Post 2

In my previous blog I posted about doing an internship that was outside of my subject of journalism. I did this mainly to see if I only held an interest in my chosen field and so that I could see if I found any passion dabbling in different forms of communication.

 I organised to do my internship with the ACT Cancer Council. I did this because I had previously done an internship with ACT Policing Media and Marketing department and I wanted to see if I would enjoy doing an internship that was a bit different.

With ACT Policing I wrote articles for ACT Policing News. Completed research projects- including road safety campaigns, office fit-outs, 100 years of policing in the ACT and the development of Constable Kenny Koala online newsletters. Attended media conferences, assisted with corporate management such as White Ribbon Day and attended filming for the ACT Policing and 104.7's promotion with Scotty and Nige: A week on the Frontline with ACT Policing.

This past month has been very hectic at the Cancer Council with everybody in the office getting ready for Daffodil Day. During my internship I helped with the planning for this event. This included but was not limited to, sending letters to volunteers, setting up cash boxes. Planning the 27 site folders and dealing with merchandise. The work with the Cancer Council was very different then what I was used to, especially with the AFP and my history of study in Journalism.

As an intern you will always have the 'Devil wears Prada' moments where you are doing the 'grunt' work for others. But I have realised through both of my internships that if you really commit to working at 100% even if it is just doing said 'grunt' work, you will earn the respect of those you are working with.

I made many contacts and some really good references during both of my internships. I worked hard and made my 100 hours with the Cancer Council count. And although working for the Cancer Council was a rewarding and different experience. I have found that I was really passionate about my work with the AFP and I hope that when I graduate at the end of the year that I will be able to find an opportunity to work with the AFP again.

Post 1

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism, majoring in Creative Writing. This semester I am doing an internship subject, we had our first seminar today.

During the seminar we discussed what is expected of us, as students in our third and final year during our internship.

We discussed professionalism. This is an issue with which everyone will have a different idea in their minds of what professionalism entails. Is it how we are dressed? Which is still an important consideration in our internship, whether during an interview or on your first day. You do not want to go to your internship or your interview without dressing professionally and definitely not wearing anything (ladies) provocative. You want your possible future boss to take what you have to say seriously. You do not want to limit yourself, and your possibility for the job, by under-dressing or over-dressing.

A consideration when you have the job is how you act when you get there. You want to remain professional, don’t try and be overly friendly with everyone straight off the bat. Friendships may grow over the length of your internship, but you do not want to be known as the person who annoyed everyone in the office with their incessant chatting.

A fear that I feel everyone, especially me, has before embarking on an internship is a simple one. What to expect. It is the fear of the unknown that scare us the most. But with our past 3 years of learning it is hopeful that my teachers have given me every possible advantage to succeed in the field I have chosen.

I have expectations that I will learn more ‘real world’ practices that will help me in my future endeavours by completing this internship. I expect to learn how to communicate and work in a professional ‘real world’ environment. I hope that I will be able to learn new skills that I can take along with me in the future. And most of all I hope that I will work hard enough to impress my co-workers. So I will be able to make contacts through this internship that may help me when I graduate to find more permanent employment.

I have chosen to embark on my internship with something that is a little out of the journalism realm this semester. I am not 100% sure where my passion lay and I would like to try something new.