How to get an internship ... without previously having an internship

After going on interview after interview for PR, marketing, advertising etc. internships last spring, I kept on getting the same response ... I needed more experience.

However, I didn't understand how I was expected to get more experience without anyone ever giving me a shot. I had worked for a telecommunications company doing marketing for a summer and I thought that was enough. Judging from my success rate, it apparently was not enough. I didn't know what more I could do until one woman I interviewed with gave me a few suggestions. Her suggestions proved to be exactly what I needed, as I just got my first internship doing PR/Marketing for the Wisconsin Union on Campus.

1) Her first suggestion was to get as much marketing and PR experience as possible without getting an internship.

She suggested volunteering for a non-profit, as they would always be grateful for the help. So, I took her advice and searched volunteer opportunities in the Madison area. I really didn't see anything that sparked my interest. I was a little discouraged until I was laying in bed one night (well, technically morning since it was 3 a.m.) and I saw a commercial that touched me deeply for feeding America. It was part of there 1 in 8 campaign ... promoting that one in every eight people goes to bed hungry at night. It then said to contact your local foodbank to see what you could do to help. I immediately googled a foodbank near Madison, and lucky enough stumbled upon Second Harvest Foodbank. I immediately contacted the External Relations Representative, and began volunteering for the organization shortly thereafter.

I have been doing work that you would find both at any non-profit and realistically any PR agency. I have been constantly working to keep the media list used for news releases up-to-date, writing press releases, editing the newsletter and researching ways to branch out with advertising. Overall, a great experience.

2) Her second suggestion was to start following blogs and really tune into social media.

She gave me two names of blogs to follow that I have found fascinating and highly educational.

- Chris Brogan

- Mashable

These two blogs have opened my eyes to the various ways social media can be used, and they have really showed me how to get ahead with technology constantly changing.

These two great suggestions have made a great difference in improving my real-life experience. I feel successful in what I have accomplished thus far on my career, and I hope my pursue of internship will go smoother from here on out.