Reflecting on My Internship at dovetail solutions: Words of Advice for Future Interns
My name is Juliana Willson and I had the privilege of joining the dovetail solutions team as their summer intern. This experience has been an incredible journey full of celebrations, challenges and firsts for me, and I am so grateful that I was able to learn here before I enter the public relations world after college.
In the spirit of reflection, I wanted to look back on this summer and share my key takeaways that shaped my experience and my mindset. dovetail has set me up for success and allowed me to learn so much, so I wanted to share my words of advice for those who might be in my position in years to come.
Ask as many questions as possible
What stood out to me immediately was how the team recognized me as a learner and in turn, went above and beyond to give me opportunities to learn. Everyone understood that I was new to this environment and this nature of work, and ensured that I always had space to lean on them. Asking questions about this industry, client work, how to approach situations and everyone’s personal experiences gave me a much wider perspective on how this field operates and what I need to understand for my career. I quickly learned that while I was in a position meant to teach me, I needed to utilize my curiosity and learn as much as I can from the professionals around me.
At a firm like dovetail, there are so many different moving parts that can be difficult to keep up with. Coming into this internship, I worked with client-partners in the finance, legal and real estate industries, among many others, that I knew very little about. The reality is, no matter how many years of experience someone may have, the PR industry is complex and constantly evolving so there are always questions to be asked. As an intern, curiosity is not seen as a weakness, but rather a passion for the work and a willingness to learn.
Push yourself to have confidence (and to be wrong)
I am not a person who is naturally confident in my work, especially in an environment I don’t fully understand. I tend to feel hesitant about taking on work that is high profile or high impact, as I fear being the reason for a mistake. However, as the only intern at the firm this summer, I was entrusted to write very meaningful press releases, media alerts and other deliverables which, at first, felt daunting. But I soon realized that the feedback I was receiving from the team was just as valuable as the work itself, as I was able to pinpoint and understand exactly where I needed to grow. There is no better way to learn than doing it firsthand and I was in the best position to make mistakes and learn from them.
Coincidentally, my first and last assignments this summer were both press releases. I had the chance to compare and reflect on the two of them and how much my feedback had changed between. While I had felt discontent with my first release, I wrote the second one with a sense of ease that I hadn’t felt in a big project yet. Had I not dove head-first into those first projects that I felt hesitant about, I would not have grown as both a writer and a contributor within the team.
Listen and learn from those around you
The unique opportunity that an internship provides is that you have the ability to observe the experts of your field in their day-to-day activities. A large portion of an internship is not just about the work you are doing, but also growing to understand the environment of a firm, how every moving part operates and how different client-matters are approached. Everyone on the dovetail team was so unique in their language and approach with the client-partners they worked with, so there was a lot to learn from observing everyone and their strategy when it comes to communication.
It was valuable for me to listen intently on calls and meetings, read through emails with an eye for language and even analyze past press releases and proposals. There are so many resources and examples of incredible work available to you as an intern, and utilizing my place in this environment has helped me note the qualities and behaviors that I want to bring into my career.
Lessons I’ll carry forward
As I conclude my internship, I’ve come to understand that I still have plenty of learning to do, but I have learned so much about myself and the industry I will be entering after graduation. I have had the honor to be part of a collaborative and intuitive firm where I was given opportunities and challenges that furthered my growth immensely.
Throughout these three months, the most impactful element of dovetail was the unwavering trust and support that I felt from everyone on the team, even as an intern. It was their confidence in me that was the foundation for my confidence in myself, and their willingness to mentor me that allowed me to grow as a newcomer to this field. I am so grateful to have learned from such a skilled and multifaceted team, and I will take the lessons I’ve learned with me to the next journey in my career.
I am excited to take everything I have learned at dovetail with me and to see what lies ahead!
Best regards,
Juliana Willson