5 words for PR interns to live by

Several interns became full-time staff, and it’s been a great way for coordinator-level people to learn about management.

If you’re a recent grad or someone who’s been lucky enough to land an internship in a PR shop this summer, here are five words to live by:

1. Listen. You don’t know everything (or very much) about PR, because it is a craft best learned by doing. Listen way more than you talk. You’ll get more from your internship experience.

2. Ask. Pose lots of questions. No reasonable human expects an intern to know a ton. A few things I’d want to know: What do the managers read to stay up on this ever-changing industry? What do pros do to keep their basic PR skills—such as writing—sharp? How does an organization manage social media when multiple departments are involved? What techniques work when pitching reporters? And loads more.