Jumpstart your career with better
internship opportunities
Meaningful career-focused internships could take you to big cities with big opportunities, like Washington, D.C.
Let’s face it, one of the most intimidating and daunting parts of transitioning into adult work life is making sure you set yourself up the best you can for your career. Internships for PR students play a ginormous role in their futures, and the task of finding the best internship keeps many of them awake at night. There are some incredible opportunities available to Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) members across the country, and this article is dedicated to providing assistance to students to help them find the most meaningful experience as they look to get their foot in the door at prospective employers.
Find opportunities at your school
Brigham Young University is a prime example of a school that provides university-sponsored internships for students in places around the world. The Kennedy Center offers a variety of global internships, including several concentrated opportunities in corporate and political hubs such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Paris.
Danny Damron was a participant in the Washington Seminar in 1992, BYU’s internship hub in Washington, and is now the recently appointed director of the seminar. He kickstarted his career through an opportunity he found as a student at the Kennedy Center. He now perfectly understands the importance of these programs to students.
“When a student focuses on developing the professional competencies employers tell us they most value, their internship can be a valuable transitional experience, setting them up for whatever comes next professionally,” said Damron.
The Kennedy Center focuses on creating transformative opportunities for students so they are more capable in their professional endeavors.
Damron explained, “Even though an internship is the number one thing employers tell us they use to assess a potential employee’s qualifications, getting hired (or getting into graduate school) requires a student to advocate for their professional relevance.”
Internship experience through centers like this can enable students to better advocate for themselves when looking for employment.
Offices like the Kennedy Center are open to students of all majors, but opportunities are specific to students’ interests and career paths.
Aerin Burns, former student at BYU, shared that her experience in Washington was exactly what she needed for her career before she even completed her undergraduate degree.
She said, “I was able to create the perfect opportunity for my interests and career goals through the Kennedy Center internships in D.C.”
Similar opportunities are available through several universities across the country. University-sponsored internships will contribute to undergraduate credit towards graduation as well. While these internship opportunities are limited to students attending a particular school, there are several prestigious communications internship hubs that provide invaluable experience to any PRSSA student.
Find opportunities independently
The Borgen Project is based in Washington and focuses on fighting poverty across the world. As an intern for the Borgen Project, students can work remotely in several different highly competitive positions. Their projects are perfect for communications students as they are always looking for individuals to fill non-profit leadership roles, journalism, marketing and public relations, and writing internships. PRSSA students can make a global contribution through their efforts with the Borgen Project. Only 5% of applicants are accepted to work for the Borgen Project, making it an incredibly prestigious opportunity.
Find opportunities through PRSA
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) houses its own internship center, which is always available to aid PRSSA members in finding the perfect PR internship for their careers. Through the PRSSA Internship and Job Centers, students can sign up to receive opportunity alerts and become connected to a variety of different opportunities that could influence the course of their careers. At the very least, using these resources will allow members to network with influential communications professionals across the country and provide for unique experiences as their careers progress.
Internship experience can make or break a PR student’s career, so it is critical to find the best opportunity available. Ample doors are open to PRSSA members. Through university-sponsored internships, prestigious organizations, and internship databases, students can set themselves up for success.
About Kaelin Hirschi
Kaelin Hirschi is from Orem, Utah and is currently a student at Brigham Young University pursuing a degree in Public Relations. She works as the director of civic advocacy for the Independent Education Program based inUtah. She also plays rugby and loves to stay busy spending time with family and friends.
Kaelin can be contacted by emailing hirschikaelin@gmail.com or by calling 801-426-0910.
