PR internships: 3 tips for finding the right fit

The idea of brewing coffee, making copies and maybe doing a little bit of PR work—and doing it all with little to no compensation—is unappealing compared with spending the summer with your friends. But I can tell you that an internship is one of the most important things you can do in your college career.

This past April, the National Association of Colleges and Employers reported that employers will increase internship hires by 9 percent in 2011. Employers will also draw approximately 40 percent of new college hires from their interns.

Clearly, more companies are realizing the importance of having interns, yet college students still seem to lack the understanding of their importance. Some of the top questions asked are:

• How can an internship be more valuable than what I’m learning in school?
• How many internships should I have? Is one enough?
• What factors should I consider when searching for internships?

With these questions in mind, here are my three tips for students and recent grads concerning internships in the PR industry.

1. Experience in an actual work environment trumps what you learn in the classroom.