Tag: internship

From Broadcast to Bloodworth Street

Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, The Clairemont Team,

The past few months have been busy as I kicked off both my junior year at NC State and my communications internship at Clairemont Communications. I came to Clairemont from a summer internship in sports broadcasting where, ultimately, I learned the performance of TV broadcasting wasn’t for me. I entered the fall season with a determined pursuit to engage in the PR world. While going from producing news to pitching news may seem like a natural transition, the two aren’t as related as they seem! But, here are three reasons I took the leap:

STORYTELLING

Since I can remember, I’ve admired the artful combination of words that create a story and captivate audiences. In PR, producing well-written content is always the goal, and is strategically utilized to not just capture the attention – but also the influence – of an audience. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

In these tech savvy times, social media has made its mark as the most commonly used medium to communicate. On a variety of social media platforms, PR pros can craft a narrative to the public, pitch media and influencers and, most importantly, respond to reactions in real time for clients! 

DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS

It may sound cliché, but this skill is the foundation for much of my professional future. In this field, not only do I get to build relationships with my team and my clients but I connect with the public and of course, media. As a general lover of people, I feel I’m in my natural element getting to communicate with a variety of individuals.

While becoming a PR professional may be my focus, it’s not my only passion! Here are some fun personal facts!

  1. I was a cheerleader growing up, but my thing was tumbling. I spent more than three days each week in the gym practicing and perfecting flips. If you asked me to do a backflip now, my answer will always be, “I’m retired.”
  2. I’m an older sister. My sister Abigail is three years my junior, and my best friend. Since we’ve grown older, it’s common for people to assume we’re twins (see picture for proof)! 
  3. You’ve made it this far, here’s three facts in one because I can’t choose! Sports is my love language (NC State Wolfpack, Carolina Panthers and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team), coffee runs through my veins (preferably iced and vanilla) and I can’t go a day without spending time with Jesus! 

Check out my first blog at Clairemont!

By Haylee Hicks, Clairemont Intern and junior at North Carolina State University.

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The Beauty of Life’s Uncertainties

Clairemont InternBlog, Professional Development, The Clairemont Team, , , , ,

Chaos Theory and the Importance of the Process

I graduated from college last month — a phrase which still feels weird to say. For the first time in my life, I’m not a student, and this resulting identity crisis has stirred up a lot of self-reflection. In the spirit of this period of transition, I think it’s fitting to write about the beauty of life’s uncertainties as I look toward my own future.

The traditional way of thinking touts a linear career path. You major in finance; you become an accountant. However, this linear approach does not work in the 21st century, where most people have multiple careers, and the majority of students do not end up in careers related to their majors. Chaos theory — which states that a path to a career is influenced by all sorts of variables like the job market, network, talent, and so on — fits much better. According to Katharine Brooks in You Majored in What?, chaos theory allows for change and the unexpected. It takes into account one’s diverse interests and range of knowledge in order to leverage how the job search actually functions today. The chaos theory encourages one to explore: try new ideas and mindfully take advantage of new opportunities.

I find this chaos theory comforting, because it takes the pressure off of the idea that I, at 21 years old, need to know exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. Similarly, in the book Designing Your Life, the authors say it is okay if it takes 10 or 30 or 50 years to figure out what you want to do, because life is really about the process. It is an experience, and the fun comes from creating and enjoying those experiences.

Like this Lyonnaise clock, there is beauty in complexity, and the answers don’t always have to be straightforward.

Taking Risks

I love David Sedaris, and earlier this year I was watching an interview of him on Stephen Colbert. He was talking about the commencement speech he would give at Oberlin college, and he said something that really stuck with me. He encouraged graduates to forget their fallback plan, because it can tempt people away from going after their passions. “If you find something to fall back on you’re going to fall back … at 22 you’re built for poverty and rejection. In part because you’re good looking.” This resonated with me (and I don’t just mean the good looking part!). After all, I’m young. Why do I have to do the safe, stable, expected thing? I have never before been better positioned to take a risk. 

