Katie Schrantz
LinkedIn
Graduation Year: May, 2016
Major: Advertising
Minor: Communications
Hometown: Gurnee, Illinois
Campus Activities:
- Chief Campus Editor of The Black Sheep
- Training Specialist at the University of Illinois Foundation
- Member of American Advertising Federation
- Member of Alpha Gamma Delta
Account Services and Media Intern - The San Jose Group
What were your duties?
-Worked with clients Illinois Office of Tourism (IOT) and Buddig
-Maintained weekly contact with clients to ensure satisfaction in advertising goals
-Monitored production costs for OOH and television spots for IOT on a $20,000 budget
-Assisted president in media department by facilitating the creation of radio spots for Buddig
-Reviewed content to be featured on client websites by selecting photography and copyediting news articles
-Developed strategies to reach multicultural audiences by researching demographics and how to target them
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
Working in downtown Chicago only a block away from Millennium Park was such a cool experience, and I got to work with some really interesting people. There were about ten other interns, mostly from countries outside of the United States and I got to know them really well. I also loved watching the formation of an ad campaign and contributing to it!
What was the most difficult aspect of your internship?
This was my first real experience at an ad agency, and I had no idea what to expect. It took a little bit of time getting used to a more professional schedule, but was totally worth it! There are also so many duties people in accounts and media have, I still have so much to learn, but I did things I didn't even know they were responsible for.
How did your experience at Illinois and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
I felt equipped with not only knowledge from class, but with professionalism and experience only the College of Media could have provided. The ad professors here are all extremely experienced and talented individuals, and they are so helpful with preparing students to enter the industry.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
I learned so much during my summer at SJG, and it made me realize how much I love advertising. Interning also taught me professionalism and how to write a strong email, which is often an overlooked quality. I almost didn't want my experience to end, but my internship prepared me for my career because I realized how great this industry is.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Never doubt yourself, and just put yourself out there. I applied for more than 50 internships, but it only takes that one to provide you with experience. Network as much as you can, because you never know where a 10-minute conversation may lead you. It's also so important to follow up! Don't email the company everyday, but be persistent and confident. The College of Media at Illinois is a really strong, so use the skills you learn in class and extracurricular to excel.
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