By: Renee Radzom, DePaul University graduate, former University Internship Program (UIP) assistant

Gettin’ real with Page One Public Relations Founding Principal Megan (Richards) Martin. In this employer spotlight post, get an inside look at what it would be like to intern with a PR agency.

The public relations field can be tough. All positions are extremely fast paced and you’re working with a number of companies daily. There’s a lot to learn before you jump in and become a PR manager after college. Megan Martin, owner of Page One Public Relations, shared some great insight about how the PR industry runs and how her interns run with it in her company.

An internship in PR isn’t easy, according to Megan. “Most businesses offer remote working in this day and age,” Megan said. So, how does an intern keep up with this new virtual world? Megan explained that communication is key to staying on task. Even though a lot of the work is done outside of the office, it doesn’t mean that it’s not important; it means that communicating with a supervisor is essential to keeping up.

Personally, when looking for new interns, Megan looks for PR majors that are involved with extracurricular activities. Some of the things she lists that are great to mention is being the PR chair at a sorority or volunteering at a local charity. Activities that show you’re out there contributing are great assets to have in the interview room. Megan also loves when potential interns know how to use the program Cision, but that’s not a deal breaker for her.

Activities that show you’re out there contributing are great assets to have in the interview room.

So, are you wondering what it’s like working in this mostly online world? Extremely fast paced! Megan said PR isn’t for “the faint of heart,” but there is still a lot of fun to be had. There are some really cool projects, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with some great companies. 

At Page One, interns are given a variety of tasks and responsibilities. Interns will handle press clippings, assist in monthly recap reports, research event locations and details, build media lists and handle their increasingly vital social media presences. A lot of this can be done remotely, but Megan requires a few in-person meetings a month, as well as weekly check-ins in order to stay up-to-date with the intern. Megan also stated that as long as the intern puts 100 percent into their internship, she is more than willing to help the student find a job after college as a reference, resource or in any other way she can.

Another important aspect that Megan noted was that this type of job can be difficult for some students because there isn’t someone around 24/7 keeping them on task. Megan said that the best way to deal with this is to take it seriously: “Most internships are paid or students receive college credit…it [the internship] needs to be treated just as important as a class.”

There’s a lot to take on in the PR field, and while it’s not for everyone, it can be really enjoyable to those who are interested. For those seriously considering a career in PR, Megan’s company offers the opportunity to get an inside look into the field and to gain personal experience.

Inspired and interested in finding a job or internship in the PR industry? Check out Handshake for new career listings!