An internship is a great way to explore the exciting world of the media industry and gain journalistic experience. However, another extremely valuable opportunity is the time you have with your PressPad host! Through them, you could gain a wide range of insight and industry advice from your – something that should be taken advantage of throughout your stay.
Looking for ways to get started? We have created a list of ways for you to make the most out of your PressPad hosting experience below.
Plan ahead of your meetings or professional commitments
It is important to plan ahead of your meetings (if applicable) with your mentor/host and to make sure that you have at least a brief outline of what you wish to discuss. This may include questions you wish to be answered, or topics that you believe they may be able to help you with. It is always helpful to establish how long each meeting will last too, as your mentor may not have a great deal of time, so it is essential to plan your questions accordingly based on your time frame. Planning will enable you to make the most out of the time you have dedicated with your mentor, and will encourage you to stay on track and cover the topics you wish to discuss.
Talk about what you wish to gain from your professional relationship with your host and establish goals from the outset
It is important to establish what you wish to gain from your professional relationship with your mentor/host, such as the skills and areas of expertise you would like to strengthen, from the outset. However, it is crucial that you are mindful when it comes to your own goals and whether they are attainable, as well as what your host can offer.
Each and every one of our PressPad host and guest experiences can be completely different depending on your host’s own experiences and availability and ultimately varies from person to person. This is why having an initial chat ahead of or at the very start of your stay to get to know each other and establishing what it is you are hoping to get out of the relationship and what your host can provide. Your mentor may be able to devote a great amount of time and energy daily to you, or it may be a weekly/less frequent arrangement.
Focus and listen
To make the most out of your meetings and sessions it is important to focus and listen to your mentor. eep track of the career and industry advice provided that you can utilise during your internship, so that you can choose which areas you would like to focus on more in your sessions.
Ask questions
Whether it is industry specific advice, problem-solving, or general industry questions, a good mentoring relationship involves asking plenty of questions, (Sure, your mentor may not have the answer to every question but they will be a listening ear and will usually help and guide you in the right direction.
Tip: Keep track of the questions and answers in a diary, notepad, or phone. This will help you remember what was said and help arrange your scheduled time with your mentor more effectively.
Take on actions after each mentoring meeting/session
A successful mentee takes on actions after each mentoring session in order to apply this knowledge in the workplace effectively and to prepare for the next meeting. By taking on actions which can be achieved through devising an action plan will allow you to ultimately make the most out of each and every opportunity with your mentor and host.
The opportunity to learn from an industry professional is an exciting way to gain experience-based insight on the media industry. We hope that you benefit greatly from the knowledge and skills acquired from your professional relationship with your mentor and host and that this professional relationship will last a lifetime. Even if not, it will still positively shape you professionally, enable you to become a successful journalist, and begin the next chapter of your career.
