Charlotte Mair’s Post

A second-year 19 year old student, eager to enlighten herself with the bright rays of the outside world, it was today's date back in 2023 when I joined White Rivers Media- my first ever workplace experience! It wasn't like I hadn't work before, but it was all beneath the chambers of COVID-19 and it's online alternatives. In real, it's different. Much different. Never had the moment to write about it then, so I'll make the most out of it, now. An agency culture was much distinct than the conventional work life my parents have been describing and that is exactly when I realised our worlds are different and that I have so much more to look forward to, so much more to achieve. It shouted YOUTH! OPPORTUNITY! and THE FUTURE! I joined as a Copywriter Intern and it completely altered my beginner definitions of copywriting. Throughout the course of time, my comprehension about agency structure and client behaviour was significantly enriched. I got a chance to meet amazing people who not only inspired me but were also super keen to aid with my growth in the long run. Well, ofcourse, not all of it was dreamy. I remember working as long as 10-11 hours fidgeting over a little copy. Spending hours, and even a day or two with a huge creative block shadowing a mere brief. However, that didn't make me despise it. Instead, it only made me fall in love with it more. I knew it was a part of the process and did not hesitate to give in my all. #WhiteRiversMedia #WRM #Advertising #Agency #Agencylife #Internship #Intern #Job #Copywriting #Creativity #DigitalMarketing #Experience

- I'm looking for a community manager. - Oh, that's cool! - They'll need to strategize the brand's communication. - That sounds interesting! - Handle the creation of all content. - What do you mean? - Photos, videos, events, texts... - So, you want a photographer, videographer, copywriter, and events manager? - Also, a bit of infographic work, of course. - Well, yes, a graphic designer too. - They'll also have to respond to customers. - Ah, so a customer service representative too? - And manage any PR crises if they arise. - And a communications manager... - They'll also need to handle advertising and write our articles. - An ads manager and a writer. - They'll also have to manage influencer relations. - An influencer relations manager (that's a lot, isn't it?) - And handle contractors and negotiations. - A project manager. - Yes, exactly. - Well... it's quite a project. I hope you manage to find the perfect fit. - It's for an internship. - Excuse me? - We're looking for an intern. - To assist with all of this? - No, so they won't get paid. My perspective on this post: This humorous conversation highlights the unrealistic expectations often placed on interns in some workplaces. It underscores the importance of clear job descriptions and fair compensation, even for internships, to ensure that young professionals are given a meaningful learning experience and not exploited for free labor. It's a reminder of the need for transparency and fairness in the job market. #Internship #FairWork #JobExpectations

Randomly, I've seen a few job ads this morning for Videographer and Social Content Manager positions. Bearing in mind that these positions are skill-based positions, helping brands to market their products and attracting potential new business, some of the salaries are shocking. £19,000 per year? Unpaid internship?! Are you looking for someone to press a button on a phone or for a professional-looking, fully-edited video package that will garner interest? In this modern world, content creating is incredibly important. It's not just broadcast television and films that provide you with content. The adverts you watch on a YouTube video. The Instagram reels that pop up when you're scrolling through. The training videos you pay to learn from. These are all made by skilled individuals and teams. Yet people look upon our industry like they're so easy and unskilled, that they don't have to compensate you for it. If you pay little, you'll receive little.

Starting a career in Public Relations can be an exciting, rewarding yet sometimes a daunting and overwhelming journey. We sat down and asked TMC directors Sally Brown and Chrissy Biasotto for their advice on how to get noticed and get your foot in the door in PR.   INTERNING, INTERNING, INTERNING   Both Sally and Chrissy landed their first roles by rolling up their sleeves and gaining practical work experience with unpaid internships until an agency hired them. There is no better way to learn than being on the ground and experiencing the work firsthand.     “Intern at a few different agencies to get a cross section of experience to add to your CV and for you to get an understanding of what you like and don’t like. We will always look when hiring entry level roles if a candidate has had a cross section of work experience.”   Key Pointers for Candidates / Interns wanting to get a head start and a career in PR:      - Being present in your internship and introducing yourselves to the decision makers / directors of the business. We always remember someone who has made themselves known to us! - Be proactive, follow up with your directors or direct line of report mentioning how much you enjoyed your time interning and how interested you are in the role. Ask advice on what you need to do in order to be considered for a role. - Be gracious and eager to learn. Put your hand up for any task, don’t be precious and get stuck into hard work. Volunteer to assist at events to gain a full 360 aspect of the role. - Don’t be scared to ask questions when you are interning, you are there to learn as much as you can. - If you love an internship and really can imagine yourself working their ask if you can extend your internship and be transparent that the reason for extending is in hope for a role at the agency you are interning.   - Don’t be shy to submit examples of your work to Directors to show your skill set, it might be a press release or an example of a pitch on behalf of one of the agencies brands.   - Make sure you are following the agency on social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn) to prove your interest in the agency. - Have a full understanding of the business and their clients.   

