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 Profile
of Ali Derr, Intern, Carnegie Library, 4/07
Photo by Alexis Yakemovic, PPW/Writing Center Publicity Intern
Story by Ali Derr
This past semester,
I interned in the communications department of the Carnegie Library
of Pittsburgh. I originally pursued an internship through the PPW
program because I didn't see any course offerings that I felt would
help me gain professional experience during my final semester at
Pitt. I began the semester hoping to be challenged and to learn
more about writing in the professional world. As the semester comes
to a close, I find myself reflecting on the past few months and
realize that I have learned much more than just professional writing
during my intern experience. I learned a great deal about myself:
the kind of work environment I thrive in and what I want in my ideal
career.
While at the Library, I quickly improved my skills in writing press
releases. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with the graphics
manager to help her write and proofread projects that needed more
writing attention. Additionally, I wrote many small pieces for the
special events manager. Internet blurbs, invitations and event descriptions
are often small writing projects, but very important in the life
of a large, nonprofit organization, such as the Library.
I quickly learned that not everyone in the professional world possesses
clear and concise writing and editing skills. Honing and perfecting
these skills will make you much more valuable to a company or organization.
As I prepare to graduate and begin the next phase of my life, the
single most important skill I feel I learned from my internship
is the ability to accept and apply constructive criticism. Writing
in a professional setting is drastically different from academic
writing. There are many levels of approval that each piece must
successfully pass through before the piece is published or released
to the public. Each level that the piece goes to will receive some
sort of feedback or criticism. Your job as an intern will be to
take that feedback and rework the piece so that it accurately reflects
what your boss or supervisor wants in that particular project. This
skill will serve you well, not only in sharpening your own editing
skills, but also in accepting criticism from future bosses.
A work environment is always bound to have multiple personalities
that create a unique atmosphere. Don't be afraid to become an active
part in the life of your office, but also watch and observe how
different personalities work together to accomplish the task. Being
a team player is crucial to an organization that doesn't have a
large staff. Your work as an intern will be greatly appreciated
and beneficial to the workload of your supervisor and the entire
office. An internship is a great asset to add to your resume, but
it will also help you determine your strengths and weaknesses; likes
and dislikes; and needs and desires in a future career.
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