Dear future Liquid Intern,
If you’ve decided to click on this blog, well, I’m happy you did because that means you’re doing your research! In this blog I’m going to tell you a little bit about my internship experience at Liquid Interactive and share some advice with you before you begin yours.
If I’m being honest, I had no idea what to expect when I first started at Liquid. This was my first time interning! One thing was for sure – I was nervous. Like a lot of people, I was under the impression that all internships had the same stereotypical tasks, like making phone calls and going for coffee runs. Luckily, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
You’re probably asking, “What made your experience so great?” or “What makes Liquid so different?” My answer is that I felt like I was part of a team! It’s not every day that an intern is able to say that they played an active role in helping the company.
My experience with Liquid has been immersive and collaborative, and I’m sure that yours will be too. I never felt that I was there to do busywork. I knew what I was doing was helpful and relevant to what was going on in the office. Within the first week, I knew that I picked a good company to intern for, and by the end of my internship, I couldn’t possibly imagine a better option! I’m so thankful for all that the Liquid team has taught me and the projects I’ve been mentored through.
As a Corporate Communications student, I was not well versed in the world of Digital Marketing when I first started my internship. I knew what it was and how a lot of it worked, but I was unaware of a lot of tools used and what it was like to work for an agency.
With all that I understand today, I can look back and confidently say that my internship was a learning process. I wasn’t handed tasks that I didn’t understand, but I was first taught how to do things and then I was able to execute those tasks. As a Liquid intern, you will be given all the tools you need to learn more about the industry and all it has to offer.
Here is my best advice if you would like to have a successful internship full of great experience and growth:
1. Be Present
Remember that you’re there to learn. Take notes at every meeting and pay close attention to what is being said. Attending meetings is one of the best learning experiences you can get as an intern because it shows the process a project must go through from brainstorming to execution.
2. Be an Opportunity Maker
If you’ve never heard of this term, I suggest you watch this TED Talk by Kare Anderson!
Create opportunities for yourself. Use your outside perspective to bring new connections. Attend all the meetings you can and ask to work on projects that you have interest in. During your time at Liquid, there will be many projects you can help with, so take initiative and get involved.
3. Be Personable
Be sure to build relationships with everyone you meet! This is so important because connecting with people can make your experience so much more fun. Everyone at Liquid is so welcoming and kind. They want to build a relationship with you so don’t be afraid to ask questions, reach out, or even join them for lunch!
4. Be Open
New challenges are your best friend in this environment. Don’t stay in a bubble of what you already know. The best way to learn is to jump into tasks that you may not completely understand and its okay to mess up.
5. Be Up-To-Date
One of the best things you can do in the marketing industry is know what’s going on in the world. Watching the news, doing industry research and being aware of all that’s going on in pop culture. It also wouldn’t hurt to binge watch The Office before you start, too!
I have no doubt in my mind that the experience you will have at Liquid will be a great one. You will learn a lot, have many opportunities to put your skills into practice and make valuable connections. Just remember to be open-minded and take any challenges head on. You’ll do great.
Sincerely,
Annie Masenheimer