When I signed the offer letter to join Ceisler Media’s team as an intern for the spring 2023 semester, I realized this opportunity would distinguish itself from all my prior in experiences in one simple yet impactful way: it would be my first internship with an in-office component.
I was just a freshman in college when COVID-19 first broke out, quarantine not only defined a portion of my college experience, it transformed the workforce as we know it.
My limited knowledge of what being an intern is like — which mainly manifested in the form of Hollywood depictions of internships – would soon become warped, as for that moment in time, it was simply unsafe for a company to gather in person.
Working remotely
I would go on to complete two entirely remote internships and one in-person on-campus job. Despite some initial hardship with the lack of socialization and endless screen time that accompany remote interning, it overall felt normal, since I had never experienced anything otherwise.
Even after adapting to the remote setting, I knew I still strived to work in at least a hybrid position before I graduated, as I knew the hybrid setting would be more realistic and overall, personally preferable for a full-time position.
First-day jitters working in person
I was thrilled when I got the internship here at Ceisler Media. But as my start date approached, I felt an undertone of anxiety paired with my anticipation. Working in the office would be second nature for everyone else, yet I would be experiencing it all for the first time.
Change has always been a mix of emotions for me, as it is for most people, because the the element of the unknown is simultaneously intriguing and daunting.
Fortunately for me, I quickly came to realize that the outset of my internship at Ceisler was nothing to worry about.
Starting my professional career in an entirely online platform warped my expectations of what my personal workflow should look like. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get as much done as possible, which oftentimes led to burnout and unnecessary stress.
Having both the luxury of an office to come to and the resource of two designated supervisors, which I surprisingly never had before, made my transition into this new position more natural and comprehensive.
Benefits of working in person
My start day would be the last day where I entered the office with nervous energy. There are so many things I enjoy about getting to come into the office. My morning commute provides my day with structure, and the face-to-face interaction with my colleagues makes the work I do to assist them all the more meaningful.
As a Villanova student, I’ve particularly enjoyed getting to experience Philadelphia more.
Not only has working in the office enriched my experience and improved my quality of work, it has also helped me shape a more productive remote workflow as well.
For example, I’ve learned that I prefer tackling longer, more tedious tasks in the morning when my brain is coming off a full night of rest. I then save more creative tasks for the afternoon, allowing my creative juices to flow before actually getting to the task.
Through using the guidance I’ve received from my supervisors in-person, I’ve learned how to structure my day so that I am optimizing productivity for each task without burning myself out.
I have learned a lot about myself and the public relations industry during my time at CMIA. I have honed my skills and learned ways to strengthen my weaknesses.
Most importantly, I have learned what it means to be a part of a cohesive team, rather than a group of individuals.
I look forward to carrying these lessons forward in my career as I continue to navigate and adapt to different workflows.
Olivia Dunn is a senior at Villanova University, majoring in Communication, with specializations in Journalism, Public Relations & Advertising. Olivia will graduate in May 2023.
