The Top 5 Things I Learned During My Internship at Harbinger!

Last summer, I had the opportunity to work at Harbinger as a Public Relations Intern! This was my first ever “real” job, and I came in as a sponge, ready to learn everything there was to know (sidenote: I’m now a couple of months into my second summer at Harbinger and the learning continues). After some reflection, I am excited to share the top 5 things I learned and have taken away from summer #1 of my internship.

1. Influencer partnerships are complex

One of the first things I realized is that influencer partnerships are super powerful, but also surprisingly tricky. Much of my work revolved around supporting with the planning and execution of influencer campaigns including researching influencers for campaigns, building influencer recommendations, and drafting contracts. Trust me, it’s not just about scrolling through Instagram and picking someone with the highest follower count. The real challenge starts with finding influencers whose audience aligns with our client brand and who actually engage with their followers. It’s not just a numbers game; it’s about finding the right fit which extends beyond follower count and metrics. I learned quickly that the most successful partnerships are the ones that feel authentic, where the influencer’s values and tone align authentically with the brand, ultimately making a campaign so much more impactful.

2. Branding is everything

I’ve always loved the creative side of marketing and public relations, but my internship really drove home how much I love brand storytelling. Branding is more than a cool logo and catchy slogan—it’s about crafting a narrative that people connect with. I love working on campaigns that bring a brand’s core values to life. For example, updating brand messaging to ensure cohesiveness across communication channels; every little detail matters. Seeing how a strong brand identity could influence the success of a campaign or brand made me recognize the value of creating an engaging story for consumers. Now, brand storytelling is hands down my favourite part of marketing and public relations.

3. Company culture matters more than you think

Before my internship, I took a class called “Psychology at Work,” which talked a lot about company culture. I didn’t think too much of it until I started at Harbinger. Coming from the service industry, where workplace culture is usually not great, I was blown away by how positive and motivating the atmosphere at Harbinger was. It wasn’t just about getting the work done—it was about collaboration and supporting each other. For the first time, I was genuinely excited to go to work. I realized that a strong company culture doesn’t just improve the quality of the work, it makes the entire team better. A good culture can boost both individual performance and overall success, and now I get why it’s such a big deal.

4. Mastering Time Management

If there’s one skill I honed during my internship, it’s time management. Juggling multiple projects and deadlines taught me to prioritize, stay organized, and allocate my time wisely. It’s a skill I now constantly use. Between two jobs, managing five extracurricular clubs, and being a full-time student, time management is a lifesaver. It’s helped me keep up with the daily hustle without burning out and ensures that the quality of my work stays high. Being able to balance everything while still hitting deadlines is a skill I’m really proud of, and it’s something that’s going to serve me well in the long term.

5. Do your research

I didn’t expect to fall in love with research, but here we are. A big part of my role involved diving deep into social and media trends, audience demographics, competitive strategies—you name it. One task I maintained throughout my role was to complete a bi-weekly report for one of our clients which included, researching relevant industry and competitor news, and new products in the market. While it was time-consuming, it quickly became one of my favourite responsibilities. I realized that research isn’t just about gathering facts; it’s about uncovering insights that shape smart, strategic decisions for brands. The deeper I dug, the more I recognized how essential research is in PR. It’s the foundation for everything we do, helping us make informed choices and stay proactive.

I remember in my interview for the intern position, I was asked “what do you wish to get out of this internship should you get it?”. My answer was simple, to know whether or not PR was the right job for me. I am happy to say now that I know it is.

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Harbinger is a Toronto-based North American marketing agency with expertise in product launches. We help brands get noticed and purchased.