No budget to hire additional staff? An internship program may save you time and money - not only by beefing up your department when it may have been winnowed thin but also by
providing a farming system for future hires. PR NEWS looks at three successful PR internship programs to size up the potential business rewards. In future hires, you may decide
that an internship credential separates the novices from the tried-and-true:
Edelman PR, San Francisco, Calif.
Number of interns: 3
Intern duties: Media list development, local market/media outreach,
event coordination (launch parties, press conferences and trade shows) for clients
such as Netflicks, Starbucks, Keen.com and Discovery Channel.
Length: 2 to 3 months (part-time or full-time)
Employer benefits: "Not only do interns bill out at a lower rate than
entry-level professionals, but we often hire interns into AAE positions," says
Jennifer Kissell, VP, organizational development, western region, "and that
saves the company recruiting time and costs. It's the best way to ensure that
he/she is a fit for the Edelman environment, team and clients. We have several
folks who have been here many years who started as interns." (Kissell. [email protected],
415/486- 3222)
Recruiting secrets: Resumes galore are culled from a designated section
on the agency's Web site (http://www.edelman.com/working_at_edelman/internship/).
Agency reps also troll for talent at college career fairs.
FedEx Corp., Memphis, Tenn.
Number of interns: 3 (working in information technology/e-business,
media relations and corporate communications, respectively).
Intern duties: Edit user interface language for a new, company-wide
proprietary communications database; research for executive speeches. Current
duties include event planning and on-site support for a kick-off event in DC
with the postmaster general, announcing FedEx plans to place drop boxes in U.S.
post offices; event planning and on-site support for a trade show booth at a
national sales meeting; media messaging and media list development.
Length: 2-3 months, 40 hours per week.
Employer benefits: Given the company's current hiring freeze, interns
are filling a critical void in entry-level talent. In healthy economic times,
the internship program serves as a testing ground for potential full-time hires,
according to Shirlee Clark, director of corporate communications. (901/818-7463)
Recruiting secret: When you're a household name, candidates come to
you.
Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau, Orlando, Fla.
Number of PR interns: 1
Intern duties: Researching and writing press releases; clipping service
consolidation; itinerary planning and logistical support for press tours and
other events.
Length: 3 months, 40 hours per week.
Employer benefit: "For us, it's another staff person," says Eric Ercole,
PR senior representative. "Otherwise, we'd have to hire a full-time salaried
staff person [with benefits]." ([email protected])
Recruiting secrets: Referrals from University of Florida, Florida State, University of Central Florida and Rollins College.
Internal Medicine
Searching for that perfect intern to complement your team? Look for job posting opportunities on Web sites of universities located in your neck of the woods. Or, check out
candidates and/or post-internship opportunities using these resources:
http://www.prssa.org (click on "PR Jobs")
http://www.WorkinPR.com
http://www.rsinternships.com
http://www.internships.com
http://www.internjobs.com
http://www.westcoastprjobs.com
http://www.naacpcareerfair.com
http://www.careermag.com