Gaining experience in marketing and PR

A number of large companies and agencies advertise paid summer internships, which may lead to a graduate position for successful recruits. Some employers also offer open days, taster experiences, and short introductory courses to gain work experience.

The examples of large companies and agencies offering and advertising internships in the sector, listed below, will give you an idea of the sorts of opportunities that may be available. You'll need to do thorough research to identify further specific opportunities.

• Barclays
• Tesco
• Unilever
• IBM
• FleishmannHillard Fishburn – one of the UK’s top ten communication specialists agency. Offers ad hoc internship opportunities throughout the year which can provide a grounding for anyone wanting to work in public relations, public affairs, and social and digital communications.
• Hotwire Global – a communications agency advertising internship opportunities in the sector.
• Inspiring Interns – offers listings of internships in the sector, particularly in the South of England.
• Step Recruitment - provider of paid student internships and placements.

Find out more about internships

Placements are a great way to gain substantial experience, help you to build contacts and gain an understanding of an organisation. 

On some degrees, work placements are part of the programme, whilst on others you can choose to complete a placement as one of your modules. 

To learn more about completing a placement, you can contact the Placements team in the Careers and Employability Service. 

Learn more about completing a placement year

It is also well worth considering the voluntary sector for work experience. Think broadly about the sort of volunteering role that might provide the opportunity to develop transferable skills. Perhaps focus initially on voluntary organisations offering roles in event management, marketing or publicity, but don’t dismiss volunteering roles that might give you the chance to use and demonstrate relevant skills, for example, fundraising opportunities within third-sector organisations offer the chance to develop key transferable skills, such as the ability to build and maintain relationships, the capability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, strong project management skills, and a proactive attitude.

Volunteering in a marketing or communications role within the Students’ Union, or a University society or club, for example as the Publicity Officer, Media Secretary, Marketing Manager, or Events Volunteer will similarly enable you to strengthen those all-important key transferable skills.

Our Volunteering Bank provides local opportunities to undertake alongside your studies, listing roles such as:

• Social Media Coordinator Volunteer with Loaves of Love

• Marketing Assistant Volunteer with the YOU Trust

• Marketing and Communications Volunteer with the Hampshire History Trust

• Collaborative Social Media Volunteer with the Endometriosis Trust

• Digital Marketing Volunteer with the Gosport Repair Cafe

Learn more about our Volunteering Team

Digital media and technology is key in this sector for achieving marketing and PR goals, therefore, a strong understanding and use of different forms of social media and web technologies is desirable for someone wanting to work in the sector. This is an area where it’s possible to create your own experience; check out the below for some ideas to get you started! 

Develop your own website

Someone who has set up their own website and developed an understanding of some of the tools of the trade such, as SEO (search engine optimisation), web analytics and content management systems, will have an advantage over those who have not – graduate recruiters prize evidence of students using their initiative to prepare for their chosen career. Many of the relevant tools are available online and you can learn them for free, for example Facebook Media, Social Media Examiner, Neil Patel, and Razor Spire. What is more, in creating your own website you can demonstrate your creativity through your written and copywriting skills.

Be active online

Producing your own blog, getting involved in podcasts, and joining in discussion groups on LinkedIn, all serve to demonstrate your skills in communication and digital technology.

Just remember, whatever you are doing online, keep it up to date and professional – it’s important to control your online presence – you want to ensure you are presenting yourself to the outside world, and particularly the business world, as you would wish to be seen.