Employer
R/GA
Internship Title
Strategy Intern
What were your duties?
Some of the tasks that I had included assisting Senior Strategists in researching and gathering relevant information to develop well-informed strategic plans and insights for clients. I was also able to examine clients such as Google Cloud Healthcare and Masterclass to better understand their brands and understand their objectives. I performed a few competitive analysis and identified gaps and opportunities within brands' marketplace. I also conducted market research in the form of interviews for a pitch presentation.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
What I enjoyed most about my internship was that I was able to not only explore the different roles associated with Strategy, but I also got to learn about how Strategy relates to the other disciplines within the agency. I was able to work closely with other disciplines and was able to expand my skill set.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
I would say the most difficult aspect of my internship was not being afraid to ask for help when I needed it, at least at the beginning of it. At the beginning, I saw myself trying to do assignments I did not completely understand and was afraid to ask for help. Once I did start to ask more questions, the work got a little easier and I felt more comfortable expressing my challenges on an assignment.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
I think my experience at Illinois and the College of Media prepared me well for my internship. My networking skills has improved tremendously throughout my time at Illinois. My coursework within the College of Media also helped prepare me for many of the aspects within Strategy.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
My internship prepared me for my career because of the real work experience I gained from it. Being able to work with actual clients and learning the ends and outs of an ad agency has allowed me to be confident in my abilities once I graduate and enter the work force.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
I would say be open minded about the experience and try to gain as much as possible. Always ask questions and network with everyone across all areas. You never know how that can impact your future.