By: Olivia Currier, Communications Intern

In the world of PR, there are primarily two roads that can be taken: working in-house on a communications team or joining a full-service PR agency. Of course, there are countless other roles a communications student could pursue, as it is a foundational skill set that translates across many industries. But from the perspective of an aspiring PR professional, in-house and agency work appear to be the two most common entry points for recent college graduates.

Prior to my time at Bellevue, I completed two communications internships on in-house teams. I learned valuable skills, from social media content creation, to brand storytelling, to digital strategy. However, my experience in PR has expanded significantly since joining Bellevue, which is my first real exposure to a full-service agency. As my internship draws to a close, here are three differences I’ve observed between in-house and agency life, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Expanded Professional Network

The most obvious distinction between agency and in-house communications is that agencies juggle multiple accounts, requiring you to toggle between several industries, organizations, and projects at once. It’s excellent for an ADHD brain, or people who enjoy variety in their day-to-day workflow.

One of the most important advantages of this format is that a robust client roster creates an extensive network of connections across various sectors. In the PR world — and in the business landscape in general — networking is pivotal to both personal and client success. A strong network allows agencies to connect clients with unique opportunities, insights, and contacts that might make all the difference.

Being an Effective Spokesperson

Agency staff are not directly employed by their clients, yet their task is to effectively represent clients across diverse industries. As a result, working for an agency requires you to become a mini-expert in a variety of subjects — or at least be able to convey them appropriately when writing a press release.

Agency life, therefore, is all about learning: how different industries work, what their goals are, and how to speak a company’s “language” by adapting to both their professional vocabulary and internal communication styles.

All this to say, show up with curiosity and a readiness to learn. Because in an agency, learning never stops.

Skill Set Flexibility

Beyond expanding your knowledge across industries, a diverse client profile requires a multifaceted skill set in communications. Some clients need social media content; others might request media training, crisis support, digital strategy, and so on. Different clients will require different facets of your professional “toolbox,” so to speak.

I view this as another advantage of an agency because having a robust toolbox makes you better equipped to tackle any client or situation that may arise.

The best part: you don’t have to do it alone. In fact, collaboration among your team is critical. The combination of every person’s unique perspective, background, and strengths is what enables an agency to broaden its scope of services and effectively respond to any situation.

Conclusion

My experience at Bellevue has involved far more than just copywriting, content creation, and critical thinking (although, of course, those skills were certainly part of the experience). By diving into the flow of agency life, I learned how to apply those skills and that knowledge in a variety of real-world contexts.

Whichever road I end up taking after graduation — whether it’s in-house, agency, or something else entirely — I will carry the lessons I learned at Bellevue with me as I forge head.

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About the Author

Olivia Currier is a Summer 2026 Intern at Bellevue Communications Group. She is a senior at Villanova University studying Communications specializing in Public Relations and Advertising, with a minor in Sociology. Outside of academics, she is involved in musical theater, choral music, and serves as the Music Director for her A Cappella group, the Villanova Haveners.