Rylie | Public Relations Internship at Absolute Internship

Rylie C.

Public Relations InternshipAbsolute Internship|LondonLondon

Now studying Communications at University of Central Florida

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Internship

Public RelationsUnited StatesUnited States

Currently

Communications University of Central Florida

Hi! My name is Rylie and I am a senior at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, majoring in communications and minoring in psychology! My experience in London was amazing and fostered my personal and professional growth in the public relations industry.

Rylie is a former student and verified Absolute Internship ambassador

Why Rylie chose this path

“I chose to intern abroad because I wanted a balance of studying abroad and learning more about the actual industry that I wanted to pursue after college. It was an opportunity for me to meet new people, make memories, and immerse myself in a new culture. ”

How I got in

I have always wanted to go to England because I have heard so much about it since I was a kid, but I never thought it was a possibility for me to travel there. I am definitely someone who admires and wants to work in busy, active cities, so London was the perfect fit.

Top tips for getting accepted

Do not put too much pressure on yourself to adapt fast. It takes a couple of days to get used to an entirely new location, new people, a new way of communication, etc. It takes a while to get used to a new way of living and learning but once you get the hang of it, it is incredibly worth it.

Common mistakes to avoid

I wish I hadn’t put so much stress on myself to succeed in my internship immediately. I didn’t understand that internships are also a learning experience, and I wanted my co-workers to think I already knew everything about the industry. If I had given myself more grace and let myself relax and learn, I think I would have had an overall better experience.

What Rylie wishes they knew

Things I wish I knew before starting

I wish I had known a little bit more about the way people in London talk and use their slang. Not understanding slang made it a little awkward in some conversations, but I got the hang of London communication about mid-way through my internship.

The hardest part

The hardest part was finding a balance between being at my internship all day and then wanting to explore the London neighborhoods at night. Some days I was definitely exhausted, but I was able to take a step back when I needed the rest and just go back to the housing after my internship.

The best decision I made

The best decision I made was asking a group of girls if I can go with them on their Notting Hill day out during the second weekend of the program. If I hadn’t done this and put myself out their to make friends, I wouldn’t have made the connections with girls that I ended up being very close with.

What it's actually like

A typical day

A typical day would involve waking up around 7am, walking to Barons court (about 5 minutes away) to catch the tube to my internship, be at my internship office from 9-5 learning about PR tasks and helping with events, and then meeting up with my friends to explore a new neighborhood in London or have dinner at a new or popular restaurant in town. I would typically go to sleep around 10 or 11pm!

Topics Rylie can help with

Work-Life BalanceApplication TipsInterview PrepDay-to-Day LifeIndustry SkillsRemote Working

Questions students ask Rylie

What does a typical day in your internship actually look like?
I would get to my internship at 9am and meet with the company’s public relations executive. We would usually have friendly conversation before the start of the day and she would ask me about my week, how I’m liking London, the friends I've made, etc. Some days I would shadow her while she explained the details of the tasks she was doing, and other days I was given tasks to complete on my own. These tasks included research, organizing journalist details, and helping to plan events. I would check in with her and my main supervisor throughout the day to make sure I was on the right track.
How did you land your internship - what did the application process involve?
I received an email 5 months before my trip to London about interviewing for my host company. Prior to the interview, I did a lot of my own research on the company’s mission, products, and audience, so it was easier for me to answer my interviewer’s questions an I felt more prepared. I got my acceptance email to intern for this company about 3 weeks later after communication with my internship placement manager. Leading up to my trip to London, I was in communication with my host company about details regarding my responsibilities and company expectations.
What skills do you wish you had before starting that you'd tell others to prepare?
I definitely wish I had more confidence in my abilities as a whole, and better speaking skills. It is easy for nerves to get the best of you in a new environment that affect your willingness to speak to new people, but this is definitely an important skill for networking that I wish I had focused on before the start of the program.

Ready to ask Rylie a question?

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