I want to take a slightly different approach in today’s blog. Today I am not writing with reference to what I have learnt about the industry, rather what I have learnt about myself.

This semester I have worked two internships and had very different experiences at each. The company who I’m not using for this Unit specialises in corporate events, whilst TriEvents, whom I’m working with for my UNI internship, specialise in sporting events. Without delving too far into the matter the corporate events company has provided me with very little experience and has honestly made me doubt my abilities more then a handful of times.

I believe as interns we are there to learn, however to learn we absolutely need feedback, yes’s, no’s, how about this instead’s. It’s not so much that the corporate events company kept telling me no or shutting me down, its simply that I didn’t get any feedback at all. I didn’t know if they liked my work. I didn’t know if I was on the right track, they didn’t give me any responses so I just.didn’t.know. Understandably this can cause serious doubts, I was concerned my work wasn’t good enough, I didn’t have a grasp on what they asked, they didn’t like my work, etc etc. Even in instance they used my work I received no praise nor feedback for me to know if this was genuinely what they wanted.

On the other hand, there was TriEvents. The Staff at TriEvents have been so supportive and really helped to cultivate my style, work and confidence. I have received constant feedback, both praise and suggestions on how to change and improve various work. The staff regularly meet with one another to discuss improvements and progress, during which I was invited to sit in on these meetings and soak up all the amazing ideas and advice being thrown around the room.

As I said, I really wanted to focus on what I have gained from this internship/experience and the things that I have learnt:

  • No idea is a bad idea. TriEvents weekly marketing meetings regularly dissolved into one big brainstorming session where all the staff worked together on new and interesting campaigns and ideas. No one was shut down, no idea was too stupid, and many minds really do prove to be better than 1.
  • To speak up when I have a good idea. Only in the second half of my internship did I gain the confidence to really continue my original thought. I was always involved in piggybacking off the train of thought already going, however was nervous to voice my one opinions. However, after gaining a little more confidence, I did, and they loved it! I was given my own campaigns to manage and put into action, it was really exciting and an absolute confidence boost.
  • I’m capable of way more than I thought. Due to my other internship (which had begun before TriEvents) I had really doubted my abilities and had begun to think maybe I had the complete wrong handle on everything. However at TriEvents I found I was not only getting designated work done early, but being given more tasks and responsibilities, which really helped reiterate for me that I did know what I was doing.
  • I’m ready for the workplace. This internship has helped me grow and understand what I want to do so much that I feel genuinely confident in my PR abilities.

Through this experience I’ve learnt it’s super important to believe in yourself and your abilities and to seek feedback when you need it.