There is nothing wrong with choosing the more secure path. I will probably choose that path at some point in the near future. However, I do not want to choose stability simply because I’m afraid to fail at another dream. Right now I want to travel and write about my experiences, so I’m making that dream happen.

Embracing Uncertainties

I knew I wanted to travel post-grad and that I needed funding. So, after months and months of research I finally decided to be an au pair in France. I will live with a really sweet family in Lyon, have plenty of time to travel, (hopefully) become fluent in French, figure out my next step and try my hand at travel writing. I am beyond excited, but sometimes I get scared and filled with self-doubt when I think about things like student loans and career viability. But then I just have to take a deep breath and remember to embrace the chaos of it all and the fun of the experiences. I find myself thinking back on a piece of wisdom that my inspirational travel writing professor imparted. She said that a beautiful life is about having as many different, enriching experiences as possible; she said we never know how much time we have left so we have to do what we want when we can; she said that the road is always waiting.

So I’ve decided to take to the road and see what I find there.

Lyon at dusk — who knows that other golden, glowing experiences await me there?

Written by Clairemont intern Piper Anderson, a recent graduate of UNC.

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The Latest Adventure For Our New Intern

Clairemont InternBlog, The Clairemont Team, Travel, , , , ,

More than anything, I’m a writer. I love the beautiful ways words come together to convey emotion and ideas. This love for writing shaped my time at UNC-Chapel Hill, where I recently graduated with a degree in English and minors in public relations and creative writing. In fact, public relations’ capacity for storytelling is what initially drew me to this field. Crafting a narrative across all types of content is so important for any brand, whether through blog posts, witty social media captions or succinct press releases. PR affords me the platform to put my skills in writing to professional use. It also ensures variety, because every day is a new challenge with new tasks to tackle. I’m so excited to learn more about the PR industry during my time at Clairemont Communications, where I know that the close-knit environment will offer many opportunities to exercise my creativity and take ownership of projects.

My curiosity and eagerness to learn new things has made travel another passion of mine. During my junior year of college, I studied abroad for four months in Reims, France, which is a small city in the Champagne region. During my time there, I traveled to seven different countries, improved my French, grew more independent, and— perhaps most importantly— became a Champagne snob! I’ve always been taken with France’s beautiful language and laidback culture, so having the chance to live there and try an endless number of pastries was beyond fabulous.

In my last semester at UNC, I took a travel writing class that inspired me to seek adventure and discover new places. So, although it may be unconventional, at the end of the summer I will move to Lyon, France for a year to be an au pair. This experience will not only be personally enriching but also professionally beneficial as I will gain skills in leadership, cross-cultural communication and conversational French. It also doesn’t hurt that Lyon is the food capital of France, and I am a self-professed foodie! As I am interested in PR, content creation and freelance journalism, I hope to merge my skills in creativity and writing with my love for travel in a future career.

Fun Facts:

  • I make a mean cheese board and an even meaner lemon pie.
  • I adore Shakespeare, and (to my friends’ horror) have been known to quote passages of Macbeth at random. If I’m feeling really spunky I’ll even dust off my Chaucerian Middle English!
  • I am a California girl and a Carolina girl because I grew up on both coasts.
  • Dogs, shoes and tacos are a sure-fire way to my heart.
  • If I see a book sale, there is no force in the world that can stop me from browsing.

If your inner wanderlust has been calling to you as well, check out this post about the curiosity-sparking, mind-opening benefits of exploration!

Written by Clairemont intern Piper Anderson, a recent graduate of UNC.

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New Kid on The Block

Clairemont InternBlog, PR People, The Clairemont Team, , , ,

When asked to write my first blog post for Clairemont, I was prompted to consider why I chose to do an internship in public relations. What made me want to be a part of Clairemont?  I reflected on this question for a while. “Why are you here?” is a pretty daunting question for anyone, including a 21-year old college student, to answer on a Monday morning. I hadn’t decided what a wanted for lunch yet, let alone my future! It took more than a few trips to the Clairemont coffee machine to really begin to formulate how I was going to respond to such a question. In the end, I think I found my answer:

I’m doing it for the story.

