Q&A: My Summer Assistantship with Peritus PR
At PERITUS, we share a commitment to move our state forward. Part of this mission is investing in the future of our industry – students. With our state central to some of the top public relations programs in the nation, opportunities to invest in students and foster their growth are plentiful especially when a talented student chooses to spend her summer at Peritus.
We were fortunate to welcome Liz Boyle as our sports communications assistant. Learn more about Liz in the Q&A below reflecting on her assistantship experience, passions, takeaways, and where she maybe heading next.
MEET LIZ BOYLE:
New Jersey native
Second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising at the University of Alabama through the Accelerated Master's Program.
Member of PRCA and PRSSA
Supervisor of Aquatics Facilities for the University
An alumnus from Delta Gamma sorority
Big fan of Chipotle, Alabama football, Trader Joe’s, and the beach.
As a New Jersey Native, what drew you to Alabama in the first place?
I am originally from the Jersey Shore and knew upon graduating high school that I wanted to experience a different style of living in a new area of the country. I chose the University of Alabama for the experience it would provide me and the opportunity to apply for an Accelerated Masters Program to get two degrees in four years. I originally came to the university as a political science major and public relations minor but ended up switching to a public relations major when I realized how much I truly enjoyed what I was learning. At the end of my sophomore year, I applied to the Accelerated Master's Program for Public Relations and Advertising and was excited to get accepted!
Why did you want to work at Peritus?
Part of the program is having professional experience between your first and second year of the program, and immediately in the application process, Peritus Public Relations stood out to me. I always wanted to work in sports and was fortunate to get this opportunity to work on Peritus’ client, RCX Sports.
While pouring over the website trying to learn as much as possible about Peritus and the team during the application and interview process, I learned more about Peritus’ involvement in public affairs which piqued my interest even more considering my political science minor. Not only did I have a chance to engage my dream interest in sports public relations, but I got to marry it with my other passion of working in coordination with the government.
Finally, one thing I immediately noticed on the Peritus website was the sense that the team was fun and caring. Every interaction I had during the interview process only increased this feeling. All these factors led me to my dream position at Peritus, and after working for a summer I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
What did your typical day look like as a Peritus sports communication assistant?
The only thing that really stayed the same during my days at Peritus was my weekly commute. On Mondays and Fridays, I worked remotely, which is convenient and helpful to not have to commute the hour every single day. The other days of the week, I got up a bit earlier and commuted the hour to Birmingham, using the time to decompress and get ready for the day or listening to some of my favorite music. This past summer, I listened to a lot of classic rock heavy on Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles, and Tom Petty. Other times I listened to Brat by Charli XCX and John Summit’s new album.
Once I arrived at the office, I worked on a variety of projects with many different teammates across two accounts, RCX Sports and Innovate Alabama. Halfway through the summer, I got pulled into working with the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau to generate exposure and encourage tourism to Birmingham around the MLB’s Field of Dreams Game at Rickwood Field, which was an incredible experience.
Every day was different – from building media lists and drafting media pitches to social media content and e-newsletters or joining planning meetings with professional sports leagues and clients from RCX and Innovate Alabama. Each day I was excited to come in and give it my all, and all my Peritus teammates always matched my energy, which made the environment so fun and encouraging. Because every day was different, it kept this summer fun and exciting.
What is the most interesting thing you learned at Peritus that they don’t teach in school?
Peritus taught me the importance of the little things in day-to-day work and life. Even something as seemingly small as an email could make a monumental difference in a campaign’s success or in building a relationship. My well-seasoned teammates always taught me little things each day that I am going to take back to grad school and apply for my future.
Additionally, Peritus taught me the importance of having a tight-knit team with shared values. My favorite Peritus value that I found while researching during my interview process is “we care for our own.” During my time at Peritus, this was not a superficial statement and did not change any day that I walked through the office doors. Every day the team cares for each other in small and big ways, from thank you cards to birthday celebrations, and the firm culture is all the better for it. It’s easy to love the work you do when you care about the work itself as well as the people you do it with.
This was also my first summer ever being away from my family. While that was difficult, I adjusted quickly because the Peritus team made me feel part of their family, which I am so grateful for. If you’re looking for a place to practice public relations where you work with vastly different, incredible clients and forge caring relationships with teammates, then Peritus is the place for you.
What’s next for you now that the assistantship has ended?
For now, I am going back to school at the University of Alabama to complete my second year of my Accelerated Master's Program, studying Public Relations and Advertising and taking some interesting classes across the board, with the one I’m most excited about being Mass Media Law. I have a small part-time job that I’ll be working to pay for groceries in my spare time, which I enjoy. Looking forward to the school year but I’ll certainly miss Peritus!
Our takeaway is this:
An assistantship or internship is so much more than class credit or a paycheck – it is an opportunity to build and diversify your skillset; to learn skills that aren’t taught in the classroom like networking, civic engagement or client relations; and to test drive a company culture and job role that will help you find the right fit when you are ready to launch your career.