Well, I think this is going to be my final blog posting on the Grad Scheme at Edelman. The scheme is ending at the end of next week. I cannot believe the past 8 months has gone past so quickly.

So what now?!

Heather and Clare have both been offered positions in two of the departments at the company which is fantastic news. Unfortunately my two chosen departments do not have a position for a grad and so no job for me. However, PA (one of my two choices) have offered me an internship with them for three months.

Therefore I will be doing a similar role as I did through out the grad scheme but for three months. The most exciting part is that I will be going back to them two weeks before the general election. Things will be extremely exciting and it will be fantastic experience! As there wasn’t any possibility of a permanent position with them this is definitely the next best thing, I wouldn’t want to be in a department where I was suited to the work.

Even if I leave Edelman at the end of the internship I will have gotten a year’s fantastic experience with the company to take me into another position, hopefully. I have begun to think about what I would like to do after the internship.

At 24 (yes ok nearly 25 *shudder*)  it’s time to begin to seriously think about where I want to focus my career and I think it will either be in Public Affairs or Sport. I am also doing a course in PR and Events which will give me further experience and skills in the industry. This together with a part time job and working at Edelman keep me extremely busy.

I’m with the Healthcare department for my final rotation and the team are really lovely – especially my pod and the two pods next to me but like Clare said the treats are vast and it is difficult to resist.

I have started cycling to and from work each day (two weeks in) and getting here for 8 and leaving a bit earlier (5 or a bit after) so that I have still worked 9 hours but the extra was at the beginning of the day. The routine is possible in the this department and due to the way my body works it is great because it gives me a break before going home to do uni work.I work better in the morning and the fresh air and lack of people on my commute puts me in a good, awake mood.

I have to say that the work at Healthcare has been extremely interesting but I prefer the type of work in PA as I am not the most scientifically minded. However it has been fantastic experience.

I have made some great friends here – especially the other interns and grads and I’m lucky enough to live near some of them. Hopefully we will keep in touch even if I do leave after the internship.

So at the moment the future is not certain – I will be looking around for positions whilst doing the internship and hopefully the next role I’m offered will be the perfect one!

The next blog I will be writing is one when I eventually manage to do a bit of travelling – but that wont be for a few years – but maybe I’ll be working on a few others in the meantime.

Overall the Graduate Scheme at Edelman has been fantastic. To have worked in each of the four departments for two months has enabled us to be immersed into teams and really get a taste of the type of work the company does. Since September Edelman have won wuite a few awards and also celebrated many pitch wins. This company if a fantastic place to be and I have received extremely positive feedback from its presence on my CV. I recommend this scheme to every potential PR!

I want to wish Maggie, Livi, Francesca, Erin, Charlotte, Louise, Natalie, Clare and Heather lots of luck with the rest of their time at the company (however long it will be), and thank everyone from all four departments and everyone whom I’ve worked with for all their support and help.

Signing off now..