By Jess Gardner
Starting a new career can be challenging, especially when it comes to identifying the types of roles one wants to pursue. From my own experience, I’ve learned that one solution is for new professionals to seek out a diverse range of internships which can inform career choices across various industries.
Using myself as an example, my first internship was in the City of London’s business district with ZPR, a FINN Partners Company, offering me a glimpse into the global financial world. Later, I completed a second internship at the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), working closely with a small team to understand regional transportation services. These contrasting experiences gave me insights into public relations and helped me to understand what my ideal entry-level job would be.
One of the most obvious differences between these two experiences was the clients. At ZPR, I contributed to campaigns for 10 different clients, some of which were nationally recognizable UK brands such as Waitrose and Hobbycraft. Our clients worked in diverse industries including fashion, hospitality and merchandising. Working with these big brands, I saw how abundant resources and thorough research could make creative campaigns come to life and gain national coverage.
Contrast this with the DRBA, where our focus was on one “client” — the organization itself. I was heavily involved with the communication initiatives there. Working for the DRBA was exciting because it covered a lot of ground—literally. The DRBA’s services include the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and five local airports based in Del. and N.J. Working on campaigns for the different DRBA transportation services and learning how they functioned within the larger organization was rewarding. I felt as though I understood my “client” inside and out.
The type of work I was doing also varied between the two internships. My internship with ZPR exposed me to agency life and what I would now consider to be standard, essential PR work such as media list building and client media monitoring, tasks I do all the time in my current role at D+P. Along with these foundational skills, I also created an influencer marketing campaign and research reports on emerging technologies that my supervisors presented to our clients. My time at ZPR showed me what PR professionals do and how PR agencies function. I’m grateful that I was able to be a part of that team and develop my writing, research, collaboration and creativity through the lens of PR.
At the DRBA, I worked on internal and external projects that encompassed a wide range of objectives. I worked on an employee newsletter, press conferences for the commercial airport’s expansion, executive statements and an employee photo database. It was rewarding to see the impact my work had on employees and our local community; DRBA staff were eager to have their pictures taken for the database, and people across Delaware were excited to have a commercial airport within the state. From both internships, I developed skills that I use today and plan to use throughout my career.
I wouldn’t be able to choose which internship was more insightful or important for my professional development. Going from large-scale to local, and from working for a multitude of clients to integrating into an organization, was a big change—one that I’m glad I made. Now I can say that I’ve done both, and my knowledge is richer because of these diverse roles. My biggest takeaway from having these internships is that people like myself, who are starting out, shouldn’t be afraid of exploring different industries and roles. Every experience is uniquely valuable.
Rising Stars is a series of thoughts, reflections and perspectives by the interns at Devine + Partners. Jess Gardner is a recent college graduate of Delaware University with a degree in communications with a concentration in public relations.
Devine + Partners is a Philadelphia public relations agency. We offer a full range of communications services – from message and content development and media relations to issues management and employee and community engagement.
