You’re starting a new internship in strategic communications. What are the best ways to make the most of it?

In my experience, the people who ask the most questions often outpace their peers. Don't just learn how to do something - in this field its much more important to understand WHY you do it.

Please arrive at work on time and be ready to listen and ask questions. Whether a paid internship or for credit only, it is a job. It will pay dividends and may lead to future employment with the same company. Try to leave your social life at the door and focus on the work. Be conscientious. Leave your phone in a drawer. This is a great opportunity.

Get as much detail as you can about what really happens in communications. It's not always easy to pick that up in academia. Try to gain an understanding of where strategic communications fits in your organisation, and be curious about how you might improve things or do something differently if you had the chance.

Make sure your focus is on learning as much as possible and being hands on as much as possible rather than looking smart or that you already know something. Be inquistive and curious, understand the 'why' behind tasks given to you. No question is a stupid question.

Understand the organisation. The reality is some companies have more structure to their internships programmes in comparison to others. Define your goals... What do you want to learn .. what do you want to practice more ... What ideas do you want to explore .. have a conversation with the person managing you if you could agree on a work plan that incorporate these elements. Visit different departments and units to learn what they do. Attend talks, volunteer in events. Try to initiate something (a concept or even an improvement) While you there, speak to key people ...head of Comms..marketing (here learn about personal branding..these kind of skills will set you up well) Do not settle for repetitive tasks it won't serve you at all.

View feedback as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Actively seek feedback from your supervisor, colleagues, and peers, and be receptive to constructive criticism. Use feedback to identify areas for development and to refine your skills and approach to strategic communications.

S'ouvrir aux autres donne des possibilités d'apprendre de leurs expériences. Le stage est une consolidation de ses connaissances ou une rectification de certains éléments de celles-ci. Il permet de mesurer la portée de la formation théorique au plus près de la réalité professionnelle, et de confronter ses certitudes à la réalité du terrain. C'est pourquoi, le stagiaire doit s'ouvrir aux remarques, commentaires, et même demander que les autres en fassent après les travaux qui lui sont confiés. Il doit demander à avoir des observations pour comprendre ce qu'il a bien fait, ce qu'il n'a pas bien fait, ce qui doit être amélioré, et pourquoi ? Il doit se mettre humblement dans une posture d'apprenant.

Don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves and do some hands-on work. Take the opportunity to expand your skill-set beyond what you think you are there for. Watch, listen, and learn from those who are well respected or have the job you want to have someday. Don't be afraid to make it your own!

Get as much experience as you can - hands on and through shadowing other members of the team - and take the opportunities that are opened up to you. Hands down, the people I have managed who are steadily progressing in their careers are the ones who wanted exposure to all parts of the job and were not held back by "that's not my job."

Approach tasks with creativity and a willingness to adapt to new challenges and opportunities. Demonstrate your ability to think outside the box, generate innovative ideas, and pivot when necessary. Being flexible in your approach will help you navigate the dynamic nature of strategic communications and contribute to successful outcomes.

L'environnement professionnel de la communication est évolutif, compétitif et fait appel constamment à des capacités d'innovations. Le stagiaire qui ne se fixe pas de limites dans la créativité, bénéficie de préjugés favorables. Ses capacités d'innovations, en plus de sa flexibilité, selon les besoins et les urgences dans les taches qui lui sont confié, ou incombent à l'entreprise, améliorent son image auprès de ses supérviseurs. Il peut se rendre vite incontournable dans un environnement marqué par des déficits d'inventivité. L'atout majeur pour une entreprise de communication, c'est d'avoir quelqu'un qui impulse de nouvelles idées, bouscule les protocoles, propose des nouveautés, con?oit vite, et qui est réceptif à différents messages.

Force (com respeito e bom senso) a saída da zona de conforto e aproveite as oportunidades. O estagiário que n?o pergunta, n?o se arrisca, n?o inventa, n?o inspira, infelizmente vai ter prazo de validade.

Take advantage of networking opportunities to connect with professionals in the field of strategic communications. Attend industry events, join professional associations or groups, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. Building a strong network can provide valuable insights, advice, and potential career opportunities.

Proactively share your achievements, projects, and contributions with your supervisor and team. Keep track of your accomplishments and maintain a portfolio of your work, including writing samples, campaign materials, and strategic plans. Highlighting your successes will demonstrate your value as an intern and leave a positive impression.

Chercher des mentors expérimentés peut être incroyablement bénéfique dans votre parcours professionnel. Un mentor peut vous offrir des conseils, des orientations et des rétroactions constructives. Il peut vous aider à naviguer dans les défis professionnels, à identifier les opportunités de croissance et à élargir votre réseau. Les mentors peuvent également vous guider dans le développement de compétences clés nécessaires pour progresser dans votre carrière. En établissant une relation de mentorat, vous pouvez non seulement bénéficier de l'expérience de quelqu'un d'autre, mais également construire des liens précieux qui peuvent durer toute une vie ??

Take initiative in seeking out additional learning opportunities beyond your assigned tasks. Volunteer for special projects, offer to assist colleagues with their work, and seek out opportunities to shadow experienced professionals. Embrace every opportunity to learn and grow during your internship, and make the most of the valuable experience it offers for your future career in strategic communications.

I would recommend you consider 6 items... (1) actively and intentionally network and attend events (ask if not invited!); (2) seek experienced mentors and informational interviews -you will gain valuable advice and industry insights; (3) take initiative - propose new ideas and projects aligned with the organization's goals; (4) learn beyond your role - shadow and talk to other colleagues in other departments at the company/firm; (5) seek feedback - how can you grow and improve; and (6) document achievements - for use on resumes, reference letters and to demonstrate your commitment your professional development. These steps will help you gain valuable experience and make a lasting impression.

Firstly, make sure you're being paid. You'll be doing work. Working for free is lowering your standards as a professional, and being asked to work for free is super lame. Secondly, become a sponge for anything and everything you hear, see, and experience - even the negative. Take positives and apply them in the future. Take negatives and remember them by not applying them. Especially if they revolve around how you are treated. Thirdly, have some fun, because comms can be super stuffy. Come up with some fun ideas, they might not be run with, but a degree of creativity is super important in comms and you should keep that in mind.

Make an effort to understand the internal clients who are influencing the corporate communications agenda. Learn about their perspectives, what drives them and how they measure communications success. Understanding how internal stakeholders think about communications in their own organization provides context that explains so much about what you're being asked to do and how.