Now that summer break is underway, many students have started their summer jobs and internships.
It can be nerve-wracking to navigate a professional environment for the first time; however, there are several ways students can prepare themselves to face these new experiences and make the most of any opportunity.
As part of our new podcast series, USC Annenberg student Clarissa Franco shares how she prepared for her current internship and how she is succeeding at building her network despite being on a large team. Clarissa is pursuing a summer internship in the Public Relations industry to expand her skill set and continue exploring her career interests.
Here are 5 key takeaways from Clarissa’s story.
1. It’s Okay to Be Nervous Before Starting a New Opportunity
Walking into your first off-campus internship is intimidating, especially when you’re stepping into an industry that’s still new to you. Clarissa was nervous going in, and she’s the first to admit it. What helped her most was doing the work before day one.
She used LinkedIn to find USC alumni who had interned at the PR agency she is at this summer, reached out for quick conversations, and got their honest perspective on the company. She also spent time on the agency’s website learning about their clients and the types of events and campaigns they worked on.
A little research goes a long way in calming first-day nerves!
2. Working in Public Relations Can Be Unpredictable
One of the biggest surprises Clarissa encountered was how different every single day looked. She went in expecting fixed tasks and a predictable schedule, but quickly realized that’s not how PR works.
One day she’s doing computer work independently. The next day, she’s on a team curating gift packages for Miami Swim Week. The day after that she’s in a completely different department working on an event. The variety was exciting once she got used to it, but it took some adjusting early on.
Her advice on how to navigate fast-paced work environments was simple: she started asking her supervisor what to expect ahead of time. That one habit made the unpredictability feel a lot more manageable.
3. Networking is an Important Part of the Job
Clarissa describes herself as naturally reserved and quiet. During her internship, however, she has made a conscious effort to push herself to connect with the people around her. The days she spent alone at her desk without talking to anyone were the days she felt the most lost. The days she reached out to other interns and colleagues were the days things clicked.
Her advice for networking within an internship is to ask peers for five minutes. That’s it. Find someone between tasks, during a break, or at the end of a project and just say, “Hey, can I get five minutes?”.
Most people in a PR environment are willing to talk, especially fellow interns. You don’t need a formal coffee chat to build a relationship. Small, casual conversations add up, and the people you meet during your internship become your earliest professional network.
4. PR Will Push Your Collaboration Skills in Ways Class Won’t
One skill Clarissa didn’t expect to develop was real collaborative teamwork. In school, group projects often end up with everyone working independently on their own section. At her summer internship, she works on projects where everyone is working on the exact same thing at the same time.
She has had to learn how to assert herself without being bossy, share her opinion without holding back, and stay engaged even when it would have been easier to stay quiet. It’s a balance that takes practice, and an internship is one of the best places to develop it.
5. Handshake and a Tailored Resume Are Your Two Best Tools
When it comes to actually landing the internship, Clarissa points to two things that made the difference: Handshake and a resume she took the time to tailor.
Handshake is where she found her Career Center position and where she discovered a wide range of entertainment and media industry internships, from Sony and Universal to NBC and beyond. LinkedIn helped her see where other USC students in her major had interned before, which gave her a clearer sense of where to look and who to reach out to.
But what really helped her land an opportunity this summer was making sure her resume was specifically tailored to each position she applied to.
Listen to the full Trojan Career Corner episode below. Find internship listings, resources, and advising appointments on Handshake.