I recently put out an internship hiring post and the number of DM’s and volume of applications have been insane! Got me worried about the number of students out there looking for opportunities. Believe me when I say, I have been there too! From sending out 100’s of DM’s, mails, drafting resume & cover letters, interviews…I have done them all 🙃 But its just not easy due to the limited supply of these opportunities. Being in the creator economy for the last year, I have realized that there is a new market with tons of opportunities for college students. Creators are also businesses. After a point they also need smart people to run the entire backend operations. Here is what I would do if I was back in college :- (1) If I was into editing, I would offer to edit a few videos for the creator (2) If I was into marketing, I would offer to launch a new digital product (Course, book, resources etc) (3) If I was into copywriting, I would offer to write scripts for them for brand collaborations or viral content (4) If I was into photography/ videography, I would offer to shoot content (5) If I was into sales, I would offer to pitch brands for collaborations (Making brochures, doing sales pitches etc) (6) If I was into data analytics, I would offer to analyze the entire YT studio data and provide insights on what’s working well I repeat, creators are also businesses! Every creator’s email ID is publicly available. All you have to do is make a list and send out personalized mails with a solid pitch & proof of work. Don’t restrict yourself to just companies. Reach out to your favourite creators! — Follow Adithyaa Sriram (Me) for more such content on the creator economy. I will be posting a lot more insights & opportunities in this space over the next few weeks. #creatoreconomy #hiring #internship #college

It's been quite a productive day in here at my home office on the bayou (I don't "actually" live on a bayou, but it's south Louisiana, so there's one close by). Earlier, my newsletter went live, and now, Content Therapy, the column I write for Managing Editor magazine. In it, I address two reader questions: - Do internships still matter for aspiring marketers? - How Can I Set Up Career-Changing Marketers for Success? I hope you enjoy reading it. If not, you can still get a laugh at the funny dog photo. https://lnkd.in/dsrsX73Q

What I talk about when I talk about "digital communication?" 📓 "Communications enriched with creativity and empathy breathe life into inanimate mediums, enabling them to traverse precisely through locations, time, and channels, ultimately touching hearts effortlessly. This power of bringing change and fresh possibilities has always been the pursuit of my career." I wrote these words at the beginning of my cover letter when I was searching for my first internship. If I had to explain to a stranger what digital communication means to me (or even why I chose it), I thought this would be my go-to answer. Despite having no idea what this internship would bring when I wrote these words, after wrapping up this three-month period at a PR agency, I feel those reasons still hold up —— which means no need to rewrite my cover letter’s hook! ➡ Back to the question: what does digital communication mean to me? The flow of information in our lives today is as essential and natural as breathing, yet almost imperceptible. From an essentialist perspective, digital communication refers to the process of information moving from one place to another in digital form. However, this definition doesn't capture the full potential of communication. Therefore I chose a PR agency from a list of companies for this internship — I couldn't think of a better place focused on uncovering and utilising the potential of digital information. During this three-month, fortunately, I witnessed and participated in numerous activities and tasks that help me discover the answer to this question: uncovering viable brand stories, brainstorming campaign ideas for new product launches, and observing other professionals creatively packaging their ideas. I marvelled at how ordinary stories became captivating through writing and narratives and how short videos could transform abstract ideas into engaging content. Digitalisation undoubtedly makes diverse and intriguing communication more achievable. As an industry heavily reliant on communication technologies—including PR, advertising, and marketing—the trend enhances our ability to explore and innovate within these fields. It allows us to connect and engage with audiences in personalised messages on a grand scale and navigate the landscape of global communication; it also creates a two-way channel for listening and expressing that enriches our strategies and outcomes. It is so fortunate my career began at the start of the infotainment era. Whether through news websites or social media platforms, the variety of expressive forms and content available today is unprecedented. And now, exploring the potential of these mediums has become a current interest in my career. #digitalcommunication #digitalisation

Never think you can't pivot in life. Let me clarify. I studied Public Relations Management and loved the theoretical aspect of it. When I started my internship with a PR firm, I rapidly understood that PR was not for me. As part of my Research Methodology subject, I wrote a research paper on "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒆-𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝑹 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔/𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒘𝒏," emailed so many consultancies who were willing to complete my questionnaire (please find time to assist students with this), and a Marketing Boutique offered me an internship position, which I accepted. I became completely obsessed with marketing and social media after learning so much about it. Despite having a degree in public relations, I spent my career in marketing, communications, and social media. I even taught myself how to edit videos and launched a YouTube channel, worked on the backend of my personal website using Wordpress, and learned photography and videography. Now, ten years later, I'm looking for a new opportunity that will challenge me creatively; perhaps it's time to pivot again. I understand it is risky, but if you don't take a chance on yourself, you'll never know what's out there. #newopportunities #pivotinlife #career #marketing #socialmedia

Should you partner with a social media agency or hire an intern? Partnering with an agency means leveraging a team of seasoned experts with years of experience and comprehensive industry knowledge. These experts come equipped with proven strategies, advanced tools, and structured processes that are designed to deliver results. While interns bring enthusiasm and fresh perspectives, they often require significant training and supervision. This can divert valuable time and resources away from core business activities. By working with an agency, you gain immediate access to specialized talents and a dedicated team focused on delivering measurable outcomes. You can then concentrate on what matters most—achieving your business goals. Agencies may have a higher price point. However, the efficiency you gain and higher ROI makes working with the right social media agency worth every penny. Remember, smart moves start with smart choices. Partner with us today. It is the smarter choice. Book a 30-minute discovery call here - https://lnkd.in/ecd6X8Yi To learn more about us, visit our website - https://lnkd.in/ezE9ZTWP #agency #intern #SocialMediaStrategy #SocialMedia #SocialMediaManagement #DigitalMarketingTips #SocialMediaSuccess #ContentCreation #InfluencerMarketing #DigitalAdvertising #SocialMediaEngagement #BrandVisibility #OnlineMarketing #SocialMediaGrowth #DigitalStrategy #SocialMediaROI #epictransformation #epic #eptransform