Jack Roberts (PRCM)
Hello, I am Jack Roberts, and I am a Senior at Auburn University, and I am in Public Relations Communications. I am interning with Alabama Power Company this Summer in their Public Relations department and working on content. I work a lot with writing, social media, and brand strategy. I have mostly done feature stories, news releases, and a few online press releases. I got this internship from a friend who recommended me to apply for the Summer internship program.
My advice for people looking for an internship next Summer is to start early and set the bar high for yourself. It is a college internship… not your forever job. Apply everywhere and make connections through the process to find something amazing for a short term. Another piece of advice is to adjust early. Depending on your internship you will have “regular people” hours and it takes a toll on you to balance your schedule more than you must at Auburn.
My advice for students starting internships is to get to know everyone in the office. You may not ever have to work with them in a team, but knowing everyone and connecting is super important. For out of the office advice, I would really stress just keep taking care of yourself with all the chaos going on and that you are not alone in the transition that may seem a little chaotic, but once you adjust, you'll feel like a professional.
Lastly, the number one thing all future interns should know is you are not going to be perfect at your internship! Internships are not made for you to walk in and be a rock star, it is for you to learn and acquire new real-world skills in PR. Don't be afraid to fail in an intimidating setting like the office, but rather learn from others and ask questions in your workplace.
