple speakers offering different perspectives and affiliated to different goals and targets. As a PR and Marketing intern in a reputed and busy law firm, an individual has to listen to and at the same time respond to unexpected ideas, unusual news and contradictory points of view.

Hence, the biggest mistake that PR novices make is that they resort to focusing on the things being said and communicated by one person, while ignoring the messages and reactions of other group members. However, luckily, over the time I managed to learn that in a law firm, listening is not merely about having a friendly chat, but rather it is about understanding, respecting, analyzing and aptly responding to one’s colleagues’ and clients’ verbal and non-verbal messages. Listening is the number one communication skill required by an intern aiming to be a successful professional in the times to come.

The first thing that an Intern learns in a law firm for legal media is that efficiency and success have a lot to do with the right connections and networking. In a law firm there do exist a wide range of opportunities in the PR and communications field. So one should never miss an opportunity to listen to and interact with one’s superiors, professional leaders and existing and prospective clients. Such an interactive approach not only offers ample opportunity to learn new things, but also enable one to secure valuable relations, which many a times result in valuable job leads.

It is always wise to save and retain the contact information of the mentoring superiors, important guests and big clients. It goes without saying that in the field of PR and marketing, it always pays to be conversant with the latest technical knowhow. While serving as an intern in the law firm, I spent countless hours with Microsoft Excel, churning out media and other contact lists to disseminate the messages of our clients. Yet, even more hard work was required in updating and cross checking these lists as PR is a highly mobile filed and the professionals and clients do change over time.

The other important lesson that I learned was that social media websites like Flickr, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are an invaluable asset and communication tool in the PR and marketing business. I also realized that other specific program that is assuming a great role and relevance in the PR field is Dream Weaver. Though being young I was really good keeping up with the ongoing changes in the communication technology, yet I soon learnt that when it comes to PR and Marketing, keeping up with technology involves far more than purchasing a new iPhone app.

One thing that a PR and Marketing intern serving a law firm should not ignore is the ability to have the nerves to ask career related questions, to seek contact informatio