Employer
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Internship Title
Intern, Social Strategy & Activation
What were your duties?
Hyatt's social team is divided into three areas, and I worked mainly with the colleague area. Throughout the summer, I wrote content for their internal strategy website, collected social data for the entire portfolio, created social listening reports, and monitored different campaigns. Hyatt interns also participate in a project working cross-functionally with other interns to present a project to senior leadership at the end of the summer.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
The best part of my internship was the responsibility my manager and my team trusted me with. From day one, I knew my work was valuable and important to projects they were working on, and to the marketing team as a whole. I never felt like I was doing "intern duties," I instead felt like I was part of the team.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
Getting used to the different language the company uses. There were so many abbreviations and words that took time to understand, and there was no way to prepare for that. Also, scheduling your week around meetings, and getting used to speaking up in meetings of 50+ employees.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
My classes in the College of Media were essential to understanding the scope of what's important to a business and how to communicate that with different mediums. When you start an internship, you're expected to hit the ground running. Without the knowledge I learned in my Media classes, I wouldn't have been able to work as efficiently and successfully as I did. Taking classes such as ADV 284 with Brittany Duff and ADV 498 with Shachar really prepare you from all sides for a career in media. Knowing how to think strategically and bring those strategic thoughts to life was directly applicable to tasks I did daily.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
Interning over the summer really does give you an accurate taste of what working full-time is like, and this summer I really learned how important it is for me to work in a fast-paced environment. I learned that no matter how much you try to prepare for a job, you will always have a million questions. Though everyone is busy and it can be hard to ask questions, asking the right questions will save time for everyone involved.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
I think the most important thing to do is not to limit yourself to your position. While you will have your regular duties, as an intern you still have an outside perspective of the company that is very valuable. Always keep your eyes open for new projects or new colleagues to work with, and you'll be able to do more diverse work. This is also true of applying to internships. Even if it isn't your "perfect" position, doing something different can lead to a layered skill set that will be more valuable in the long run.