Our new intern, Emily Daly, is with us for 2 months this summer to gain some experience in PR. Read about why she enjoys working at MacComms, her first impressions and what her role entails.
Although PR has always been a career path that interests me, I could never explain what it actually entails; it seemed like an ambiguous term which can be applied to a range of contexts. With my final year at university approaching, a summer internship seemed like the perfect way to find out. Yet from all of the PR agencies I could have interned for, I have been lucky enough to be working for MacComms; a friendly, successful and hardworking PR firm with down to earth values.
The first day in a new job can be nerve-wracking and intimidating, especially given that I had never worked in an office before. However, the MacComms team made me feel comfortable immediately in their open, pink-themed office and warm smiles. It also helped that my first Monday coincided with a team meeting, allowing me to get to know them and feel like a member of the team, instead of being separated out as ‘the intern’.
Indeed, an intern’s role can vary greatly depending on where you work; I wasn’t sure if I would be making coffees or given any real responsibility. Luckily for me, this is certainly an advantage of working in an up and coming, tight-knit young company like MacComms; I have been given worth-while tasks to do and I feel like I’m genuinely helping out. Of course, this is also down to the Managing Director and founder, Ellie, who has given me the opportunity to learn and develop my skills in all areas of the firm.
My first couple of weeks mainly consisted of helping manage MacComms’ social media, copywriting, attending networking events and sourcing bloggers for clients; allowing me to gain experience in many aspects of the job. I particularly enjoyed the networking events and not just because of the free coffee and champagne! It was amazing to meet so many inspiring people in the media and business world. As a lover of social media, I was surprised at how utilising social media for businesses was more challenging than I expected. It isn’t simply a case of putting up some holiday pictures on Facebook but instead requires creativity and attention to detail; it is an integral part of a businesses’ public image.
Social media is just one element of how MacComms helps to raise the profile and credibility of Yorkshire-based businesses and since each day is different – one day you attend client meetings and the next you will be writing a press release or award application. It is a fast-paced and varied working environment which is full of surprises. To cope with this, the MacComms team are excellent multi-taskers and multi-talented hard workers.
However, this fast-paced environment is accompanied by an extremely positive and supportive dynamic; the team seem to genuinely get on well and care about each other- I don’t think you would find this intimacy in a large PR firm. There is not that competitive, rat-race mentality I imagine you find in big corporations; MacComms work as a team and are all united by their passion for the business and the clients. This is another thing I like about MacComms; they only work with like-minded, lovely clients and even support local charities which reflects their down to earth values and compassion for the community. I think that this passion, coupled with the hard work, is essential to MacComms’ success as they truly care about their clients.
Aside from the hard work and dedication, MacComms is a very fun and upbeat place to work; not only are all the team funny, outgoing people but often the actual work is fun. For example, in the build up to the football semi-final Sophie, Emily and I performed an ‘it’s coming home’ social media stunt which was very entertaining to create and deliver- it didn’t feel like work at all!
As internships go, I feel extremely lucky and happy at MacComms as they have enabled me to taste every aspect of PR in a fun and helpful way. I already feel like I have developed my skillset and gained valuable experience from some very inspiring women.
If you fancy reading more about Emily’s appointment, she was in the Yorkshire post this Thursday:
