Zoe’s PR Internship at DATS

Our intern, Zoe recently wrote an article on what it’s been like working for DATS, and her first experiences of working in the world of PR…

Any preconceptions about working in PR?

• The glitz and glamour

I honestly believe that this is one of the strongest misconceptions about working in the PR industry, not just what I had before starting my placement, but what has been constructed about the industry as a whole!

Although you can be given the opportunity to attend launch parties and events, this doesn’t take away the hours of preparation and hard work an agency put into this beforehand.

• Social Media is part of Public Relations

Although we know that social media and public relations work hand and hand with one and other to create profiles for clients, the developing upsurge for social media presence to any client is vital in the digital led industry.

Clients will approach agencies just to develop their social media presence without PR and vice versa. Something I never expected before, as I believed the two came hand-in-hand.

The amount of work that goes into social media PR is underestimated commonly.

• PR refrains from having close relationships with clients due to the nature of the industry

Before experiencing work in a PR agency, I always believed that relationships with clients were strictly business related, through corporate and formal meetings.

DATS values their relationships with clients, interacting through personal and fun interactions, which is why I believe they are trusted by so many clients. I love how personable I have realised that the role is!

• One piece of coverage will make you satisfied

I always believed that when studying public relations, receiving a good piece of coverage was enough to give a sense of accomplishment, however I’ve found that you just can’t help from wanting more!

PR is an industry where you constantly strive for success. Another reason why I love it so much, as there is always room for improvement and growth!

What has been your favourite part of working on this placement?

This placement has given me numerous opportunities when it has come to creating my own content and understanding how it feels to be part of a team in the PR industry.

I have been given the opportunity of experiencing all areas of PR; from media lists, to creating TikToks for a client!

I have loved how hands-on my experience has been and the opportunities I have been given through shadowing team meetings, being involved in developing ideas for clients, being a part of shooting content for clients and helping to develop a better social media presence for them.

What has the placement taught you that you haven’t learnt from your Masters?

The biggest part that my placement at Down at the Social has taught me that I was not expecting through learning about Public Relations in my masters is how important it is to have a strong bond with your clients, and most importantly your team.

I am extremely grateful that I have had the opportunity to gain experience through working in such a small and close-knit agency to understand the value of having a strong team to rely on to get the best successes and I truly believe that this is where Down at the Social will stand out from other agencies.

What has been your proudest moment?

My proudest moment throughout my experience is to have been given the opportunity to create my own content and ideas for clients. Being able to use Canva and create signatures for websites (something which I have always loved), to be able to present to a client and for them to be approved after my first draft!

I was over the moon with this and found that my perfectionist style when it came to Canva and creating designs really did pay off!

What will you take from this placement?

The most important thing I will take from my placement at DATS is that it has given me the realisation that this career is something I want to pursue. I love how fast-paced and different each day is to the prior, how creative I can be and how each day is about communicating with others and building relationships to network in the industry.

What’s next for you?

Now I will go back to completing my Masters qualification with the variety of skills and attributes I have learnt, that will hopefully come in handy when producing my final project through digital content creation!

I know that my placement at Down at the Social, through the variety of work I have been involved in and experiences I can take from my time at the agency, will put me in amazing stance for my future in the PR industry.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing team and hope to work with them again in the future!