Once you’ve decided on a career in public relations, what’s next? Well, there are still many different industries and areas to choose from within the field. For instance, do you want to work for a nonprofit? A government organization? How about a fortune 500 company?
At RLF, we offer interns an inside look at a full-service, strategic communications agency where we work in a variety of industries with companies both large and small. And by exposing students to different aspects of agency life, we can help them narrow down a specific career path based on their interests and goals.
This spring, we are excited to welcome back fall intern Victoria Dolan, as well as introduce three new interns to the team: Kara Damiano, Allie Andrews and Alexandra Obradovich. Our first spotlight is on Kara.
Kara Damiano
I’m a senior at Elon University majoring in strategic communications with minors in business administration and leadership studies. I’m originally from North Reading, Mass., which is just 20 miles north of Boston. My internship and extracurricular activities at Elon keep me very busy, but when I have free time I enjoy being active and traveling with friends and family.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
If I could travel anywhere in the world it would be back to Italy. I studied abroad in Florence the first semester of my junior year and absolutely fell in love. Since the day I was born, I was immersed in Italian culture. My parents were born in Italy and raised my sisters and me with rich family values. It was incredible to travel back to the country that has played such a big role in my character, and experience the joyful, welcoming way of life there. Needless to say the food there was delicious too… I’ve been craving it since the moment I left!
Do you have any hidden talents?
People wouldn’t expect it, but I can eat a lot in one sitting. One time I finished a one-pound burger in less than 15 minutes!
What activities or organizations are you involved in?
I absolutely hate being bored and always try to get involved in as much as possible. At Elon, I am an account executive for Live Oak Communications (Elon’s student-run PR agency), a university guide for the Admissions Office, the historian reporter and recruitment chair of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America), and I am also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. This semester, I will be spending my time choreographing a Greek Week Dance for Zeta Tau Alpha, which is a five-minute production featuring more than 50 girls and performed in front of our peers!
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston! As a girl who spent more than 15 hours a week in dance classes growing up, I have a passion for dancing. When “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” comes on, people can’t help but dance to it! It is one of those songs that can instantly make you be happy and want to have fun.
What advice would you give someone looking for a PR internship?
Never underestimate the power of networking. Almost every opportunity I have had in the industry, I obtained by reaching out to people I had mutual connections with. Contacting people that work at companies you are interested in prior to applying there is a great way to make yourself stand out from other applicants. Even if the conversation doesn’t lead to an internship, it’s still great interview practice!
Follow Kara online at @KaraDamiano or karadamiano.wordpress.com.
To apply for an internship at RLF, please send cover letters, resumes and writing samples to interns@rlfcommunications.com.