Discoveries & Some Helpful Tips – Interning at Tag

It is more than halfway through my account service internship at Tag Strategies and it has been an eye-opening experience for me. I was excited on the first day yet nervous not knowing what I was getting myself into. Since the first day to now, I have learned and practiced everything from:

tracking and purchasing orders for client products
stages of the creative process
the writing style for making a creative request
thoroughly proofreading copy and layouts
compiling competitive ads from different fields such as healthcare and banking
sitting in and listening to a client meeting
and so much more!

Not only that, but I have had helpful tips and advice from my mentor, Stacie, during this process. One of the many things that I’ve realized is crucial in this career is time management because DEADLINES are so IMPORTANT. What helps me stay on track is Stacie’s tip on making a “To-Do” list. Each time I’m in the office, I make a new to-do list for me to remind myself what tasks/assignments/deadlines are coming up. It may seem like a little thing, but a little goes a long way. This has helped me stay on top and be organized.

One of the things that I have found surprising for me is the possibility that I might want to work in a smaller ad agency in the future. Now I’ve always dreamed of one day during the course of my career to work with the big guys: Ogilvy, Grey, Leo Burnett, BBDO, Y&R, TBWA, etc.

Tag may be consisted of a small team, but it is composed of creative, talented, and intelligent individuals,  which in my opinion is like a big agency anyway. Through my observations at Tag, I have seen the co-workers being very close-knit being almost like a family. In this industry, it takes a lot of hard work and trust within another to make brands and ideas happen. And Tag is successful at that.

So I would like to keep my options open in the future…who knows where will I end up? That’s the exciting part.

Some helpful tips for those who are interning next semester or next summer… or just keep this in your mind throughout your internship/career experiences.

– Be open, to anything and everything.
– Never be afraid to ask questions, no matter how dumb it may sound.
– Take chances, you never know where you’ll end up.
– Challenge yourself relentlessly.
– Learn from your mistakes, but don’t let it happen again.
– Pay attention to the big idea and the details as well.
– Never forget where you came from and how you started.
– Stay humble.