An Intern's Perspective

As the intern, it is my responsibility to support the Account Executives to the best of my ability, instilled with the Cognito "can-do" attitude. I arrive at 8:45am, Monday through Friday, and immediately start the day with "In the News"; a sit-in discussion and pull of current market issues and trends from The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and various trades and industry newsletters. While we run through the news, I take notes diligently as my colleagues talk about the significance of the economy and how it can affect our clients. I sit with open ears, awakened by the adept knowledge and advice I retain from the professionals around me, and once a week I get the privilege to present the news and lead the discussion. I use my presentation skills and initiate conversation on prevalent issues in the market today, conscious that this internship teaches me not only the fundamental skills in the office, but also the knowledge that will drive me to make better decisions in today's global economy.

Following the daily news session, I clip and summarize each relevant article and send the UK news stories to all the Cognito offices. I also record the publications we receive each day, notifying my colleagues what's in, as well as updating the databases so that we have an accurate account of our clients and the journalist they will be pitching.

Further on through a “typical” day, my tasks vary from calling journalists to preparing a client press briefing sheet and from attending a client meeting to a catch-up call with my colleagues in the New York office. Yet everyday I can be sure to observe the interaction between client and journalist, watching the entire process of researching, pitching, securing, managing and reporting come together to a final result.

Cognito teaches the fundamental steps to succeed in the public relations industry and specifically, in this niche sector. I have learned to multi-task in a fast-paced company; paying excellent attention to detail, adjusting to changing needs while communicating effectively in a team environment and producing quality work under deadlines. It is exactly, the “hands-on” experience that I wanted out of an internship and this opportunity has certainly prepared me well for a career after college.

Lastly, as it is based in the heart of London, Cognito provides the added benefit of being in the middle of one of the world’s largest international banking and insurance hubs, offering an invaluable "up-close" view into the future of the global market.