Tell us about your internship, what are your main responsibilities?
I’m a Creative Strategy Intern at Situation, where I support and work with the strategy team (which falls under the broader creative department). Day-to-day, I pull social analytic numbers, assist in ideating concepts, and attend brainstorms. I’ve also had the opportunity to work directly with the content team and assist with copywriting. Overall, I’ve had the chance to do a lot of different things, work with many teams, and learn so much about the advertising industry.
Do you have a dream account or brand you’d like to work with? Which one?
Getting to work on Mean Girls the Musical this summer was an absolute dream. If I had to pick another dream brand to work on, it would be Beyoncé. It’d be truly amazing to promote and market one of the greatest performers of our generation. Today it has become so important for a musician to also be a brand to truly create a dedicated market and fanbase. As a fan of her music, the marketing behind the music, and Beyoncé herself… I would love to be a part of her team.
Talk to us about the culture in your office, how has it impacted your internship?
I love the culture at Situation. In my Business Management course, we talked so much about how proper treatment of employees leads to greater productivity, increased employee retention, and overall happiness. I’ve seen that firsthand at this company. From the open concept floor plan to the ice cream socials to the overall approachability of this company, Situation has done an amazing job at creating an inclusive, warm, and professional atmosphere. The environment has really allowed me to thrive and be the most productive version of myself. Every day that I walk into the office, I feel appreciated, welcomed, and excited for what the day will bring.
What have you learned about the advertising industry that surprised you?
One thing I learned that I didn’t know before this internship was how fast everything moves. Sure, they can teach you all about advertising in class, but they can’t teach you about the crazy-fast pace of the advertising world. We’re constantly looking ahead, creating work with a fast turnaround, and making sure we’re ahead of the game. There’s never a slow day here at Situation.
Choose a current popular advertising trend and tell us what’s interesting about it:
I think something that’s interesting and popular right now is the super casual and funny voice many companies are utilizing on social media. I think one of the most popular and recent examples is the Wendy’s Twitter account. It’s filled to the brim with sass and humor. Several years ago, I never imagined that so many brands would take this approach, but it’s gotten pretty popular recently. I think that (when done properly) it’s a great way to capture attention, increase engagement, and stay fresh in consumers’ minds.
Imagine your dream job, where are you, what does a day-to-day look like?
My dream job is to be a Creative Director at a global advertising agency. Getting the opportunity to shape a brand and tell their story excites me. I would work with the copywriters, designers, strategists, and account executives to mold and shape a campaign for a brand with a global audience.
Are you considering another internship, or looking for jobs now? What are your next steps?
I’m starting my senior year at Penn State University, so I’ll be starting my search for full-time positions pretty soon!
What is your favorite ad of all time?
I think a lot of people would say the same, but my absolute favorite ad is one from Apple’s “Think Different” campaign. At the time, Apple was revolutionizing the tech industry, and this ad perfectly demonstrates the creativity and culture of innovation the company created. The “Crazy Ones” commercial preaches about embracing differentness, creativity, and thinking outside the box to find success. This ad is the ultimate inspiration whenever I need a pick-me-up. Without fail, I get chills every time I watch the commercial. It’s our job as marketers to think outside the box, to conceptualize never-before-seen ideas, and to constantly innovate. Watching that commercial always makes me so excited to begin my career in this industry and reminds me to always look forward, be a leader in innovation, and “Think Different.”