My summer internship has come to an end. Reflecting back on the past few months, my experience working with MGP was nothing short of incredible. Interning with a boutique PR firm allowed me to work closely with MGP’s senior team and their clients – from sitting in on client calls, viewing client emails and observing client Slack channels, conducting extensive research and exercising my writing muscle – I gained perspective on the dedication it takes to run a successful PR firm. As an international PR firm, MGP also allowed me to gain exposure to American and international clients focused on AI/computer vision, sustainability and agritech, biotech, and more — which made my work even more engaging.

Here are five key takeaways from my internship:

1. Every Detail Matters.
I learned by doing as I worked on the PR tasks necessary for each client. I was entrusted with contributing directly to client work, which was a responsibility I took with pride. My work included researching clients’ competitors for competitive media audits, vetting relevant contacts for press lists and contributing journalists to media lists. In addition, I researched and built award, conference and podcast lists that were relevant to clients into organized Google Sheets. Inputting information into spreadsheets is tedious, but I worked hard to ensure I was accurately inputting information as it was presented directly to clients for part of their overall PR strategies and planning.

2. The Power of PR Tools.
The platforms that I used everyday included Slack, Google Sheets and Muck Rack. I was familiar with Slack and Google Sheets, but Muck Rack was completely new. Muck Rack was intimidating at first, but after using it several times, I discovered it was easy to use and was an essential. As a media database, Muck Rack helped me whenever Google seemed to fall short – helping me get contact information for journalists and media outlets, find contacts for specific topics and build media lists. Google was useful for building calendars for conferences and awards.

3. Every Client Is Unique.
One of my favorite aspects of my internship was learning about each of MGP’s clients. My initial interest in working with MGP was for their focus on emerging technology companies, and it was exciting to finally see behind the scenes. During my time I engaged with several clients who all had such a range of technologies, branding and target markets. For example, I worked on Mashgin – the world’s fastest checkout system using computer vision and AI; Silver Tree Consulting & Services – an IT services company; Homey, makers of Homey Pro – the world’s most advanced smart home device; and HemoSonics, a medical device technology company that provides fast, easy, reliable data to clinicians in life-saving patient moments. I loved that each client was in a different sector and required a different approach.

4. It’s Called Communications for a Reason.
Communication is vital in any professional setting, but its importance is magnified with an internship in a remote, virtual setting. While I did have a few Zoom and Huddle meetings, the majority of my communication was reliant on Slack and emails. It was abundantly clear to me early on that I needed to be proactive about any questions or clarifications I had, even if it seemed ‘stupid.’ Slacking allowed me to efficiently reach any of my co-workers and send messages to a specific channel. The more I prioritized communication, the more efficiently I finished assignments.

5. PR Moves Fast.
Each day of my internship looked different, and I discovered I thoroughly enjoyed the variety. ‘PR moves fast’ is something I had heard before, but it’s a statement I didn’t fully understand until this internship. In PR there are expectations set with clients, deadlines galore for award and speaker submissions, countless meetings and email exchanges, and only so many hours in a day. While my internship days were certainly less packed than my senior co-workers, I was able to observe just how much time and effort PR requires – and in a quick paced environment where no two days are ever exactly the same.

My internship experience would not have been possible without the incredible mentorship and guidance of the entire MGP team (especially my amazing supervisor Carla who mentored me all the way from England!) The past two months have flown by, and I am extremely grateful and fulfilled that I spent my summer with MGP.

As my first internship, I know this experience was an imperative part of my professional career, and I am eager to apply my newfound skills to future opportunities. Fortunately, my journey with MGP is not over, as I will continue to grow as a part-time PR intern in the fall.

Looking for an efficient and productive PR firm to get the word out about your product or service? Mercury Global Partners is an “all senior” PR firm focused on emerging tech like sustainability, healthcare, AI and more. Get in touch with us at hello@wearemgp.com.

My summer internship has come to an end. Reflecting back on the past few months, my experience working with MGP was nothing short of incredible. Interning with a boutique PR firm allowed me to work closely with MGP’s senior team and their clients – from sitting in on client calls, viewing client emails and observing client Slack channels, conducting extensive research and exercising my writing muscle – I gained perspective on the dedication it takes to run a successful PR firm. As an international PR firm, MGP also allowed me to gain exposure to American and international clients focused on AI/computer vision, sustainability and agritech, biotech, and more — which made my work even more engaging.

Here are five key takeaways from my internship:

1. Every Detail Matters.
I learned by doing as I worked on the PR tasks necessary for each client. I was entrusted with contributing directly to client work, which was a responsibility I took with pride. My work included researching clients’ competitors for competitive media audits, vetting relevant contacts for press lists and contributing journalists to media lists. In addition, I researched and built award, conference and podcast lists that were relevant to clients into organized Google Sheets. Inputting information into spreadsheets is tedious, but I worked hard to ensure I was accurately inputting information as it was presented directly to clients for part of their overall PR strategies and planning.

2. The Power of PR Tools.
The platforms that I used everyday included Slack, Google Sheets and Muck Rack. I was familiar with Slack and Google Sheets, but Muck Rack was completely new. Muck Rack was intimidating at first, but after using it several times, I discovered it was easy to use and was an essential. As a media database, Muck Rack helped me whenever Google seemed to fall short – helping me get contact information for journalists and media outlets, find contacts for specific topics and build media lists. Google was useful for building calendars for conferences and awards.

3. Every Client Is Unique.
One of my favorite aspects of my internship was learning about each of MGP’s clients. My initial interest in working with MGP was for their focus on emerging technology companies, and it was exciting to finally see behind the scenes. During my time I engaged with several clients who all had such a range of technologies, branding and target markets. For example, I worked on Mashgin – the world’s fastest checkout system using computer vision and AI; Silver Tree Consulting & Services – an IT services company; Homey, makers of Homey Pro – the world’s most advanced smart home device; and HemoSonics, a medical device technology company that provides fast, easy, reliable data to clinicians in life-saving patient moments. I loved that each client was in a different sector and required a different approach.

4. It’s Called Communications for a Reason.
Communication is vital in any professional setting, but its importance is magnified with an internship in a remote, virtual setting. While I did have a few Zoom and Huddle meetings, the majority of my communication was reliant on Slack and emails. It was abundantly clear to me early on that I needed to be proactive about any questions or clarifications I had, even if it seemed ‘stupid.’ Slacking allowed me to efficiently reach any of my co-workers and send messages to a specific channel. The more I prioritized communication, the more efficiently I finished assignments.

5. PR Moves Fast.
Each day of my internship looked different, and I discovered I thoroughly enjoyed the variety. ‘PR moves fast’ is something I had heard before, but it’s a statement I didn’t fully understand until this internship. In PR there are expectations set with clients, deadlines galore for award and speaker submissions, countless meetings and email exchanges, and only so many hours in a day. While my internship days were certainly less packed than my senior co-workers, I was able to observe just how much time and effort PR requires – and in a quick paced environment where no two days are ever exactly the same.

My internship experience would not have been possible without the incredible mentorship and guidance of the entire MGP team (especially my amazing supervisor Carla who mentored me all the way from England!) The past two months have flown by, and I am extremely grateful and fulfilled that I spent my summer with MGP.

As my first internship, I know this experience was an imperative part of my professional career, and I am eager to apply my newfound skills to future opportunities. Fortunately, my journey with MGP is not over, as I will continue to grow as a part-time PR intern in the fall.

Looking for an efficient and productive PR firm to get the word out about your product or service? Mercury Global Partners is an “all senior” PR firm focused on emerging tech like sustainability, healthcare, AI and more. Get in touch with us at hello@wearemgp.com.