- Graduation Year: May 2014
- Major: Advertising
- Minor: Communication
- Hometown: Algonquin, Illinois
- Hobbies: Fitness, Rock Climbing, Music, Guitar
Current Campus Activities
- American Advertising Federation
- College of Media Student Ambassadors
Past Campus Activities
- Illini Media
- UIUC Climbing Club
- The Daily Illini
Internship | Media Planning Intern at Mindshare Chicago
Duties
The interns were divided into teams to develop a tactical media plan to generate user registrations and awareness for BP’s fuel rewards program among a specified millennial target. In addition to the tactical plan, I gained experience auditing SEM landing pages and constructing ad copy. I was also personally responsible for weekly moderation of the media tracker and compiling media briefs onto the Mindshare server.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
The people I met over the course of the internship was the most enjoyable part of the experience. Everyone in the agency was willing to help me develop and learn the skills needed to be successful in the industry. They were also very patient and encouraging as I learned how to complete daily tasks.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult aspect of the internship was trying to understand the complicated media landscape in such a small amount of time. Media are constantly changing so it was hard contributing to conversations when I was constantly learning about new innovations and technologies.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
My experiences with The College of Media and the various classes I’ve taken here at UIUC helped me to develop a strong foundation in advertising knowledge. I felt that I could grasp the new concepts and learn new skills faster than others because I already had knowledge about the advertising industry. Organizations here at UIUC like AAF helped me develop the soft skills necessary to be a successful intern.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
The internship helped me to figure out exactly which career path in the industry I want to pursue. I knew entering the internship that I enjoyed the media portion of the advertising industry, but now I know the various jobs within media that I may want to pursue. I was able to gain experience in digital analytics, search engine marketing, digital investment and business planning which is helpful because now I am familiar with how all of the positions work together in the industry.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
I would encourage all student interns to form meaningful relationships with the people around them. I found that I learned a lot from having work relationships, but I gained invaluable knowledge from getting to know everyone at the agency on a personal level. Additionally, I would tell interns to never turn down an opportunity to learn something new!