My Last Semester at The Ranch + My Advice for Fellow Owls
Hey everyone, I’m Natalie– a senior advertising major with a dual concentration in media planning and account management. This semester, I’m interning for a second time at Red Tettemer O’Connell + Partners (RTO-P). I’m thrilled to be back at The Ranch during my last semester at Temple.
Interning at RTO+P is one of the best decisions I’ve made, during my time at Temple. RTO+P is a fantastic agency and I could talk for hours about how much I love it. Instead, I want to share my advice on how to succeed in an internship. I’ve learned a lot during my 3.5 years at Temple, number one being that internships are super important! The process of finding, applying, and interviewing for internships can be daunting, but have no fear! This blog is chock-full of great advice from your fellow Owls who have already gone through the process. I hope this advice helps you make the most of your internship experience!
Quality Over Quantity
If you are applying to internships for the first time, you may feel as though you want to apply to every internship you come across. Instead of applying to as many as you can, find between 7-10 that interest you. From that list, research the companies and the internships in depth. Once you’ve done your research, apply to 3-5. Applying to a few internships that you have a strong shot at getting is the way to go! Remember, work smarter not harder!
Research, research, research!
After researching and applying to your prospective internships, research some more! If you score an interview, it will benefit you to know about the company. Look at the company’s website, read about the company on blogs (such as this one!), and check out LinkedIn. If you know other students who have interned at the companies to which you’ve applied, ask them to get coffee! They can provide great insight into the interview process, culture, and internship program.
Be Productive in The Meantime
Although you should always be updating your LinkedIn, use your time wisely while waiting to hear back! LinkedIn is an important tool that can help you out a lot. Make sure it is up to date with your experience, relevant coursework, and certifications. If you’re a LinkedIn superstar, connect and network with people from the companies to which you’ve applied! It shows you are interested in the position and passionate about the industry. In the meantime, you should practice for interviews, work on certifications, and be productive!
Interview Like A Pro
Yay! You’ve scored an interview. To prepare, research the company and the position (again). Through LinkedIn, familiarize yourself with the person(s) who will be interviewing you. On the day of the interview, dress for success! Even if you’re interviewing at like, the most chill agency ever, it’s always better to be overdressed. Make sure you arrive early, with plenty of time to gather your thoughts and prepare before the interview. By this point, you should be comfortable talking about yourself, your skills, your experiences, and so on. After the interview, send a handwritten thank-you note to the company and interviewers. It will speak volumes on your character!
Your First Day
When the time finally comes to begin your internship, make sure you are prepared to succeed on your first day. First impressions are super important, so you want to make a good one! Dress respectfully, smile, and shake hands with everyone to whom you’re introduced.
Succeeding Throughout the Semester
During the first few weeks– especially if it’s your first internship– be a sponge! Learn as much as you can from the people around you. Every moment is a learning opportunity. Be sure to stay organized and on top of your work. If you finish your work, always ask for extra or offer to help out in another department. There is so much to learn and experience in an internship, so make the most of your time at the company. Form relationships with your employers, because they could become great mentors! Finally, keep track of the projects on which you’ve worked. You’ll be grateful you kept track of your experience for future interviews!
Landing your first (or second or third) internship can be a challenging process. Luckily, you have the advice of many fellow Owls to help you out along the way! Temple provides Klein Students with an abundance of resources to help you succeed outside of the classroom, so make sure to take advantage of them! Internships are exciting, fun, and amazing learning experiences! I’m so grateful for my time at Red Tettemer O’Connell + Partners and look forward to spending the rest of the semester at The Ranch!
