by Jill Klinedinst
You’re about to graduate college and begin the job hunt, but first you need some real world marketing experience. So you seek an internship at a public relations company. Hopefully, you’ve researched the available internships, talked to other interns, gone through an interview process and scored the one you’ve been looking for. But now what? Just go in, do your time, collect your college credits, scribble your new experience on your resume and boast a great reference? Not so fast. Every firm has had their share of good interns… and bad.
Here are a few secrets to being the kind of intern that employers appreciate, respect, and most of all, refer:
Ask Questions. Ask Questions. Ask Questions. An inquisitive mind tells your employer that you’re interested in the marketing and advertising business. If you just do the work that is asked of you without asking questions about the project, you might as well be a drone. Asking questions shows that you’re engaged and interested in what you’re doing, which is one of the things that employers look for when they’re considering new hires.
Come with experience. Don’t expect to be taught all new skills at an internship. You’ve already learned marketing skills in college. Your internship is your chance to put them into practice. A medical intern shouldn’t expect to learn how to give a shot on the job; that’s what medical school is for. A marketing internship is a chance to use the skills and tools that you learned in the classroom.
Don’t make excuses – no matter what. An employer understands that you’re in school while taking an internship, but that’s no excuse to not finish a project or show up late. You may get away with an excuse to a professor about why your paper was late, but that doesn’t cut it in the real world. A marketing firm has lots of clients, all of whom expect and deserve the firm’s best work. As an intern, you’re involved in this work. So take your internship seriously, and be proud of the results you help show for the firm’s clients.
Commit yourself the same way you would if this were your permanent employer… they may be someday. If you take an internship, make a concrete schedule and stick to it. That will be expected of you when you take a permanent position, so do the same with your internship. It won’t go unnoticed.
Don’t be afraid to act stupid. You’re an intern, a student, and you’re still learning. So don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You never know what may come of your ideas until you release them. Don’t be intimidated or afraid. Throw them out there. Even if they don’t like them, they can provide feedback that you can use next time. That’s how you get better.
An internship is your chance to put your marketing education into practical use. This real work experience will help you stand out from other applicants when you’re interviewing for jobs. Practicing these tips to being a good intern will help you make the most of your internship and increase your chances of landing a great job in marketing.
Our recommendation regarding social media adoption for businesses and not-for-profits continues to be one of cautious optimism and careful planning. Will you miss the boat if you don’t jump immediately? Of course not. Are there compelling reasons to think this through before taking the leap ‘willy-nilly?’ Absolutely. Unclear objectives and the lack of operational plans for day-to-day management of your social media presence are recipes for failure — even disaster. So, slow down and smell the most recent research.
In the old days, if you passed a dead- line, they killed you. There were no excuses, no com- promises, no second chances. They shot you right then and there.
