The temperature had just dropped to a morbid 26 degrees, with Google indicating it felt like a crisp 22. It was refreshing in some way, considering I had just submitted an application to become an editorial intern and was on the verge of having heat flashes on the 2nd floor of Carrier Library. It’s easy to think you’re not doing enough or that these internships will ultimately have no bearing on your future success since you’re so unsure at the ripe age of 20.
This is where Dr. Shana Meganck, an assistant JMU professor in the School of Communication Studies, came in to save my Monday. With her background in public relations and advertising as well as her Ph.D from VCU in the media, art and text program, M.A in journalism at UGA and B.A. from Mary Baldwin College in mass communication, I sat in awe. A plethora of disciplines, all of which led her to her current profession at JMU. It gave me a sense of reassurance knowing you’re not confined to one path or forced to stick with it. She dedicates her journey to the importance of internships, which she says had she not had several, she wouldn’t have gotten her first job. “They [internships] help you figure out what you want to do and differentiates you from others,” Meganck said. “Though for me, some were great, some were awful. But something is to be said about all of them.” At this moment, I was reminded of my marketing internship two years ago where I realized how much I refused to be stuck in a grey cubicle for the entirety of my working career. I wanted a fast-paced environment where I’d be on my feet constantly doing something, which goes into Meganck’s time at Padilla, an advertising agency that combined her skills in media relations to event planning. In her time here, she would work on multiple accounts at the same time, Thorlos and Nascar being the biggest. With odd hours and constantly traveling, Meganck opted to change her path and work for Altria in internal communications, which was more corporate and stable than agency life had been. She learned the importance of narrowing the target audience and communicating with outside communities. Yet how do you decide the path you want to take? Meganck says it’s all about personality, working style and career aspirations, but there’s no harm in gaining experience on both sides. Here was her quick run-down: Agency Life
Since her major wasn’t PR, she suggested trying workshops to learn skills in a new career path that diversify your resume despite the major you graduated with, which provided me a sigh of relief in a time where it’s no longer enough to be a good writer and your portfolio is expected to be the answer to curing malignant human diseases. Her biggest takeaway? Always make sure you’re learning. Even at the internship you know will not become your future career, it’s important to make connections or seek a mentorship with someone who knows the ins and outs of the industry and is willing to help you grow. Taking advantage of externships as well can provide a glimpse into the vibes of a company with the span of a week or a couple days. As she wrapped up the Q&A, she mentioned one thing she feels all students should make an effort to learn: soft skills, a.k.a. writing emails, learning how to present oneself in the workplace, knowing when to ask questions and when to be quiet. I was left feeling grateful, not only due to the knowledge and solace she unknowingly provided me, but because I grew up in an age where the power of Google is exquisite and only a click away when I want to know more. - Sabrina Moreno, PRSSA member
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November 2017
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