Just Ask!
Hi everyone, my name is Riley Flanagan, and I was a maker intern at RTOP for the spring of 2024. I got the chance to work in the production department and see how things are brought to life in the advertising world. Even though I am not a production student, Klein has given me the opportunity to pursue all my interests. I am an advertising major with a concentration in account management. Since Klein allowed me to start my own TV show, I have a background in TV production (specifically videography), but not so much in photography. But still here I learned a whole new side of videography too.
The luxury of most, if not all, internships is the ability to learn about multiple pieces of an industry in one place. At least that is what I have learned. With my curiosity in all parts of the industry, I have been able to get a well-rounded view of the advertising and production world. That is the beauty of internships – you are not expected to know it all. People want to teach you and help you. Also, it is a great time to learn what you do not like as well. You may not know until you try it. My biggest piece of advice is to just ask and be curious.
I have had internships that focus on account management, but I still got to go to production shoots. I have had internships focused on production, but still got to learn about the business side of things. This all happened because I was not afraid to ask to do so. My curiosity has opened so many doors for me that I did not even know were doors I wanted to explore. Also, nobody is ever too young to do anything – this is something else I learned. People create these fake timelines of once this happens or once they are this age, then they can go do xyz. What is stopping you from doing it right now? Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and meet new people. Once you do get an internship (which you will), don’t wait to be told what to do. If you want to learn more or do something else, you absolutely can. You can talk to people in other departments, it is not cheating, I promise.
The most important advice I learned has been taken straight out of RTOP’s book: Don’t be a Sh!thead. As long as you are nice and want to be there, that is the key to success.
Hi Riley! I totally agree with the sentiment you shared here about being curious! I think a lot of people don’t understand the power of asking. Simply asking a question means a lot. It means you’re inquisitive and care about the work you are doing. It shows that you want to learn and grow. Asking a question shows others that you proactive and take initiative.
Knowing you personally, I think you are a great example of how far curiosity can take you!
Hey Riley,
I really appreciated your post as I have learned a lot about curiosity through my internship this summer as well. I learned that curiosity is such a positive trait that can keep a work environment moving and can even open up opportunities for innovation. Asking the simple questions is crucial to bring a piece of work to its highest potential so I have learned to ask away. I also love your piece of advice at the end.