This is my final week as an intern at Anvil Media. I have learned so much about digital marketing and the industry in general. When I came into Anvil, I was completely unsure. I had no idea how to be a good intern, and how to be successful in my internship. Today, I’m going to share my advice on how to make the most out of your agency internship.
Start Organized and Stay Organized
Within my first 24 hours my supervisor told me that I should make folders on outlook to keep my inbox under control. I had no idea how right she was. I receive dozens of emails every hour about everything from HR, to information for projects I was working on, to our agency’s fantasy football league. Without a system to organize these emails I would be drowning in information. One of the most helpful sources I have is a folder I use exclusively for advice I’ve received. I even have an article about tips on being a successful intern that was written by Anvil CEO Kent Lewis within arm’s reach that I reference from time to time in this folder. Even if you’re the kind of person that can stay on top of your inbox with no problem, I would highly recommend using some form of organization in your email, so you don’t have to be searching for 20 minutes for that one specific email that you need.
I also would encourage you to take notes, and to take a lot of them. When I began at my internship, it felt like I was being trained on how to do something every five minutes. Taking notes helped me from getting information overload. Plus, you never know when that one random piece of information you wrote down will come in handy.
Try as Many Things as You Can
Something I loved about my time at Anvil (and I’m not just saying this because I’m writing this on the Anvil blog, and I know that one of my bosses is going to read it) is their willingness to let me get my hands into a little bit of everything. If you’re given the opportunity to try something new, take it. Every bit of experience you get in your internship is something you can use on your resume or use as training for a full-time position at your next job or internship. What makes these learning opportunities different from those you get in school is the weight of working for real clients, and getting to work on real-world, tangible projects, all while having a safety net of people to help you if you screw something up. These kinds of experiences are unique to internships. Take advantage of them, and try to always say yes before you say no.
Ask Questions, and Ask a Lot of Them (No, Really)
Trust me, I know this is the most cliché advice when you’re entering the workforce, but that’s because it’s the most important. I promise you the mentality of “oh I got this, I’ll figure it out” will only get you so far. Know when to ask questions. Find something that makes you ask “why” and then find the person who will help you find the answer. Your internship should be a learning experience. Give it the chance to be one.
Play to Your Strengths
Coming into an agency environment can be intimidating, especially in an intern role. For myself, it was hard not to let imposter syndrome set in. This is when it’s important to remember that there’s a reason you’ve been hired at your agency. For myself and many others, internships come when you’re fresh out of school, or maybe still in it. Use this to your advantage. At Anvil, I found myself deemed the resident TikTok expert. What started as a joke turned into me writing about TikTok for the company blog. You may be a math whiz, or a great writer, or even a social media influencer. Chances are you’re fresh in the industry, and you can see things that your coworkers have been looking at for months with fresh eyes.
Observe
It doesn’t matter if this is your first internship or your 100th, every agency you work at will be different. Take your time to absorb the daily happenings where you work. Agencies are fast paced, take a step back and see how it all works. Some of the most fulfilling lessons I’ve learned about how marketing and advertising works while at Anvil were through sitting in on client calls and being a part of meetings that I didn’t have much to add to. Learn how the whole process works from start to finish, and you’ll better understand how to make your own work fit into the process.
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