Lessons learned from our summer internships at Gambel Communications

Internships are jobs fit for young, curious college students to learn, do and explore. At Gambel Communications’ Summer Internship program, we’ve done just that. 

Under the guidance of their most senior strategists, we have learned so much more about strategic communications than a textbook could have ever taught, gained real world experience and connections, and now, we are ready to plan the next steps in our career paths.  

For students currently searching for internships, or interns wanting to make the most of their program, here are our key tips and takeaways from our summer internship. 

Nothing is one size fits all.  

If this is your first internship experience, you may be apt to approach the tactical work in your program like a student: learn how to solve a problem and continue solving each problem as such. However, working in an agency with a breadth of clients in various industries, you will see PR strategists use tailored techniques and approaches that make the most sense for their client, rather than copying and pasting the same strategy everywhere. For example, when you craft pitches, you won’t craft each one the same way, or try to use templates to repurpose them. Each pitch you craft will cater to the person or organization you’re pitching to. That said, pay attention to the different strategies professionals in your agency use, why they use them and how this affects their tactical work, and yours. Remember, public relations is about people, and no one person is the same. 

It's not all about the tactical — make time to connect.  

If your internship program is anything like Gambel’s, you will not be making coffee runs or fixing the printer. You will do actual work! But in the midst of cranking out press releases and drafting media lists, don’t forget to make time to connect with the people you work with. Take the time to ask questions about their career journey and pick their brain for their best tips and tricks for working in PR. Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge of that your mentors have to offer, so that you walk out of your internship experience well-informed, and ready to strategically explore the world of communications.  

Reflect. Reflect. Reflect.  

Your biggest priority outside of gaining real world experience, is deciphering what you enjoy about your internship. Carve out some time after every week of your internship to reflect on what you did, who you met, and where you went. Ask yourself: What did I like the most? What did I find challenging? What can I improve? Answering these questions as you go will help you begin aligning your passions with your career plans and start thinking about the next best career move for you. If it helps, keep a pen and some paper to take notes about what you are doing to help drive your reflection at the end of each week.   

Check off all the boxes. 

Think about the type of business you work for now or the type of business you want to work for. There’s so many to choose from — agencies or corporations? Non-profit or corporate businesses? Quiet local markets or busy urban markets? No matter your circumstances, don’t limit yourself to just one type of internship experience. Go after as many as possible, and a variety at that, so you’re better equipped to discern what industry you would like to work in in the future. 

Network everywhere.

At Gambel, we learned that every event you attend is an opportunity to connect with people and every person you meet is a chance to broaden your network. Thankfully, we had many opportunities to connect with other local professionals as we shadowed our strategists at client events. We were exposed to clients that work in every industry ranging from healthcare to even restaurants and hospitality. For example, one of the best networking opportunities we had this summer was visiting Ronald McDonald house and getting the chance to meet with senior level professionals in our field, and even reconnect with familiar contacts.  

Get social on socials!  

Listen up gen Z! Social media isn’t just something to mindlessly scroll through for hours — it’s a tool. Professional social networks like LinkedIn can help you grow your own professional network and support relationships, explore different job and internship opportunities, and expose you to meaningful professional content that you may be interested in. Don’t count out other leisurely social platforms, like Instagram and TikTok. Follow influencers your age that may be talking about their internship experiences and giving pro tips. 

Interested in your own internship experience? Click here to see if Gambel is hiring.