Employer
Harry Caray's Restaurant Group
Internship Title
Marketing Intern
What were your duties?
Some of my duties included assisting the marketing manager in the design and implementation of e-newsletters, e-blasts, creative design, developing content for social media, and market research. Other responsibilities included assisting and attending corporate events including celebrity meet and greets, Sports Team Private Dining, Celebrity Charity events, and Promotional Food Sampling events.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
My favorite part about my internship was that I had many opportunities to showcase my skills. Being a part of a marketing team of only four people for a restaurant group of over hundreds of employees meant that I had to do many duties and projects that I would have never expected would be put in an intern's hands.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most challenging part of the internship was learning how to manage multiple projects at one time while being on a very strict deadline. Working in the restaurant industry is very different than any other job I have had before. It was very difficult to be working on projects for any of the five restaurant locations, the Chicago Sports Museum, and the catering department at the same time while having such a small team working with you.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
I feel that the countless opportunities I have had at Illinois and in the College of Media have definitely shaped who I am as an intern. Being a part of AAF has allowed me to gain experience in client relations, creative design, and professional networking. Without these skills, I would not have been as qualified for the position that I had last summer as a marketing intern. By learning how to conduct proper primary and secondary research in my advertising courses, I was able to bring this skill to my internship while I was working on a project to search for new advertising opportunities for the restaurant group and the Chicago Sports Museum.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
Last summer, I learned something new everyday about myself. Each day that I went into the office, I was given new projects and new tasks to complete. This taught me a lot about my character as an intern. Whether it was something that I loved doing or something that I wasn't as experienced in, it helped prepare me for what I am going to want and what to expect in my future career. I found that the most important skill that I took out of my internship was learning how to communicate with clients and/or co-workers. Walking into this internship, I had no idea that I would have built such strong relationships with my co-workers and clients. It taught me how to find my voice in the business and see how I can communicate my ideas to a group of adults that have been working in the industry for over 20 years. I felt that this was the most important take out of my role.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Challenge yourself. Show up prepared for your first day at the job. You might be given tasks that you don't want to do, but you can always find a way to look at it and see that you are there for a reason. Ask questions even if you are nervous that it might be a dumb question. Being in a completely new atmosphere is a lot to take in, especially on the first day so ask as many questions and write everything down (My desk was filled with about 30 post it notes of important reminders to get me through the week).