Blog post by Sophie Oxley, GEC PR Company Intern

Before joining GEC PR in October, I knew I was interested in a career in communications and marketing, but I never had the opportunity to learn more about this industry until I started my internship at GEC PR.

During the last few months, I have gained a fantastic insight into the world of PR and marketing, seeing exactly how an agency runs and how relationships with clients are maintained. I have learnt so much on my journey so far, but here are five things in particular that have stood out to me:

  1. Organisation and Time Management

Working in PR is fast-paced, and with so much information coming through each day, it is important to keep on top of it. Whether it be client coverage, emails or new journalists needing to be added to media lists, it all must be organised so it can be accessed at a moment’s notice. There are also many deadlines to meet, so prioritising tasks is essential to getting things done on time.

  1. Communication

Working with Company Directors, Fiona Anderson and Sarah Salord, I have noticed they are in constant communication with clients and the media, speaking to them online through emails, zoom, and in-person meetings too. It has shown me just how important communication is to maintain relationships and achieve goals within the PR industry.

  1. Networking

Making new connections and keeping up previous ones through networking is also a huge part of PR. Going to in-person and online events are so important to connect with people and open doors to future opportunities. Back in November, I was able to attend the Traverse Creator Awards as well as World Travel Market which were both great experiences to see this in action.

  1. Social Media

I have learnt that using social media is a great tool to share updates and coverage from the various clients and also to promote a PR agency itself. Good writing skills come into practice here. Whether you are posting about a new press release or sharing client coverage, captions need to be engaging, to the point, and include relevant #hashtags to get the message out there.

  1. Teamwork

Finally, I have seen how working as a team is very important in a successful PR agency. Having regular team meetings with a task list allows team members to keep updated on various clients and projects and is a great way to keep on top of things and make sure everything runs smoothly.

Overall, my time at GEC PR has been a great experience and this is only a handful of the many things I have learnt so far. I look forward to learning more and using these skills in the future!