Michael Jones
LinkedIn
Major: Advertising
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Campus Activites:
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
- VP of Diversity | American Advertising Federation
- Marketing Chair | 100 Strong
- Vice President | Writers Organizing Realistic Dialect
- Campus Ambassador | MAIP
Hobbies: Drawing, poetry, fashion, music, basketball, volleyball
MAIP intern
Account Manager - Digitas LBi
What were your duties?
- Monitored brand reputation by analyzing mentions on social platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
- Collected hundreds of social media screenshots for competitive analysis and presented results to client
- Acquired extensive knowledge about client products, services and opportunities by studying American Express website as well as reported news, trade websites and MRI data
- Attended weekly meetings to ensure work was being allocated properly and produced according to schedule
- Provided support to 11 person agency team on American Express Gold & Platinum campaigns
- Pitched various campaigns to senior executives through bi-weekly quick fire competitions
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I enjoyed everything about this internship equally. This was my first time in New York and this internship changed my life forever. The experience not only helped me realize my potential, it also connected me with industry professionals who I can reach out to for anything. During my internship, I was able to learn about the advertising industry and I even had the opportunity to do real work, such as present to clients.
What was the most difficult aspect of your internship?
I would say the most difficult thing was getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I had to learn that professionals wanted to help me. They actually felt better about being able to help me develop my craft. I had to teach myself the importance of making sure I scheduled coffee meetings with people and picked everyone's brain.
How did your experience at Illinois and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
My experience at the College of Media taught me how to interact with everyone. I learned how to embrace other perspectives and implement them in the way I think. I think this helped me be the team player that my internship required.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
This internship prepared me by teaching me my potential and giving me experiences that I wouldn't have any other way. Before my internship I knew I was smart but being able to contribute to a top agency was key in helping me understand how far I can go. This experience also just gave me skills that I couldn't learn in the classroom, which allows me to be ahead of the game in most cases.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Go for it! Don't let your fear hold you back. An Internship prepares you in ways that you couldn't even imagine. If you let fear hold you back, you'll never know how much you can achieve. I would also recommend learning as much as possible and from everyone!
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