A Conclusion and a New Beginning

Well, today is it – I’m done with my internship at Eisbrenner Public Relations, and I’ve accepted an internship at LC Williams and Associates (LCWA) in Chicago, Ill. As I’m sitting in my cubicle writing this last blog, I can’t help but feel my departure is bitter sweet. I’ll forever appreciate the impact Eisbrenner PR has had on my professional career and the people who made my internship more fun than I could have imagined.

It all started with my interview. Before I let it slip that I had a Harry Potter costume, I answered their questions as though I was an experienced PR pro ready to tackle communication plans and creative positioning strategies. One would have thought I’d been in the industry for years.

Here’s my first lesson I learned: the classes I attended in college were valuable, but the tactics I learned are NOT what one does in an entry-level position. Learning the bread and butter activities of the industry is vital prior to trying to tackle the more in-depth tactics. This includes a lot of research, media lists and writing, as well as learning all you can about your clients.

Besides learning about clients, take time to learn about your colleagues. Believe me, if they’re anything like my “peeps” at Eisbrenner, they’ve got some valuable advice to share as well as some outrageous stories. For example, nobody would have guessed that Michelle was a wild child three years ago or that Melissa can play one wicked game of pool. I wouldn’t have known Jared is an experienced dishware shopper or Jessica has “people” if I never socialized with them. Granted, I may have pushed the boundaries when I tried to get Christine to date my father, but hey, it was all fun in the end!

The relationships I made with my colleagues made it easier for them to trust me with a lot of assignments and work on various account teams, which gave me great experience. Although I worked on many account teams and my knowledge was more “I know a little about a lot,” I discovered more profound knowledge inside myself. I learned that I’m one of a kind. My favorite description was when Christine wrote on her Facebook page, “Our intern, Jamie, gives the best sound bites ever. You never know what she’s going to say next.”

I think that’s a fairly accurate way of describing both me and the PR industry – both surprising and always changing. One minute I’d be creating a media list for a press release that had to go out in a week while casually listening to music, and the next thing I know, someone would give me a project that had to be turned around in a few hours. The adrenaline rush I got from deadlines is what made me thrive.

It doesn’t hurt to have a great team help you out during crunch time. The friendships I made during my internship allowed me to rely on my teammates when I needed advice or help with a project. I had never relied on people to do my work for me in the past since I’ve always been more of an independent worker, but I realized having a team is really important.

I think I can best describe my transformation in this way: before I heard of Eisbrenner PR, I tended to think of myself as a one woman wolf pack. But when I interviewed for the intern position, I realized Holly, Ashley and Christine were three of my own, and the wolf pack was three. Then, when I was introduced to the rest of the team, I thought, “Wait a second, could it be?” And now I know for sure, I added a whole bunch of wolves to the wolf pack.

Having this wolf pack gave me a sense of security and companionship, so moving to Chicago is both terrifying and thrilling for me. As everyone at Eisbrenner PR knows, and constantly reminds me, I’m from Luther, a small town in Northern Michigan, and moving to Chicago will be a definite change for me. I can’t imagine relying on public transportation to get me where I need to go or working on Michigan Avenue in my favorite building. It may be hard to envision now, but soon it will be my way of life and I can’t wait to get started!

Hopefully the team at LCWA is ready for this wolf, and maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll have another pack – a pack of us wolves, running around Chicago together, looking for opportunities and creative inspiration. Who knows? The possibilities are endless; I might even see Haley’s Comet.