12 tips from employers for acing PR internships

1. Tackle all projects with gusto. Whether asked to flip through magazines looking for story ideas, fill the copy machine toner, or set up a conference room for a meeting, consider this a chance to stand out and show skills as a responsible and organized employee. Attention to detail (this may mean typo free clip reports or carafes filled with selections of regular and decaf coffee) and problem-solving ability can be showcased in many venues and forms. More intellectually challenging assignments won’t come unless you master administrative tasks.

2. Stay busy! Do not accept that business is slow and supervisors don’t have much work for you. Offer to help groups other than the team to which you are assigned. Just be sure to get approval to do so beforehand. Offer to reorganize a file system, archive old files or supplies, create editorial calendars, research new business prospects, compile case studies, or update media lists.

3. Take initiative. Employers frequently criticize interns for lacking problem-solving abilities or their unwillingness to be proactive in generating ideas. Come up with suggestions regarding how you can contribute to the organization.