No, the Turner staff will not make you run to the near-by Starbucks and buy everyone coffee, but here are a few ways to see Turner PR from the interns’ eyes:

1. Every other Wednesday, come rain or come shine, the Mountain Man sales rep will enter with his delicious looking cart of goodies. Yes, the first four or five times you may feel pressured to buy because of the chocolate candy he slips you. BUT, take heart, the rest of the office rarely partakes. However, you can probably get on Efrem’s good side if you check to see if Mr. Salesman has gummy worms on him (it’s a guarantee that Ef will buy).

2. You find out how hard it really is to order a magazine when you start to call some of the trade publications where clients are featured. You will get the same voicemail day after day, and I’m convinced that there is an email address somewhere containing 100’s of emails from me asking for a certain publication. Then the fun comes in trying to find your client in the magazine.

3. Get ready for a blast from the past everyday because Turner rocks 80s and 90s music, which I happen to love despite only being alive for one year in the 80s. I now find myself humming “Tears for Fears” and scribbling down old songs to download when I get home.

4. There will be deliveries from Zaidy’s Deli and a delicious smelling Chinese place, 101 Asian Fusion, that will  leave you with a grumbling stomach. There is not a single thing in your brought-from-home lunch that looks or smell appetizing after this food arrives.

5. It’s of the utmost importance to make friends with the other interns because while your computer is taking its time loading you will need someone to share a laugh.

6. There is a cupcake shop called Big Fat Cupcake a few blocks away. The office will order from there when it is someone’s birthday. The cupcakes are delicious, there isn’t a single flavor you can go wrong with but beware, you will need to abandon any sort of diet in order to eat it.

7. Turner’s clients are so outrageously cool. I find myself needing a vacation every single day when I look at pictures or read about the clients. Mexican beaches, South American hiking and luxury spas… yes please!

The bar has been raised and the qualification standards to land an intern gig are much higher than before.  Fear no more! Having been one of the many on a hunt for an internship in the past, I know what it’s like. However, I’m now in a position to hire them, so with help from the TPR gang, I have come up with 5 Ways To Rock a PR Internship Interview.

If you take these helpful hints seriously, you will be one step ahead of the list of intern candidates.

1. Do your homework. Don’t just look at our website for client lists; every other interview candidate will do that. Try looking for articles we may have placed for our clients, or check LinkedIn and Twitter for information about the TPR team. The more you know walking in, the more you will impress us. Also, do your homework on industry trends. Turner PR Denver focuses on the luxury travel and hospitality industries – read recent issues of Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Hotels – and know what’s hot and relevant in the industry now.
2. Proofread your resume, once, twice, a dozen times. PR is all about communication, so your resume is a direct reflection of your writing skill and attention to detail. Check your spelling, grammar and formatting and have three other people check it. Even one error is a red flag!
3. Dress to impress.  Don’t get us wrong – fashion creativity is awesome. But if you have anything questionable on – change.  As a PR professional, you are the face of your clients, so professionalism is always the most important look to convey.
4. Come prepared and be confident. If you aren’t confident in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to be? We want interns who are proactive and willing to bring ideas to the table. Be sure to convey this in your interview. Don’t be too rehearsed, but be ready to answer expected questions.
5. Follow up. Make yourself stand out from the crowd. Take the extra step to follow up with us after the interview. Send an email, drop a letter in the mail or stop by the office to personally give us a thank you note. Make us remember you!

If you’re looking to get your career started, consider doing so with Team Turner. Our Denver office will be hiring Spring 2010 interns soon, so let us know if you’re interested. Click here for details!