How I Landed an Internship at PRSA Detroit
Posted on May. 10, 2023 / Subscribe 0
Landing an internship takes a lot of preparation. From the initial search, to resume editing and interview practice, you name it, I did it. As stressful as this process is, once I received an offer letter from PRSA Detroit, I started to see the beginning of a thrilling career journey. As I approach the second week of my internship, I reflect on how I secured this position.
SEARCHING FOR AN INTERNSHIP
Searching for an internship is an overwhelming process. I constantly looked at LinkedIn, online job listings and attended many job fairs at school. After searching for what felt like forever, I received an email from my professor about a summer internship at the PRSA, Detroit Chapter.
Building relationships with your professors is vital when you are looking for an internship. They can share job postings that come their way, connect you with professionals within the industry and more. I’m certainly grateful for the relationship I have with my professor because they ultimately opened a door of opportunity for me.
The opportunity of working with professionals in metro Detroit drew me in. I knew interning here would be a great way to grow professionally, so I applied. Two weeks later, I received an interview invitation. While gleaming with excitement, I quickly remembered this was my first interview – I needed to prepare.
PREPARING FOR MY INTERVIEW
Some key aspects that lead to a successful interview:
- Researching the organization
- Creating resume talking points
- Determining what I’m looking to gain from the internship
- Preparing insightful, detailed questions
- Showcasing not only my best work but also my best self
The interview took place over Zoom with three PRSA Detroit members from the internship committee. As we concluded the interview, I felt confident that this was my perfect fit. After our chat, I eagerly waited for an update on the position.
COMPLETING MY WRITING EXERCISE
As a follow-up, I was given a writing assessment. To be considered, I pulled all the stops when completing the exercise. I researched PRSA Detroit to determine its style of writing, organizational voice and past events. I wanted to encompass the organization while also showcasing my unique abilities.
From that, I set aside time to focus on the writing exercise and complete it promptly. I double-checked my work to perfect my writing; and once completed, I was ready to share it with the committee. It was time to cross my fingers and hope for the best.
A few weeks later, I received an offer from PRSA Detroit. Once I read the letter, I knew the hard work paid off.
Even though my time at PRSA Detroit is just beginning, I can’t wait to gain a new sense of the industry from these top professionals.
Cydney Foster is an integrative public relations major at Central Michigan University and an intern with PRSA Detroit.
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