My internship experience with NHLA so far has been extremely beneficial to my future career in PR. I have been extremely involved with the numerous publications that NHLA distributes, including the nationally circulated magazine Hardwood Matters; the international publication International Matters; and the annually published Buyer’s Guide, which lists all of NHLA’s national and international members and information about the company (whether they are a sawmill, concentration yard or distribution yard, if they import and/or export hardwood, if they supply rough or kiln dried lumber, etc.) I have been assigned the tasks of copywriting and proofreading everything before publication, and I have also researched material in the NHLA museum and public library records to find pictures and information to go in the magazines and online media. I recently wrote the two official press releases for both the regular and Progressive Program Inspection School graduations. The director also assigned me the task of researching vendors and supply companies to get price quotes for the museum remodel, which will take place this year. This includes everything from lighting, glass for the display cases, frames and mountings for the paintings and photographs, etc. That has been fun and exciting to be able to use more of my creative side and eventually see things come to life. I attended the Bartlett High School Career Day and had to man the NHLA booth where I essentially gave the students an “elevator pitch” about why the Inspection School could be a viable option for those who cannot attend or choose not to attend a traditional 4 year college. I have had some challenges, no job is perfect, but the bumps in the road have been extremely minute and miniscule in the grand scheme of things. The real world is very different than college life, and you have to learn how to work well with others in a professional setting where everyone has different opinions and ideas. People talk and comments get misconstrued very easily. However, I love the people I work with and I love that it is a small workplace with just a handful of employees at the headquarters. I still do the normal office work of making phone calls and organizing Excel sheets, but I have been given much more responsibility because the directors said they feel as if I am a real and true employee, not just an intern. It feels good to know that I am doing a good job and actually successfully performing important tasks for such a large organization.
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Erin Willis, Ph.D.Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis. Loves news. Loves food. Loves Pugs. And now, loves Memphis basketball. Go Tigers, Gooooo! Archives
April 2015
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