Intern Diary: Josie
Back in Summer 2020 I discovered JMG on Instagram and naturally, I did what every young girl does and stalked their Instagram page. It led me to see all of the clients JMG works with as well as discover CEO Jenna Guarneri. I quickly realized that this is where I saw myself working, so I shot my shot and sent JMG a direct message about applying. Learning that I could apply online, I submitted an inquiry and crossed my fingers hoping I could work for an award-winning firm in NYC.
Fast forward to Spring 2021 when I found out I had been offered the PR intern position. The feeling was unreal and I thought to myself “A PR firm that I have had my eyes on for months wants ME to work for them” at least 100 times a day. But shortly after, the nerves started to settle in. Everyone can make themselves look impressive, cool, and fun on Instagram, so what if my stalking on Instagram wasn’t a true representation of who JMG is? What if my classes didn’t prepare me and I make a fool of myself at the firm? And what if being virtual negatively affects my learning experience?
Needless to say, all of my worries were out the door on my first day at the firm. Immediately, my account executive, Sara, and CEO, Jenna, made me feel welcome, despite the obstacles of working virtually. These relationships (along with others) blossomed over the course of the summer and remain a key factor as to why my experience at JMG was so great. The people got to know you beyond surface level and cared about your life outside of work because the connections were true and genuine. Oh, and working closely with the CEO as an intern was definitely an added bonus!
In addition to the people, the amount of hands-on experience I got was unreal and exceeded my expectations. While I had some previous PR knowledge from school clubs and classes, the best way to learn is through doing. The opportunity to write and send pitches, curate media lists, create press summaries, find potential brand partnerships for clients, and more allowed me to learn more about PR in 3 months than I ever have in school! I imagined as an intern I would be doing mindless, pointless tasks, but at JMG that was far from true. Real life experience and glimpses into the PR world led me to realize that I want to work in PR once graduating.
The internship truly flew by and the realization that it has come to an end is upsetting. However, reflecting on the past months has made me appreciate this opportunity and all that it has brought to me. The knowledge and experience will stay with me for years to come, and I know the genuine relationships will continue on as well. From sip the teas to end of the day meetings, I will miss JMG and all it offered me. Despite this internship being virtual, I gained valuable real-life experience that I am extremely grateful for.