Since I’m now in the summer before my senior year, I’m starting to get the ever-pressing question “What do you want to do after college?” Those questions typically come right after I tell them I’m a double major in history and communication, both of which don’t traditionally inspire a particularly high level of post-college-employment confidence. If I had to pick a job, any job in the world, it would be something that uses my passion for telling stories. To that end, I fully hope and expect that my time here at Clairemont will allow me to take my passion for writing and telling stories and turn it into more than just a passion. I am truly excited for this upcoming summer, and I cannot wait to help tell stories and create some new ones as well!

In the meantime, you should check out another blog post Clairemont has published all about compelling stories. Check it out!

Written by Intern Will Hornbeck, a rising senior at Wake Forest University

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Meet Binh, Clairemont Intern

Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, The Clairemont Team, , , , , , ,

Who’s Binh?

When you search the name “Binh,” you’ll find, when translated from Vietnamese, that it means peaceful. Growing up, I always strived to emulate the meaning of my name. I’ve learned to live simply, so that others around me can simply live — creating a peaceful environment to work and play.

Once upon a time…

I was born in the Land of Enchantment of Albuquerque, New Mexico. I grew up with one entertaining older brother and one snazzy older sister, leaving me to be the baby of the bunch. Because my family is from Vietnam, I know three languages – English, Vietnamese and French.

In a farm far, far away…

Growing up, I participated in any and every activity that I could. I found my passion in acting, singing, gymnastics, dancing, piano and so much more! At age 10, I moved to the Beautiful State of Alabama, where my dad introduced me to the lifestyle of his dreams on a farm. Going into high school, I made many friendships that are still close to my heart.

By senior year of high school, after the process of applying to colleges, I made my final decision to attend Auburn University where I am studying Public Relations.

When they say college is the best four years of your life, they weren’t lying. Auburn has taught me so much, including the importance of hard work, determination and a kind and caring heart. College has challenged me to live outside of my comfort zone and to embrace the unknown.

Now, I have a heart that yearns for traveling. I once took a spontaneous trip to Chicago for a week with no prior plans or itinerary.

In college, I found some new passions in social media, blogging, fashion and traveling. I became a lover of big cities, all things pink, pineapples and kale. I also discovered that I am an ENFP to a T.

My work ethic throughout college has grown. I have become a mature and diligent young woman, who is determined to do her best in everything she sets out to do. However, coming to the end of college, I am expected to know exactly what I am supposed to do with my life. Somewhere along the process of figuring that out, I ended up at Clairemont Communications in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Now, why Raleigh, North Carolina? How in the world did I go from New Mexico to Alabama to North Carolina? And how was I able to land an internship with Clairemont Communications miles away from my home state? Well, the answer is simple and can be summed up with these four words: determination, persistence, connection and relationship.

It may seem like a bold move for me to come to Raleigh, a city I’ve never visited, just for a couple months; however, 18-year-old Binh was not afraid to make that first bold move.

I had the courage to introduce myself to Dana Phelps Hughens, CEO of Clairemont Communications, when I was home in Huntsville, Alabama, at a local Starbucks. Little did I know that she was the CEO, but I was adamant on keeping in contact with her throughout my college career in hopes for a future opportunity with her agency.

I was determined and persistent when it came to reaching out to her because I wanted to maintain that connection and relationship. If there is anything I learned about PR, it is to make as many connections with people as possible and then build those connections into long-lasting relationships.

With that in mind, I did my best to keep Dana updated with my schooling and experiences. Close to the end of my junior year of college, I reached back out to her regarding an internship opportunity. The rest is history.

Now, here I am in the capital of North Carolina, the City of Oaks. I’ve learned that it is good to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Coming to Raleigh without knowing anything or what will happen will definitely be an adventure that I’ll hold close to my heart. As I continue my journey here at Clairemont Communications, I will strive to make the world a better and more peaceful place.

Written by Binh Nguyen, rising senior at Auburn University.

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