Internship in Retrospect
As my internship at Maiden Media (https://www.maidenmedia.com) comes to an end, I figured I’d blog about some of the things I’ve learned in the last three months that I’m sure a lot of people can relate to as little students in the big professional world. I was actually hired by Maiden as a part time copywriter for the summer, so I’m looking forward to a new start with a totally new outlook.
1. They are people too.
Before I started at Maiden, I was pretty much terrified of the real world and I was convinced that these professional adults would be so far beyond me that I would never fit in. I know, terrible attitude, but I’m being honest. The morning of my first day, my mom texted me and said, “Remember: they are people too. They probably even dig around for the fries at the bottom of the bag.” I know, total mom moment- but in a weird way, she was right. I learned quickly that despite my crazy thoughts, everyone I work with is so much more than their job. They watch Gossip Girl, have weird roommates, and look forward to Fridays. It was so refreshing and welcoming to realize this fact and, had I done it sooner, I would have saved myself a lot of freak-out time.
2. This is real stuff.
It’s weird when you spend 12+ years in school, perfecting the art of “oh my gosh I totally forgot I have that essay due tomorrow let me throw something together really fast and hope it sounds good.” When you finally hit the real world, that perspective just doesn’t work. When it’s real people, their real companies/brands, and (most importantly) their real money, you can’t mess around. Of course we all have the intentions of doing our best work, but it becomes a lot more important when it results in more than a grade on the top of the page.
3. It’s ok to mess up.
In addition to realizing that they are human, remember that you are human too. If you don’t understand something, ask. If you can’t finish something in time, tell someone. If you’re freaking out, don’t. You’re an intern because you’re learning, not because you know everything already. So use the time to learn everything you can, not try to prove what you already know.
Of course I’m not some internship professional, but these are just some of the things I wish somebody told me before I started mine. So if you’re anything like me, these tips might make a dent in your nervousness. Good luck!
contact: mmcgowan@temple.edu
