Creating Creative Content

How did you get your internship?

My search for an internship seemed like a time in my life where I was consistently searching and applying and then getting let down. It was a confusing and stressful experience, however the right one always comes when the time is right. After receiving many declining emails, I turned to my network. One of my connections told me about someone she knew who was launching a clothing company and how they were looking for people to help with social media marketing. I had a zoom call with her contact to speak about her brand and what she is looking for and then had a follow up interview. I was so excited when she hired me and I began interning for her!

What was the focus of your internship?

My internship was a position as a social media marketer. I would brainstorm, relay, and create content in the product for the brand’s social media use. The main focus was to be creative and innovative in the ways of how to create content that is interactive and eye catching to the brand's population. Understanding what, and who their target audience is and then giving my all to grab the attention of them through social media.

The big project I had to work on throughout my internship was a branded photoshoot. It was the most fun type of project in my opinion, and gave me a good sense of a higher responsibility than I am used to by myself. I had to find a photographer, models, write up a concise email about the clothing and sizes I needed for the models to wear, and then the ideas and areas I had for the content. There was a lot of time spent brainstorming what I wanted the main focus of the shoot to be and relay. I coordinated the outfits that the models would wear to match the vibe of the location and made sure everything was steamed and proper. I also had to get “behind the scenes” content of the shoot, for the brand's social media so people could see how they work and the unique longevity of them. This was a huge communication, organization, and professional growth experience for me.

What was your favorite part of your internship?

One of my favorite parts of my internship was the creative aspect. I enjoyed how I could be on my own in how I produce content. I got to do my own research on what was trending and use that to my advantage and twist certain things to be specific to the brand.

I also liked how my internship was remote. It gave me more freedom as to where I can go to produce content and do my own thing. It also gave me more structure and sense of organization as I had to make sure I was getting everything done and connecting with my boss weekly.

This internship was super meaningful to me, because my boss put lots of trust in me to produce content and send me lots of free products in order to do so. I felt very comfortable and valued by her, and she always made sure to give me feedback and advice about life and the business world.

What did you find challenging about your internship?

The most challenging part of my internship experience was that it was remote (it was also one of the things I really enjoyed). I was all on my own throughout the experience, with phone calls and zoom meetings weekly, but alone in person. It got difficult at times to understand what I was needing to accomplish when there was no one in my space telling me that day. That goes along with the creativity of it, when I felt uncreative there was no one for me to bounce ideas off of, and the different time zones of other interns and employees made it difficult to connect with at times. I found that from these difficulties, I learned so much more about creative blocks and how to get out of them, as well as how to get out of my comfort zone being alone and networking on my own.

What advice do you have for other students as they search for and begin their internship? 

My advice for other students as they are in the process of searching for internships, is to continually be active on networking, stay positive, and always ask questions. I think that the more one can communicate with family, friends, peers, etc, the more people they will meet and the more they will know. If I never had a conversation with my friend, I would have never even heard about the opportunity I got.

I also recommend to stay positive within your experience. It won't always be easy and there will be struggles, but if you can at least have a good mindset about every situation, it will make the progress better and more fun. It's a learning experience, you don't have to know everything on the spot. That follows up to always ask questions, never go into something that you are confused about. You're the intern, you're not supposed to know everything thrown your way. You are there to learn, and grow, so don't be afraid to ask the right questions. And, if you are ever stuck, go to Stephanie Springer, the Internship Director for help.

How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?

My internship has influenced my future plans in many ways. I have learned so much from my internship experience in the sense of life skills, transferable skills, and social skills. I now know this is a path I want to keep experiencing and growing in, social media marketing is a huge asset to many businesses right now and I want to continue pursuing it. I also have had to really think about what my next step is, if I want to continue with the same brand or branch out and apply to other organizations. It is tough to be the person who may decide to leave, but it's for the bettering of my own skills and what I want in my future career path. I am going to continue to look at other options, but I will always hold the skills that I have gained through this experience with me throughout the rest of my life.