Attention PR Intern Seekers

PR Intern Seekers… if you cannot pitch yourself as an intern candidate, it’s more than likely you cannot pitch a product or service.  Do it right!

Louise Armstrong, co-owner of Palette Public Relations made a tweet today, among other conversations, that sparked this post, “Intern seekers, I’m less inclined to reply to you when your pitch for an internship is a form e-mail sent to a bcc list.”

Whether this is a discussion about basic email etiquette in general or tips on how to finding an internship, I hope this will help one at least PR student. I may be very wrong in my words of wisdom, so if you have an additional comments or disagreements please add them.

Sending out a request for an internship placement is very similar to sending out a pitch. It would be great if you’ve had the chance to meet with different professionals in the area and got know them on a personal level. But this is not always the case, especially if you went to school in different city from the one you are looking to work in (As I did).

1. Do your research – where do you want to intern and why? What are the companies in this space? Who are the decision-makers in these companies – do they blog/twitter – ? Has the company earned new business recently or have they been expanding? Look for these clues to help you approach the right people at the right time.

2. Personalize each email and tailor it to the person you’re speaking to. This is not such as long process… just do it. This includes no BCC-ing and no attachments.  Maybe do something different – send them a written personalized letter or give them a call and just talk to them.

3. Demonstrate your knowledge/fit - show that you have researched the company and that you understand their line of business. If you’re looking at a PR agency, what type of clients do they have? Do they have a strong digital side, investor relations or internal communications? Talk about it and why you would be a good fit for their company.

4. Keep it short and concise. Your email shouldn’t be any longer than two paragraphs.. if you have more to say include a link in your email. If they’re interested they will continue to listen.

5. Direct them to a site or blog that shows them your writing/work but also expresses your interests outside of public relations. Whether it’s food, movies or keen desire to stay organized, it shows your personality and helps them get to know you. ( Hiring these days isn’t all about your skills anymore, however important, it’s about fit).

6. Be creative. When I just started I thought it was cute that someone wrote a press release as their application to an internship.. however I think that has been done many of times now.  Just do something that makes you stand out and tailor it to the type of internship you would like.

All in all, remember to be patient and persistent (not annoying). The job market is competitive, it may not come easy.