A Day in the Life of Violet PR Interns
At Violet PR we deliver creative, customized solutions to achieve real results for our clients. Doing that successfully requires a team of hard-working professionals — from interns to our president — who work closely together to create effective communication campaigns that deliver success.
Our new “Day in the Life” series offers a peek into our award-winning boutique public relations agency featuring insight from Violet PR’s team.
First up, we talk to our interns! Violet PR has been lucky to have three talented interns join our team this summer. Kayla Kennedy and Jess Pak are recent graduates of Monmouth University, and Mia DeMeola is a rising senior at Fordham University.
What does a typical day look like as an intern at Violet PR?
Kayla: I come into the office two days a week. I start my day by checking Slack, our workplace communication tool, to see what tasks need to be done. My primary responsibilities at Violet PR are creating media lists through Cision, a media outreach tool, and assisting staff with various PR tasks.
Jess: I also start my work days by checking Slack for any unread messages. Falling behind when you work part-time is super easy, so staying in the loop with my teammates is important. I then work on tasks that I know are ongoing. These assignments range from creating social media posts, writing email pitches, curating media contact lists and researching event opportunities. My supervisor told me on my first day that everyone at Violet PR is a jack of all trades, and I can confirm she was not wrong! Everyone I work with has a diverse skill set and a strong passion for PR.
Mia: My typical day varies from day to day. I draft social media posts for clients, pull together media lists, monitor media coverage and support anyone that needs help or an extra set of hands!
What interested you specifically about this internship opportunity?
Kayla: The ability to have hands-on experience within the public relations field. Learning about PR in the classroom is entirely different from actually experiencing it. I like being in an interactive environment because it’s easier for me to grasp concepts and learn more about the tasks.
Jess: I love the clients and culture of Violet PR. The wide variety of clients from various industries, including economic development, real estate, architecture, social good, and the arts, intrigued me. There is a strong sense of philanthropy in both the clients and people. I have always been ardent about helping others in need.
Mia: Like Jess, I was drawn to VPR because of the company values. It is a goal of mine to always work with a company that I align with because this allows me to feel comfortable, gives my work greater purpose and fosters personal growth.
What are your career goals, and how has this internship prepared you for your career?
Kayla: I want to be a public relations professional and work at a PR firm. This internship has prepared me for my career by allowing me to gain hands-on experience and take a step into the world of public relations. It has helped me gain skills that will be a necessity in my future career.
Jess: My first career goal is to find a full-time position and hopefully be able to start as an account coordinator at a public relations agency. I would like to find a job where I am genuinely passionate about my work while achieving a healthy work-life balance.
Mia: My dream is to work on the business side of the fashion industry, which focuses on sustainability. Though this internship at Violet PR is not within that industry, the work is fast-paced and ever-changing. Working in this environment will prepare me to think quickly, work efficiently, build my skill set and allow me to gain vital real-world experience!