Whether you’ve recently finished first year of university, graduated or making the most of your summer holiday – a summer internship is likely to be on your to do list. Internships are not all about mastering the art of making tea and coffee. A good all-round internship is one that can help you to make connections, get to know the industry and receive recommendations for future positions.
After spending 2 months at GEC PR Travel & Lifestyle, I have gained a clear insight into interning and the travel industry and would like to share my experience, along with my top 5 tips for making the most of any summer internship.
As part of my Summer Internship Programme, I worked as a PR Intern which involved monitoring client coverage, distributing and writing press releases, and compiling monthly PR reports.
This internship has been a great way to build upon my skills and gain new confidence to work in an office environment. I genuinely enjoyed my time here as this was the first time I was introduced into the travel and tourism industry in such a broad manner. Apart from my time in the office, I got to discover hidden London on a summer day as part of the Treasure Trail organised by the Family Holiday Association.
Here are my TOP 5 tips to make the most of your PR summer Internship:
- Google is your best friend
Before actually starting your internship you need to find a few. There are several resources to find an appropriate internship. Searching online for internships on networking websites such as LinkedIn, Prospects, RateMyPlacement and Internwise will give you a great variety. - Make it clear what you want to get out of your internship
Is there a particular skill(s) you want to gain? Or is there something new you want to learn? Having an idea about what you want to accomplish is a good start. Before I started my internship, I knew I wanted to have the opportunity to figure out if this is the specific career path/role I wanted. And to see whether my skills are fit for the industry or any future roles I will apply for. - Q&A session
If you want to get to know the inside outs of the industry, ask your supervisor as many questions as you can. The more you ask, the more interest you are showing, and the more you get to understand how everything works. - Contribute
It might seem as if your first few days at the office are all about observing the people around you, but in fact there are many ways you can contribute. Why not come up with your own idea or project! This is a great way to put your skills into practice and get valuable feedback. - Reflect
Last but not least, at the end your internship, it is a good idea to reflect on your experience. A few questions to ask yourself:
- Have I achieved my objectives?
- Is this the industry that I want to get into?
- What skill(s) have I applied?
- What new skill(s) have I gained?
Internships are as fun as you make them. Grab this opportunity to explore the industry better, reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and make great connections.