Internology.

It’s that time of year again when soon-to-be college grads are sending out resumes for their first job and students are trying to get a leg up on the rest of their peers by seeking internships before they head out to the real world. According to the National Association of College and Employers, 83 percent of college students had some type of internship before they graduated in 2008. So what does this mean? Internships are vital to the learning experience, but now, everyone is doing them.

So how are do you stand out from your competition? Basically, you’ll have to work harder.

I recently attended a seminar where a panel of PR Professionals gave fledgling PR up-and-comers, like me, some tips to stay ahead of the curve. There are the obvious basics to keep in mind: stay on task, ask for more work when you complete a project, ask questions and continue learning. But what else can you do to master the art of Internology?

Be a packaged deal.
Everyone talks about how much the industry is changing and it’s true. Things I’m learning in school, year after year, get pushed aside by new tactics and new business models. With that being said, it is your job to stay in tune and current on everything in the industry. Know as much as you can and dabble in different applications that make you stand out from other people who are only familiar with traditional Public Relations. Teach yourself about Photoshop, video editing, Web design, the latest and greatest in social media and HTML. Stay current on industry trends and new social media tools that are always popping up. The Internet is an infinite resource of new information and just a little knowledge can set you apart.

Move out of your comfort zone.
Not everything you may be given to work on may be the best or the most exciting part of your job. Not every client that you get handed might be the most interesting, but it doesn’t matter. You have the power to get the most out of any project you get. Starting out at the bottom allows you to work up and learning how to do all the grunt work will build you up to be a stronger professional. When you can master something that isn’t the most interesting subject, you will be able to exceed when you call on those same skills for something you are passionate about.

Reach out to other professionals in the industry and build relationships.
There are countless networking opportunities with industry professionals who love meeting new people and are willing to answer questions you may have. Ask around – on Twitter, especially. Let the people you admire know that you respect the industry they are working in and ask them to meet you for coffee sometime for some discussion. I bet they would love to bestow some knowledge upon you.

The most important things to know are the basics of Public Relations.
What you are learning at your current internship or in school is the foundation for everything else. You have to know how to pitch, what tactics and goals are, how to go about the correct steps of writing a release and advisories. Writing will never go away, so most importantly, write well.

Get out there and create your own opportunities by making connections and getting ahead of the game. Step outside of your comfort zone, have a strong base of knowledge and meet new people. You never know, the people you meet now might be the ones who hire you down the road.

I now turn things over to those with a little more experience. What else would you suggest to someone wanting to land an internship or make the most of an entry-level work opportunity? Please share your comments below.