By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)
Yes, you read the headline right: I'm exploring opportunities to serve as an intern with a major Chicago-based public relations agency, private or public corporation, or non-profit organization. However, given the establishment of remote work practices today, I certainly would consider a position that would not require me to be on premise.
More on the foundation behind this career-driven development coming up. But first allow me to help build awareness for a favorite personal springtime tradition -- April APR Month, promoted by the Public Relations Society of America. As noted in my byline, I hold the Accredited in Public Relations credential, and I'm a 20-plus year member of PRSA. For years, this space has championed the value behind Accreditation through many posts, including this one from April of 2022.
My friends and colleagues at PRSA Chicago are assisting with promoting Accreditation this month with posts from recently-Accredited members (and me, of course) here in the Chapter website Blog section. Please take a few minutes to read these short and insightful testimonials from three outstanding communications professionals who cite how Accreditation contributed to their career growth.
Now, onto my quest for an internship. Actually, the catalyst driving my search for an intern position centers on my continued involvement with colleagues seeking Accreditation and the evolution of the APR program. Simply put: The knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) addressed in the many excellent preparatory tools and composition of the questions on the current version of the online APR Comprehensive Examination are much, much different than when I earned Accreditation nearly two decades ago.
(Ah, yes. Sometimes it feels as though it all took place just yesterday!)
Back to reality and the present. The public relations profession has undergone a myriad of changes over the past few decades, mainly due to the seemingly endless advancements in technology and the way the masses receive and respond to various types of communications. Where once information primarily was disseminated through acknowledged sources of news, now anyone with access to a digital platform can issue a message. And, the Accreditation program has kept pace with this evolution.
I do my best to remain current on best practices in public relations today, such as strategies and tactics behind influencer relations or the transition to becoming a "storyteller." Still, I don't have an opportunity to exercise what I've learned. My job over the past nine-plus years with a university transportation research unit has focused on media relations, internal communications, public affairs, and technology transfer.
That's why I'm seeking an internship: Working as part of a team will provide an existential perspective and real world experience on modern strategic public relations. Maybe I'll be part of a team responsible for executing a seven-figure global communications plan. Plus, maybe I can even pull in a few extra bucks on the side!
I kindly request that all interested hiring authorities please visit my LinkedIn profile for details on my career. If job interviews these days are still conducted over lunch, my schedule is open most days.
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