Employer
Baloonr
Internship Title
Marketing and Social Media PR Intern
What were your duties?
My duties ranged from drafting bi-weekling e-letters and news blasts, posting to the Baloonr Facebook and Twitter accounts several times a day to stay on top of current and relevant events, as well as reaching out as the Customer Appreciation agent of the company to ensure optimal customer success with our Chicago-based clients.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I loved working remotely! Interning for a San Francisco based startup out of Chicago was an amazing experience and the best decision I could have made this summer. Baloonr is a member of 1871, a collaborative entrepreneurial space located within Merchandise Mart in River North, which allowed me access to otherwise unattainable opportunities in Chicago. I was able to work in a setting that encouraged communication and collaboration among all members - I was constantly interacting with other established company interns and CEO's. Interning remotely out of such a diverse and innovative environment like 1871 was the best decision I could have made for my career!
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult aspect of my summer internship were the constant startup curve balls. Whether that meant working from 3pm-1am instead of the typical 9am-5pm position or being patient when it came to pay-day, startup life was anything but stable. Although there is a lot of freedom with starting a company and working for an early stage company, there is also an incredible amount of sacrifice and responsibility that comes with that. Working on a team comprised of 3 executives and 2 interns, division of responsibility was completely even among us and it was necessary to execute the best possible quality work even if the results were up in the air.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
Although the University of Illinois has numerous resources of internship preparation and acquisition, it is up to us as students to actually use those resources. Attending resume critiques, networking events, and utilizing practice interviews prepared me for entering internship application season and eventually my internship itself. After applying and reaching out to 70+ companies, I was offered 8 different internships at the end of last semester where I was in the position to pick the most valuable one for myself. Hard work and utilization of resources on campus can make any of us the most marketable intern to any company.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
Through my summer internship I gained a sense of professional independence, confidence in my ability to sustain relationships with well-established clients, and acceptance of the fact that everything we do today is a foundational experience for our future. I entered this summer certain that entrepreneurship was the only route for my post-graduation career. Several months later I am certain that I require a lot more professional experience to be sure what my next move is. I believe I have the skills I have gained through the University of Illinois will allow me to move anywhere within any industry, and I look forward to applying my experience to accurately move forward in the future.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Two things. 1) There is no right or wrong internship. Of course there are internships that are seemingly more desirable than others, but not getting a "dream" internship is not the end of the world. Make what you do worthwhile, don't wait for a worthwhile opportunity. 2) If someone tells you that Freshman never get valuable internships, especially paid internships, they are lying to you. Even the most inexperienced Freshman can become invaluable to a company.