THE PR ‘COCO’ | 4 SWEET INTERN TIPS TO MAKE YOU STAND OUT

THE PR ‘COCO’ | 4 SWEET INTERN TIPS TO MAKE YOU STAND OUT


We’d like to think when O.T. Genasis says I’m In Love With The Coco’ he really is talking about hot chocolate, public relations and communications. ….Okay, so we’ll just leave that alone. Sidebar: did you know that in South Africa, ‘I’m in love with the coco’  means  I’m in love with a “granny”(Grandmother)? Just a quick sip of culture before we bite into the main topic at hand.

Nevertheless, from this song, we gave birth to the concept of ‘PR Coco’ your work ethic, skills, and willingness to learn (quickly) combined to make you the SWEETEST intern and eventually  paid member of the team.

For new entrants and interns we have four quick tips that would make your boss and entire team fall in love with you!

  1. Learn how to write code and OH how to WRITE period. Unlike PR pros (B.C-before Christ), PR professionals today need to be Web savvy. Some say that HTML5 is an essential skill to have based on the incredible explosion of mobile. There are many great courses on coding, such as the wonderful Code Academy. Taking an online coding course would give an edge over other students. And since we’re in the digital age and socializing on the web is extremely vital to many brands, please master the art of writing. Practice makes perfect, so don’t worry too much about being GREAT at it right off the bat.
  2. Learn how to shoot and edit video well. Young and upcoming professionals need to know how to shoot and edit footage and photos. Showing your prospective employer samples of your photo or video work can help you land an internship and possibly paid gigs.  Videos and photos are needed for various reasons, such as for blogging, creating campaigns or even to raise funds.
  3. Learn how to stay focused. From the perception of older people the millennial generation has a reputation of having no attention span. Turning off the phone, staying away from texting and social media is necessary and allows you to be more efficient. The ability to do so,  has become a skill in the digital age and like any skill it requires honing. Master it.
  4. Learn how to use tools. Any tools I’ve listed hereafter, that you haven’t researched, tested or heard of…..YOU HAVE WORK TO DO : Hootsuite, WordPress, Drupal, Facebook Insights, Photoshop, Gimp (for those that cannot grab Photoshop), Google Docs, Adsense (bonus and only if you have a site), Dropbox, Box,

 

Lastly, even if you do not land a job, at the very least the end result of your amazing work  at your current internship will result in :

  • Powerful relationships : Friends. a work family or a professional network of individuals that will vouch for you and/or your work when needed
  • Recommendations: Listen, we all need a strong linkedin recommendation or testimonial to build our personal brand
  • Consulting/Per Project Base Work: Just because there aren’t any openings at the time you’re ready to request for a job, doesn’t mean there aren’t other opportunities to cash in. Look for ways to contribute to business development or checkin with  team  during busy seasons and ask if there is any way you can help (for pay of course)

 

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