Hi, I’m Caitlin, a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Sydney. Over the past four years, I’ve spent countless hours tucked away in lecture theatres, seminar rooms and computer labs while working towards my Bachelor of Arts / Advanced Studies, majoring in Media & Communications and Marketing. But one final step in my degree took me somewhere no lecture ever could – into the real world.
Joining the Hardman Communications team as an intern has been the bridge between theory and practice. It has given me the opportunity to apply everything I’ve learned so far, while also revealing just how much more there is to know.
Much of my internship has centred on pro-bono client RAISEducation, a registered charity dedicated to improving educational outcomes for children in rural and remote Australia, with my work spanning multiple areas of communications. I created an EDM newsletter from the ground up, researching platforms, designing a template, writing copy and navigating the technical backend. I developed a corporate pitch, sharpening my writing skills and learning to step into the mindset of a corporate audience, a shift from the consumer-focused perspective I’d honed at university. I even grew to appreciate the less inspiring tasks, like building Excel databases, which became surprisingly satisfying once I realised how much easier they made locating and accessing information.
But my learning hasn’t just been confined to the screen.
I attended my first networking event, joining CPRA members for festive drinks. Walking into a room full of industry professionals was definitely intimidating, but I soon found myself absorbed in conversations. These exchanges offered a far more realistic picture of the communications industry than any textbook could.
I also had the chance to volunteer with Foodbank, helping to pack 780 Christmas hampers for individuals and families in need. Working alongside the team toward a shared purpose served as an important reminder of the value of giving back and staying connected to causes that matter, even amid a busy work week.
As my internship draws to a close, it represents far more than the completion of a degree requirement. The experience has expanded my skillset, showed me what a future in communications could look like and connected me with a team whose support, insight and passion have set a high benchmark for the kind of communicator I aspire to become.