10 YETIS INSIGHT BLOG: THE INTERN EXPERIENCE

Hi PR fans, Scott here to bring you an insight into the experience of being an intern here at 10 Yetis.
I’m three weeks into my PR internship at 10 Yetis Public Relations, so hopefully I can provide you with a good impression from my experiences so far.

Roll Up, Roll Up

The first step for any PR internship is to apply. It’s important to remember that PR agencies get countless applications for internships and work experience every day, so it really is imperative to stand out from the crowd. I’d say that at least 80% of applicants will send in a plain CV and a covering letter/e-mail. It’s important to be in that minimal 20% of applicants that are different, and therefore are more likely to stand out.

Let me take you through my application process. I am a third year Television Production student at the University of Gloucestershire, with no previous PR experience whatsoever. I wanted to stand out, so decided my video production skills would be the best way to set myself apart.

I made an application video, and titled it ‘I’m So 10 Yetis!’ I wanted my application to showcase my skills and sense of humour, both of which are central requirements to landing a job as a Yeti. I started the application video with a clip from a recent documentary I had made, Life’s a Drag, which shows a Drag Queen tucking in his private parts! You can see my video below:

I'm So 10 Yetis from Scott Salter on Vimeo.

It did what I wanted, though, and within a few minutes Andy (MD @ 10 Yetis) had tweeted about the video. Mission accomplished!

I’m not saying you have to go and make a video, (or camp out in a changing room with naked Drag Queens!) but make sure you stand out. By all means, include your standard CV and cover letter, but if you can show inventiveness, creativity and ambition in the way you apply, that’s the best way to show the proof in the pudding!

Your application could be a video, a song or you could even create a website in application. Show that you have an online presence and could be an asset to the company. When applying I also sent a link to my personal website (http://scottsalter.strikingly.com/) and a football website I run (www.football11.co.uk/), to give context on who I am and how I would fit in with the team.

Do Your Research

Before making any applications for internships, do your research! I can’t stress how important it is to know your stuff about the company you are applying for.

Below is a list of areas that I researched before applying and starting my internship at 10 Yetis:

1. The Basics: Know where the company are based, what they do and who you’ll be working for.
2. The Role: Try and understand the position that you are applying for and its responsibilities. This can make it a lot easier to identify how you can apply your skills to the role and make sure it’s a good match for you.
3. The Industry: Know the industry that you are going to work in. Especially if, like me, you have no previous experience of the industry. It is important to understand the industry, its requirements, trends and future so that you can hit the ground running.
4. The Clients: Research the company’s clients, and understand the work that the company has done for them. It doesn’t take long, but ensure that you are prepared and can speak about the company’s clients and work if quizzed in an interview scenario.
BONUS: Conduct as much research as you feel you can. If you can get an understanding of related areas such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and similar technical terminology and areas, it will always be a plus!

Starting Your Internship

So, it’s your first day as a PR intern. It’s important to make a good impression on your first day. Arrive on time (preferably early) and dress to impress. Chances are the dress code is fairly relaxed if you are based in an agency environment, but don’t turn up scruffy!

The first day of my internship at 10 Yetis started with a quick sweep around the office for introductions, before being given some reading material so I could get a closer understanding of the company and its clients. I was then talked through all the tasks I would do during my three month internship and shown the various programs I would be using.

Although there’s often a lot of new information to contend with at first, there’s no need to panic. Your first few days are bound to be a learning curve and nobody will expect too much of you, so relax and time your time! Make notes, listen and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Getting Stuck In

The great thing about being an intern at 10 Yetis is that you are made to feel like an equal member of the team. I’ve done work experience elsewhere and have constantly been given the rubbish tasks, such as making tea and running errands all day, coming out of the placement without really gaining anything.

At 10 Yetis, you’re thrown in and given plenty of responsibility and tasks to complete, which is great for gaining experience and growing in confidence.

So far, tasks I’ve undertaken during my PR Internship at 10 Yetis include:
• Coverage cuttings
• Good & Bad PR blogs
• Writing press releases
• Brainstorming PR ideas
• Creating media lists
• Doing follow up calls & speaking to journalists
• Writing Insight blogs

That’s just in my first three weeks with the Yetis, and I’m sure my responsibilities and experience will continue to grow as my internship continues.

My main tip for undertaking an internship, whether at 10 Yetis or elsewhere, is to take a step outside of your comfort zone and do things you wouldn’t always want to do. I wasn’t 100% comfortable in ringing journalists at first, but decided to take the plunge and a push myself to ring some journalists for follow ups. After a couple of calls, I grew in confidence and was completely confident in doing it.

The Social Scene

It’s important to not only make an impression in the office, but also on the social stage outside of the office. 10 Yetis are really a great place to work in terms of the office social scene, particularly when it comes to sweating it out with weekly sports activities for the team. Every Wednesday, 10 Yetis organise a 6-a-side football match and Friday is the day for office basketball at lunchtime.

I’m lucky in that I am a very keen sportsman, so these social activities have been perfect for me! However, anybody can join in regardless of your standard or past sporting experience, and it really is a great way to meet other members of staff that you don’t converse with every day in the office.

I hear there’s also regular socials (although I’m still waiting for my first, in two weeks’ time!) and these are a great chance to socialise with others outside of the office in a more off-duty environment.

Enjoy It!

I’ve really had a great time so far as a PR Intern at 10 Yetis. I’ve learnt a hell of a lot about public relations, met some great people and gained some valuable skills. I’m really enjoying my internship, which is the most important thing to me.

You should enjoy an internship. It should be a fun experience and it should make you want to work somewhere full-time.

Most of my tips will be common knowledge, but it’s surprising how often they get overlooked. Most importantly, be yourself and enjoy!