PR Start by Nick Lucido
Big City vs. Local Internships
Last week, I was on a panel with some fellow students in the College of Communication Arts & Sciences at Michigan State University. The topic started off on paid vs. unpaid internships, but it spun off in several directions, one of those being the difference between big city and local internships.
Personally, I’ve done both. I interned at both a small and mid-size agency during the summers of 2007 and 2008 respectively, and last summer I ended up at a huge global agency in their Chicago co-headquarters. Between these internships, I was able to work on all sorts of clients, ranging from volunteer nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies. I can’t say which internship was the “best,” but each did provide me with very different opportunities for growth.
So, is there an easy answer as to where you should be looking for internships? Are big city internships better than local internships? The way I see it, there isn’t an easy answer to this question. It all boils down to what you are looking for. While there are many professional opportunities in larger cities, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to have a great experience in your internship. It’s easy to be attracted to the bright lights and seemingly endless opportunities of Chicago and New York, but you have to be realistic when you’re looking for a job.
When I was searching for internships around this time last year, I was looking for not only a great professional opportunity, but I wanted to be part of a new town, meet new people and see new sights. I was looking for the complete package and to me, I found that in Chicago. Some people might find it in New York. Some might find it in Lansing, Mich. The point is to really have an understanding of what you’re looking for.
When looking for the big city job, it’s really important to consider the finances. Especially in the public relations field, many internships are unpaid, even though they are in a city. My personal opinion is that from a financial standpoint, it’s not worth it to spend a summer in a big city, pay more than $1,000 per month in living expenses and be broke the entire time to work for free. I’m sure there are many exceptions and there are some opportunities that are probably worth it. However, unless you have the financial means to drop thousands in one summer, I don’t recommend it. No matter what you choose, Mint will help you keep your budget under control.
I’m going to highlight the pros and cons I used in my decision when I was searching for internships in the big city setting:
Pros:
- New opportunity to meet new people and try out a new lifestyle
- Work for a global agency with clients across the world
- Experience a new setting and learn many new things
- Easy to network with industry leaders and pioneers
- Young professional groups are large and diverse; most are welcoming to students
Cons:
- Cost of living is much higher
- End up not making any significant cash after the summer
- Far away from friends and family
- Not able to bring my car — must rely on public transportation for everything (can be a pro, too)
All in all, I found my experience in Chicago to be completely worthwhile. I didn’t come out of the summer with a lot of money, but the experiences I gained, both personally and professionally, were definitely worth it. If you are considering a summer in a big city, make sure to look for those opportunities and to take everything under consideration.
What do you look for in an internship? Have you found differences between internships locally and in the big city? What’s your take?
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View Comments so far ...
Great post, Nick!
I’ve been an intern at a large agency in Columbus, Ohio, and an intern at a small agency in Midland, Mich.
It really depends on your personal goals. While I loved living in the Columbus area during the summer, I discovered that the traffic wasn’t as bad as I thought and living in a city was fun (coming from a girl who grew up in the country).
Working at a large agency is also so much different than a small one. At the large agency, there are cool clients, big meetings and a lot of networking.
But, I’ve had a different work experience at the small agency. There are less people, so I get to know everyone in the office much better. The meetings are laid back and I feel very comfortable in them. Since it’s a small agency, I get to work on a few projects that I wouldn’t have at a large agency. I have more of a hand in them since they have less staff to work on things.
If you have the opportunity, do an internship in a city to see if you like it. The best part: If you don’t like it, it’s just an internship and you can go home after it.
I’m still torn because I like both large and small agencies.
Comment on November 17, 2009 07:49 amRachel–
I’m right there with you. The atmosphere and work is so different in each setting that it’s hard to decide what the best experience is. No matter what, the different experiences will help you be more well rounded and a better professional in the long run. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Comment on November 17, 2009 07:57 amGreat topic! I have worked in PR at both the local level here in Lansing, and in a big city when I spent the summer in London. There are definitely pros and cons to both, but I think it comes down to what a student is looking for both personally and professionally.
Everyone has glamorous views of the big city. However, I’ve found that in addition to the glitz and the glam, major cities like New York or London also have their downfalls. A huge part of this is the financial aspect, as you mentioned. My time in London helped me to really grow personally, as I had to become more self-sufficient with public transit, using maps just to find a grocery store and not knowing anyone. Not to mention adjusting to a new culture. This is not an experience I have had working on a more local level.
Professionally, I see the difference mainly being the clients that you work with. My PR experience in Michigan has mainly been for local nonprofits and other local clients. My PR experience in London involved working with international film festivals and major clients throughout Europe. Both are amazing experiences in my opinion to help grow professionally. In a smaller city (and with smaller agencies), I’ve found you get to work more closely with clients, which can be very insightful. In a bigger city (and with bigger agencies) I’ve found the work to be less one-on-one with clients, but it is still amazing to be able to work on nationwide or even international campaigns.
Overall, I think there is a give and take with both types of internships. You can take a lot away from both!
Comment on November 17, 2009 09:57 amThanks for sharing your experience, Melissa. I like that you pointed out the different client experiences, because I’ve witnessed the same thing. However, working with clients directly should be a long term goal in a big agency.
Comment on November 17, 2009 10:09 amNick. VERY true. It is so important to know what you want out of an internship (or a job for that matter). Know what’s important to you location, experience, hands on work, what you will be able to do to build your portfolio, etc… and not only that but knowing what of these things is the biggest priority. Will you sacrafice the big city for a fantastic opportunity in a smaller town?? This is a great post. Also – I love that you enjoyed Chicago, it’s a great city that I wish I could spend more time in! Lucky you!!
Comment on November 18, 2009 02:43 pmGreat, great post, Nick. Since I’m graduation this Spring, I’ve been thinking a lot about this subject and the different options that are available to me. I’ve had two wonderful local internships in Grand Rapids and learned countless skills. However, I would like to broaden my experiences and open it up to big cities. I have heard many pros and cons on interning in a big city, but I’m very curious and want to experience it on my own. Chicago is on the top of my list and it sounds like you really enjoyed your experience at Edelman. Thank you for the great input!
Comment on November 19, 2009 10:48 amTaylor, you bring up an interesting point. Learning what you really want and having a realistic expectation of that is important. Not every city job is a great experience, so taking the right approach is important. Thanks for adding your thoughts!
Comment on November 19, 2009 10:12 pmI think that’s the beauty of internships — you have a trial run to see if you like the city. A lot of people have advice but it’s up to you to find out for your own. Good luck!
Comment on November 19, 2009 10:13 pm