A Month in My Life as a PR Intern

By Sakshi Patil , Summer Stars intern at WE UK

Fresh out of university with a degree in Ancient History from 英国伦敦大学 - 伦敦国王学院 , I’d developed a passion for research and writing. While studying, I wrote for the student publication Strand Magazine and had also joined the King’s Fashion Society, taking on the responsibility of leading its social media. My next step?? To secure an internship that would allow me to cultivate my love of research, writing, and social media content creation while gaining valuable industry experience.

PR felt like the most natural fit, so I approached WE Communications about their internship offering.? Having recently completed the programme, I thought I’d share my experience to give other students insight into what a month as a PR intern at WE Communications’ London office looks like.

Learning in a supportive environment

With no prior experience in a formal internship, I was initially unsure of what to expect. However, from the moment I arrived, I was welcomed into a warm and supportive environment that enabled me to grow throughout my four-week stint.

My skills flourished. This is thanks, in large part, to an understanding manager and a fun, diverse group of colleagues who were always open to questions in support of my learning. My manager and colleagues demonstrated trust in my skills and ability to bring whatever they briefed me to life. This made me feel truly empowered.

Chance to contribute to real-world work

I was excited to discover that my manager wanted me to contribute creatively. I was asked to pitch content ideas for one client’s social media campaign and was thrilled to see one of my ideas accepted. This achievement significantly boosted my confidence in my creative abilities.

The contribution didn’t end there. The tech team also entrusted me with writing engaging articles and media pitches, with clear feedback on how to strengthen my skills across both tasks. These exercises exposed me to a different kind of writing. At university, my academic and creative submissions were written from my own point of view – I had to adjust to write for a brand, considering what they would want to convey in an engaging way that journalists can quickly grasp. A skill I am grateful to have developed.

Cross-sector exposure

Beyond the tech team, I was given a glimpse into the health sector. With the team's support, I was able to navigate the unfamiliar territory by asking loads of questions along the way. Here, I learned how to efficiently digest scientific content and identify key insights from masses of research. Using these insights, I also learned how to create clear, well-organised proposals tailored for client presentations, which I’m certain will come in handy when I enter the workplace.

I was delighted to discover that WE has a department called DXT – Digital Experience Technologies. Working under this team fuelled my enthusiasm for designing and curating social media content. I excelled in pitching design concepts and content ideas and took great pleasure in contributing to engaging and impactful social media strategies. Leveraging what I had learned while studying gave me the confidence to take these tasks on and showcase my skills.

The level of autonomy and creative freedom I have been afforded across teams in each of WE’s sectors has been incredibly rewarding. It has allowed me to enhance my problem-solving skills, foster a stronger sense of ownership over my work, and make a tangible impact on the company's initiatives.

The exciting start of my PR journey

As my internship comes to a close, I am profoundly grateful to have begun my PR journey in such a dynamic, supportive, and positive environment. Over the past month, I have explored my creativity, honed my research skills, and gained a deeper understanding of the versatility within the PR industry.

The internship was incredibly beneficial for me personally. It provided invaluable real-world experience in an industry I was interested in but didn’t know much about. This hands-on exposure not only deepened my understanding of the field but also helped me refine my career goals. I’m excited to take what I have learned and apply it to the next step of my journey: furthering my studies in journalism and communications.

If you are interested in hearing more about the Summer Stars internship programme, read more here or reach out to Taylor Bennett Foundation

Who is WE Communications? We are one of the largest independent communications and integrated-marketing agencies in the world. We're all about our people – both our clients and our employees – and believe in the power of communications to move audiences to positive action. We create conversation-starting work for our clients in the technology, health, and consumer sectors and?specialize in helping?brands share their purpose?with the world.?Our campaigns boost adoption, build reputation, and drive real business results – even inspire bedrock change.

#PRInternship #CommunicationsInternship #PR #DiversityAndInclusion