As I was about to enter my final year of college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, I was eager to dive into the world of public relations. I embarked on a quest to land an exciting summer internship so that I could embrace Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” motto. I knew I wanted to expand my knowledge from the classroom and gain hands-on experience in the field I enjoy so much.
Why Treble?
When I came across Treble, I knew that I had found the right place: an office in my hometown of San Diego, a supervisor who had gone to the same university as me, and most importantly, the chance to join a full-service agency, which I hoped would help me gain expertise in many different areas. My hopes were exceeded — throughout my time in this role, I gained a wide range of experience and learned many valuable lessons that I can utilize in any and all future endeavors.
Leading up to my first day, although I was very excited for the internship to start, I had heard horror stories about other agencies that riddled their interns with busy work and mundane tasks. This worry subsided as I was relieved to find that from the very beginning of my internship, my duties at Treble were meaningful and directly contributed to the success of accounts.
My Responsibilities
In this role, I was truly entrusted with responsibilities that challenged and motivated me to perform at my best and prepare me for my future. I was treated with respect and knew that the rest of my team valued my contributions, as I was encouraged to share my ideas and given opportunities to showcase my abilities.
Beginning my very first week on the job, I was immersed in the world of public relations and assigned to three client accounts in the enterprise tech sphere. This was new to me — as a journalism and public relations major, I was never really taught anything technology-related in school. Through working with diverse clients in many different tech sectors, I was pleased to learn a variety of new concepts and jargon that I would not have known otherwise. With this in mind, it was incredibly interesting to see the intersection of technology and public relations and have a role in how they connect.
The most valuable part of my internship was working on a wide array of projects. I was so excited to use my previous knowledge and apply it in the real world to real clients. Through completing a variety of different tasks, I was able to learn skills far beyond what I have been able to learn in the classroom. I learned many different media relations techniques, such as conducting efficient media research and developing content, which helped me to best serve my clients' varying needs.
One of my responsibilities included preparing quarterly reports and exercising research skills by conducting news sweeps for reporters, publications and articles. Another significant aspect of my internship involved pitching to reporters via email, resulting in successfully securing coverage in multiple publications. Writing was also crucial to my internship, as I crafted pitches and prepared interview briefing sheets. One of the most rewarding experiences was compiling carefully curated media lists for my own pitches, my teammates' pitches and the diverse sectors of my clients. This is incredibly important, as finding the correct journalists for each individual pitch increases the chances of securing coverage for a client. I also managed social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, curating engaging posts and captions, monitoring clients' presence and planning content. I created various posts for Treble’s pages using the graphic design skills I learned in school, ranging from employee anniversaries to birthdays to event recaps.
During the internship, I had the chance to experience “PR 101s” and engage in continuous learning, from diving into the history of the B2B tech industry to understanding the application of generative AI in PR campaigns. This enhanced my understanding of target audiences and the media landscape and taught me new skills in public relations.
The Importance of Teamwork
Throughout my time at Treble, I worked with focused, intelligent individuals who taught me many valuable insights. Through the strategic use of diverse skillsets and creative participation, I learned the importance of collaboration in PR. Teamwork was essential, as it fostered a positive work environment and ensured the success of initiatives and overall client satisfaction. I am grateful for the support, feedback and guidance provided by the Treble team, which made this internship truly unforgettable and contributed to my growth exponentially.
Final Takeaways
My summer as a PR intern was an enriching journey that allowed me to work on an array of meaningful tasks, providing me with experience that has been invaluable for my growth, both personally and professionally. I am so thankful for Treble and the opportunity I was given this summer. I encourage anybody reading this to pursue any interests and seize whatever opportunities come their way, as it will undoubtedly lead to a rewarding and gratifying experience.