A cookie for your thoughts?
Our two interns did a pretty creative thing today that got me thinking about when I was an intern. Not really sure how that was almost 15 years ago, but moving on.
Back to the interns. They made some cookies for the office. The chocolate chip kind but also with M&Ms. Kind of like monster cookies and chocolate chip cookies had a baby. You’re welcome for the visual.
Anyone in the office could have a cookie. But they had to leave a piece of advice for achieving success in a career in PR. It made me think about the top 5 pieces of advice I got when I was an intern were. And from there, I went to the top 5 pieces of advice I’d received in the almost 15 years since I was an intern. Before writing them down, I hypothesized that they might not be that different. Then I wrote them down. Well typed them actually. Because this is a computer. But you get what I mean.
Have a look at my top 5 pieces of advice at the intern level and 15-year professional level. What would you add? What were the key things you learned in between your intern years and now.
Top 5 pieces of advice I received as an intern
- NETWORK. Every good thing that has come to me in my career has been because of the people I’ve met.
- Work hard. Oh yeah, and working hard may have had something to do with it. A colleague of mine once told me that early in his career, he advanced by raising his hand for any and every request that came along. You need to maintain your sanity, but it does work.
- Make to-do lists. I still struggle with this. Get in the habit of being organized early on.
- Be quick, but don’t hurry. Meeting and beating deadlines stands out, but so do fundamentals like grammar, spelling and actually completing everything that was asked.
- Take initiative. People who just do what their told, no matter how well they do it, can only go so far. Be creative. Speak up., then shut up and learn from your peers.
Top 5 pieces of advice I received in the 15 years since I was an intern
- NETWORK. Every good thing that has come to me in my career has been because of the people I’ve met.
- Work with people who are smarter than you. Some people seek out work situations where they are the smartest person. Those people are insecure and content, neither of which are characteristics of a successful business professional.
- Learn to educate, not just evangelize. Educators teach and turn others into evangelists. But just being an evangelist often turns people off to your message.
- See things through your customers’ eyes. If you ever make a decision based solely on your POV, I promise you it is wrong. Seek out information. Data is the start of all great business success stories.
- Take initiative. People who just do what their told, no matter how well they do it, can only go so far. Be creative. Speak up., then shut up and learn from your peers.
So, what would you add? What’s the best piece of advice you got as an intern? Since then? And most importantly, can you bake cookies?
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Who am I?
I'm a business communications consultant at Fleishman-Hillard. I used to call myself a PR professional, but I don't use that term anymore because people hear PR and they think only media relations.We do a lot more than that at Fleishman-Hillard Kansas City (FHKC). I specialize in social media, but am trying hard to brush up on my measurement and analytics. Every strategic consulting conversation should start with your business goals and how communications can help you reach them. My motto: "Your brand is what your customers say it is." 
I’m so glad to see networking at the top of both lists. That is so important and so many college aged kids think what’s inside their skull is enough. I think networking and chatting with people (ties into #2 on the second list) are the most valuable things young, middle, and old professionals can do.
Agree with all of these! I wrote a post with advice for new employees and included your same advice about being quick, but not hurrying. There is a big difference between the two!
I would also add speak up. Speak up in internal and client meetings. It took me SO LONG to develop my confidence and to speak my mind in meetings. Think before you speak of course, but share your thoughts/opinions. You got hired for a reason!
Sharing this with our interns, Justin. Thanks! Two adds to your already-great intern best practices list: 1) Show appreciation for people who take an interest in you and your career. You could do this in a variety of ways — by email, face to face, write a note, etc. It can help you stand out from the pack. And keep in touch “down the road” via LinkedIn. 2) Get interested in the industry, even if you’re not sure you want to stay in it for the long haul. Read industry pubs and news, ask questions, find out what it’s really like to work in that field — and see what this info-gathering can lead to.