The Intern: It’s More Than Getting Coffee & Doughnuts
My Summer Interning in Cincinnati
There are dozens of ad agencies and marketing companies in the Cincinnati area. This means that there is a lot of work to be done in Cincinnati. Having been an intern at one of Cincinnati’s top advertising agencies has shown me just how much opportunity is available.
Who is Afton Palmer?
I am a full-time college student, with a full-time job, currently wrapping up my first internship (part-time) at Sunrise Advertising in downtown Cincinnati. This internship has reminded me just how quickly time can go when you are doing what you love around people you admire. Although I am a novice in the industry, I can say that I learned a lot about myself as a person, an intern, and someone looking to jump into this industry full steam ahead.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College set me up for several interviews for a summer internship. After much consideration, I chose to accept the 10-week “co-op”, or internship, at Sunrise. It was worth it. Sunrise is a full-service advertising agency that works with major companies around the tri-state such as Papa John’s, Skyline Chili, and AAA/Bob Sumerel Tire Service.
What did she do?
At Sunrise, I have been able to provide feedback on audio recordings for upcoming commercials, assist in photo shoots for marketing campaigns, and reach out to vendors for event planning at Fountain Square. I have also been able to work on search engine optimization projects, do market research competition brands, and assist with creating content for social media.
Some people may look at this think, “what’s the big deal?”. The big deal for me is that I came into Sunrise Advertising knowing only what I have read in books about advertising and marketing. Now I have had a great experience with a leading company in the industry and can use what I have learned here to further my career.
Recommendations for college students:
- Make sure that you are in a school that will help place you in a co-op or internship. This is one of the best ways to get to know how it all works on the inside. You also get to have hands-on experience with people who are experts in their field.
- Become a member of your local American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter. There are so many people to meet, job openings to inquire about, and resources to be taken advantage of. Do it!
- NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK! Each of my steps so far has been about getting to know people. There’s a reason for that: really get to know the people you are trying to work with or for. What company did they come from? Where are they now? Where are they trying to go?
- Get yourself into databases like Creatives on Call and The Creative Group. The more times a potential employer sees your name, the better your chances the employer wants to know why you are so popular.
- Once you actually get into your internship, be sure to absorb as much as you can. You will be grateful for the work that you did when you use it in the future.
- Be kind, appreciative, and resourceful. After all, that is why they selected you to work for them.
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
– Dale Carnegie
