For the last 3 months I have been working for WWF Scotland on the global climate change awareness event, Earth Hour.
Like many others, I had heard horror stories about intern work. I have friends that have worked for free and being given menial jobs that perhaps improved their CVs but gave them little in the way of actual experience. This could not have been further from the reality of my internship. As well as this being a paid post, the experience I have gained working for WWF has been incredibly valuable.
I was responsible for a variety of tasks in my day-to-day role. I was charged with increasing engagement among key targeted audiences such as landmarks, organisations and businesses, through phone and email outreach. I was in charge of creating Earth Hour content for WWF Scotland’s social media channels, and I provided support for Earth Hour events, both in the build up and on the night of Earth Hour. Some of my highlights were presenting awards on behalf of WWF to local authorities and public bodies who had shown outstanding support for Earth Hour, our Earth Hour MSP photo-opp at the Scottish Parliament, and being in George Square for Glasgow’s event on the big night itself. I also got to dress up in a panda suit on various occasions which was pretty awesome!
The staff at WWF Scotland were extremely welcoming, which meant I quickly felt like part of the team. I was encouraged by the trust they showed in me, giving me plenty of responsibility and autonomy and valuing my input. It was inspiring to see the passion that the WWF staff have for their work, and I’d like to think that it rubbed off on me too.
Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better environment to work in over the last three months. It has been a lot of hard work, but I learned a huge amount and it was really satisfying to work on something truly worthwhile.
Paul McMillan
Adopt an Intern Alumni
Earth Hour Intern, WWF Scotland
