Finding the right internship
After finishing all the theoretical parts of my Communication Science bachelor I finally felt ready to step into the work field. I really liked my studies but couldn’t figure out what career path I wanted to take. I decided to go for media and PR because the research topics concerning media and attention choices interested me the most during my studies.
I did interviews at two different media companies, one of them being Disney Benelux. After having great interviews, both of them let me know they would like me to fill the position. Still, something didn’t quite feel right. I was desperately looking for something more purposeful, small, and a place where I can make a positive impact on people. Although media companies can achieve this, and I do get the appeal to the field, I wanted to feel more socially responsible for something.
This was when I stumbled upon a vacancy from ‘Gardeners’. A creative agency that wants to make a positive impact on the world while creating great PR for sustainable brands. They are located in the Vondelchurch which is a breathtaking decor for such an ambitious company. They work with brands like Dopper, Polestar and Biodermal but also foundations such as Amnesty International and KLABU. They work for clients that want to create more brand awareness and sales, but most importantly want to make good things grow while doing so. I arranged an interview with them on the same day and explained to them why I love what they do and why I wanted to be a part of the ride.
Gardeners asked me for the PR-intern position and – although some people thought I was crazy for refusing offers from great companies – I immediately said yes. I am now 4 months into my internship with only one more month to go.
A different path
I love working at Gardeners, I have learned a lot in the past months. I learned about company value, branding and missions; I learned about PR, influencers, articles and making your mark; but most of all I’ve learned about myself and what I want to do and achieve in my career and what I need more or less of in a workplace.
I like communication, but most of all I like being social, attentive to someone’s needs, presenting my knowledge & findings and making an impact. This is why I decided to do my Masters in Education for Primary Schools starting in September.
I am so thankful for this internship, the people I met on the way and the things I’ve learned about the work field. I might return to PR someday, who knows what the future brings. For now, Wednesday I start supporting teachers in my first primary school class. And I couldn’t be more excited!
My takeaway for you
See this internship as a learning opportunity for your path in life. You are not stuck in one discipline. If you enjoy going to the internship but don’t feel like this is the career that fits, that’s okay too! Be open to learning new things and accepting things you don’t like about a career/workplace/way of working. These are all teaching moments for the future. And if it happens that your major is very different from the career you end up in, there is so much knowledge you can apply in different ways.