My First Weeks...

When I received the internship as a Liberal Arts Career Development marketing intern, I had no idea what my role was going to be in the office. Was it going to be a coffee fetching, copy making internship? Was I going to be prepared? Did I have enough training?

These anxieties were cleared up within moments of meeting my team of interns and staff. Over the past 6 weeks, this internship has shown me that the only way to really learn about your field of interest is by abandoning your insecurities and diving in head first. This internship has given me the freedom to explore public relations in a professional environment, and shown me that I am in the right field.

My main focus in this internship has been brainstorming marketing and public relations techniques that will target the Liberal Arts students. I have found this task to be both challenging and rewarding. As a student, I am very aware of what advertising my peers will absorb. Knowing how they respond to marketing techniques, I have been attempting to brainstorm unique ideas that will help them understand The Professional Forum and hopefully persuade them to attend.

These marketing techniques include customized fortune cookies that explain how the students can “find their fortune” at The Professional Forum, unique handouts folded like business shirts, and a large banner to hang in the main liberal arts building. I think that these projects will raise student’s awareness of the event and encourage them to attend.

I have been pleasently surprised as to how my ideas are being received by the other interns and staff at Career Development. It is very reassuring to have such positive reinforcement and support, knowing that I am on the right track. This internship has shown me that no idea is too outrageous, and it never hurts to try. It has also shown me that I am in the right field and will enjoy and succeed in marekting and public relations as a career.

One of the greatest things about the internship so far has been the team I am working with. We have such diverse talents, interests, and skills. I have learned so much watching the other interns and have a great deal of admiration for their strengths. Ashley, the other marketing intern, is incredibly skilled at recruiting companies to attend our career fair. She is very personable and is able to cold call companies and promote our event. I admire her ability to do this, and have found through the internship that this is not my strength. Angela, the art and design intern, is very talented and knowledgable in the area of graphic design. I often approach her with design problems, and she is able to solve them in a matter of minutes. Together, I think the three of us form a unique team, whose strengths compliment eachothers.

I am looking forward to the coming weeks, anxious to see how the event takes shape. I feel that we have put so much effort in to making The Professional Forum a successful event, and hope that these efforts are reflected in company and student participation.