Margaret Johnson
Graduation Year: May 2015
Major: Advertising
Campus Activities:
- College of Media Student Ambassadors
- President, Wishmakers at UIUC
- Event Coordinator, Alpha Lambda Delta National Honors Society
- AAF
Internship: Production Studio Intern - Publicis Indianapolis
What were your duties?
I worked closely with the Production Studio Account Executive on the TriHealth account. My main duties were creating, supplementing, and delivering traffic tickets from the account executive to the creatives. Between supplemented changes, I would often do proof reading. I also aided in the billing process. I created and implemented a social media campaign for the Publicis Indianapolis Facebook. I attended and photographed press releases. I aided in competitor research for new business.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I most enjoyed getting to do research. I did web research and also field research. I got to attend a free baseball game to understand the experience and the fans. I interviewed fans about why they went to the stadium..
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult part was not getting paid. The internship was 9-5, five days a week, and I didn't get paid. The experience was worth it, but I actually had to pay to be an intern because of gas and living expenses.
How did your experience at Illinois and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
I'd already learned the terminology and the lingo, so when I entered the office, I knew a little about what they were talking about.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
This internship let me get a peek into almost every position in an advertising agency, so I know how it runs and operates. My experience was hands on; I was doing the same work as people who were paid to do it for a living. I can go into an interview and feel prepared that I know what I'm talking about and already had experience in the field.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Apply everywhere! You never know what opportunities are out there. I never dreamed I would be interning for a great advertising agency like Publicis, but it never hurts to apply. You just might get it!
Click here to view all archived Internship Spotlights