The Taylor Bennett Foundation

I got the phonecall as I wandered distractedly through Oxford Street’s H&M, hands full of bags, mentally drained from the day, and heavy of heart. As I shifted my bags from one
hand to the other and pulled my phone out of my pocket, the unsaved number flashing
back at me made my heart skip a beat.

Several thoughts went through my mind at once; “It could be the Taylor Bennett Foundation calling to say I haven’t got through to the internship,” or “It could be TBF calling to say something went wrong during the assessment today,” and finally, “It could be TBF calling to say I’ve got through.”

But it was good news. I barely remembered Sarah Stimson, the TBF’s Course Director’s
exact words despite the importance of it, I can only remember the elation I felt and how
gobsmacked I was at being selected as one of the eight interns who had made it through
to the Talk PR TBF Programme.

I had only left the venue for the Assessment Day around an hour before I received the
phonecall, and the day had been full of excitement, nerves and new faces - still on edge
after being told we would hear if we had been accepted that very evening, I had not
completely recovered from the day’s experience yet.

The Assessment Day itself was brilliant if intense; my day began with a group presentation
after being divided into two groups of applicants; followed by a short break; followed by
another group presentation; followed by our solo presentations. All this, before lunchtime.
After lunch, we ploughed straight on with two back to back interviews.

I learned so much on that day alone, that I told myself if I walk away tonight I’m going to
be a wiser and stronger person with the confidence to continue with my PR job hunt. After
graduating with a Masters in International Journalism , PR had not been part of my life
plan at all - then moving to Nepal changed my life.

I worked at an NGO hospital as their PRO for a year in Nepal and realised that PR
incorporated everything I loved under one title. I was able to write, edit, create, and
manage press releases, events, and campaigns. But I had no idea how to get into PR
back at home.

A friend and mentor told me about the TBF programme for graduates, and I went straight
onto their website only to discover I had missed the deadline for the Autumn 2011
Programme. Still, it paid off, as I researched as much as I could before the Winter 2012
fashion PR intake, finding @PRStarsTB and @GoooRooo on Twitter for updates. Once I
saw Sarah tweet about accepting applications, I went for it.

After receiving a response on the same day as the closing date declaring I had been
accepted onto the next stage, I was ecstatic! It was my first interview after almost 150 job
applications in six months, and the best news I had received to date.

I am overwhelmingly excited to be participating in this internship as I am fully aware the
opportunities it can lead to. For anyone who feels defeated at the current job climate, don’t
be. All it took was one moment and one chance to change my situation. Now I'm sat in the TBF offices, writing this.

What a difference a day makes...