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By Ashley Freund
Editorial Assistant
Inkandescent Public Relations
An essential element to successful career advancement in today’s corporate environment is the use of professional and personal connections.
Finding a job is a daunting process, but support from someone who can vouch for your talent can make the process less stressful and ultimately leads to more self-confidence. I found myself in a constant cycle of recommendations and interviews at many companies, but was unable to find an organization that I felt passionate about until Inkandescent Public Relations.
When I met Mrs. Gibbs, founder and president of Inkandescent Public Relations, I felt instantly at ease. She told me in detail what would be expected from me and how, with time, my responsibilities would grow. I have tackled and successfully completed tasks from database control to press releases, and I have had the opportunity to meet people from across the world. I started as an intern, and I am now honored to be the paid editorial assistant for Inkandescent PR.
Making the transition from intern to editorial assistant was intimidating at first. I found myself concerned about how I was going to balance my life at Virginia Tech, where I am a senior, continue to be a contributing member of Kappa Delta Sorority, while maintaining the high quality of work that was expected of me at Inkandescent PR.
As with any job, I have to meet deadlines and set clear priorities when juggling the Inkandescent Networking website database and audio transcriptions for the magazine and radio podcasts. Much of the work with Inkandescent PR involves online assignments, which makes the tasks more accessible and easier to keep up with.
Although I am not sure I have found the best way to balance my school life and my job, I know I wouldn’t trade any of the experiences I’ve been fortunate to have.
Six Ways to Make the Most of Your Internship
1. Go for it! Don’t be afraid to tackle new tasks, it’s a learning experience so make the most of it.
2. Be bold and share your ideas. You’re a part of a team now so don’t be nervous if you have a suggestion.
3. Stay organized and don’t procrastinate.
4. Keep an open line for communication. You never know when something will need to be completed last minute, so make sure you are available in case of an unexpected assignment.
5. Have fun! Internships do need to be taken seriously because of the responsibilities they entail, but remember you are just starting out. You will make mistakes, but learn from them and don’t let them bring you down.
6. Smile! Smiling is the best form of PR, so keep a positive attitude and soak in every lesson during your internship.
For anyone interested in joining the Inkandescent team, do it!
The leaders at Inkandescent are filled with years of experience and are eager to share it. If I were to give any advice, it would be to go for what you want, prioritize, and do your research.
I went for my dream internship when I applied for Inkandescent and was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to show what I could bring to the company. I am still getting used to managing my responsibilities, but the experiences I have had with Inkandescent will serve me well as I continue my career. As for research, many of the tasks—such as database management and audio transcripts—require some training to complete successfully. Don’t be afraid to research and explore topics you are interested in.
Halfway through my internship with Inkandescent Public Relations, I was invited to contribute a short essay for an issue of Be Inkandescent magazine on the theme, “Can Women Have It All?” My answer was simple: “Focusing on a career, family, or both is completely up to the woman, and from there, the concept of having it ‘all’ can be obtained. The bottom line to me is happiness.”
Regardless of gender, race, or religious beliefs, happiness is required to feel one truly “has it all.” Today, I find myself truly happy. I belong to a sorority of inspiring women, I have a family who shows me every day how powerful love is, and a job that I adore.
Being part of the Inkandescent family has completed my college career, and I feel confident and prepared as I make the leap to graduate school this summer in London!