Nine Hours in the Life of a Consumer PR Intern

Have you ever wondered how is it to work as an intern in a public relations agency?  Hanna Yasmin, Junior Client Executive at PRecious Communications shares a typical day in the life of a public relations (PR) intern at PRecious Communications.

9.30 AM: Riiise & Shiiiine!

The first thing I do after grabbing my morning coffee and switching on my laptop is media monitoring. This is a rite of passage for all PR interns across all disciplines. We comb through online, print and social media for client mentions and observe the conversations that surround their brands. In consumer PR, getting paid to scroll through Instagram is a reality.

10.30 AM: Righting the Write Way

After media monitoring, I tackle my second task of the day – writing the first draft of an interview pitch. As an intern, one can expect to be given the responsibility to write on a wide range of things. From interview pitch to media alerts to press releases, you’re in luck, as you’ll have a hand at them all. Rookie tip for writing an interview pitch? Keep an eye on industry news and what your client’s competitors are talking about, to craft a unique angle that your client’s spokesperson can comment on.

12 PM: Two popiahs, no chilli, dabao, please!

A family that eats together stays together. In the PRecious LIFE division, that is precisely what we do. We’ll make our way down to the nearby Maxwell Food Centre together, grab our food and head back to the Southbridge meeting room to gobble down our food and talk about anything under the sun. From a colleague’s updates on her love life to game hacks for Stardew Valley, no topic is off the table for the PRecious LIFE team. We’re big on sharing!

Find out about a typical day in the life of a consumer public relations intern at PRecious Communications.

1 PM: My Minutes Pass for Minutes

Catching up with the client is essential to ensure that the team’s work is aligned with the client’s goals. We update the client on work that’s in progress and get updated on the client’s new developments. As an intern, I support the core team by taking note of valuable insights and new tasks from the call.

2 PM: Call me (back), maybe?

Maintaining media relations form the backbone of the PR industry. The fastest and easiest way to follow up with invitations or interview pitches that we’ve sent out to journalists is to call them. Will they come for your client’s event? Will they be keen to drop by your client’s restaurant for a tasting session?

Journalists get hundreds of emails, so it’s highly likely that yours is lost in the avalanche of emails they receive every day. Giving them a quick call is the fastest way to not only check on their attendance but also to build a relationship with them. My top tip? 2-4 PM is the best window to catch up with journalists as they’re most likely to be at their desks. #CalldownHacks

4 PM: Enjoying the View at this Interview

Interviews are my favourite parts of PR. It’s not every day that you get to bask in the glorious presence of your hero. In PR, I get to do that – sometimes more than once! As a big fan of local ONE Championship mixed martial arts athlete Amir Khan, I had the privilege of being part of the team that facilitates his media interviews. Facilitating a media interview on-site means making sure that he stays on message while answering questions. However, that is not all there is to interviews. Sometimes, listening to personal stories that your heroes share with journalists can also leave you with a fresh perspective on life.

6.30 PM: Home, sweet home

I reach home, open the door and lie down on the couch to catch a breather. Being in PR means being a jack of all trades. You have to be prepared to adapt your day according to client needs and hop onto different tasks at the snap of your fingers. It’s hard work with long hours but we get satisfaction from overcoming challenges and the little wins.

Indeed, there’s never a dull day in PR!

Are you interested in understanding the exciting world of public relations, marketing and integrated communications? Get in touch to discover internship opportunities at PRecious Communications.