- Graduation Year: December 2015
- Major: Advertising
- Minor: Communication
- Hometown: Belleville, IL
- Hobbies: reading, obsessively watching Netflix
Campus Activities
- Kappa Alpha Theta
- AAF
- erodr Campus Representative
Internship | Communications/Business Development Intern at Bozoian Group Architects, LLC
Duties
I was in charge of developing public relations media surrounding the company’s latest projects. Also, I was in charge of researching big name corporations, finding the appropriate contact person, and keeping a dialogue with that person about the corporation’s future architectural needs. Lastly, I also got to experience interviewing post graduate applicants for a full time business development position at Bozoian Group.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I got to work closely with the company’s owner, who founded Bozoian Group Architects by herself in 1996. She taught me how to market the company not only as a talented architectural firm, but also as a woman-owned business. I knew nothing about architecture beforehand, and after the summer I felt very comfortable with the common terminology. After this internship, I know I could take any product or service and effectively market it to the most favorable segments of the market.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult aspect was the giant learning curve I experienced within my first few weeks. As I mentioned before, I knew nothing about architecture before my internship, and I didn’t really have a huge interest in the field. The many hours spent researching basic architectural terminology and jargon helped tremendously once I started to ghostwrite for the company.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
The writing skills I’ve learned in my College of Media classes were absolutely essential. Also, the extracurricular activities I’ve joined, especially the Midnight Oil Advertising Agency within AAF, prepared me in the aspect of handling real world clients in a business situation.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
This internship taught me the importance of writing (and proofreading), and how far that can take you in any field. In addition, I got to see how important networking is, even at the highest levels of management. A good business relationship speaks volumes and can help small businesses, like Bozoian Group Architects, compete for large scale projects.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Don’t be afraid to take an internship in a field that isn’t directly related to your major. As an advertising major, I didn’t know anything about architecture, but in my internship I learned essential skills that can be applied to any field.