The internship that changed everything
This Blog will talk about my experiences at The Nest1324 and my journey to self-discovery. Things in life don’t always go as planned. I began my internship intending to start my career post-graduate as a social media strategist. However, after learning different business and marketing aspects, my career path has changed.
Hello!
My name is Don Parker. I am a senior at Temple University Studying Advertising & Account Management. I am currently interning at a cozy company called TheNest1324. The Nest1324 is an off-campus housing complex that offers housing to primarily Temple/ college students. I originally began my journey at TheNest1324 as a student handing out flyers on Saturday mornings to earn extra cash. As time went on, I grew interested in the company and wanted to be a part of the team. I worked in the office as a leasing agent until I was offered the opportunity to intern as a marketing officer.
Social media is primarily the source of advertising within this industry. To receive impressions and traction in this industry, you must have a heavy social media presence. I learned that social media marketing is key to reaching a college audience during this internship. My responsibilities were creating weekly flyers ( Canva, Poster my wall, Photoshop), planning events, and managing the company’s social media pages. Each month, the team would sit down and create a schedule that laid out the month’s mission, objectives, and targets. At first, the position was fun and exciting, but I learned that social media marketing isn’t my true passion over time. Creating flyers, hosting events, and managing social media profiles wasn’t the career I imagined for myself. Learning that social media marketing wasn’t the field I wanted to go into was scary; as college seniors, we are told to have it all figured out, right? So, I spoke to my manager, and she said something that would change the rest of my journey at the internship.
The Discovery
As I sat down with my manager, she told me that she thinks that my true passion is in sales, and that is where I truly excel. I would’ve never thought of a career in sales, but when I thought about it, I was happiest when I was closing leases, performing tours of the building, and prospecting for the company. Now, I primarily focus on the sales aspect of the company and the different marketing strategies that can increase leasing. My manager was able to tie in marketing and sales to help me understand that my career doesn’t have to focus on social media, but there are other aspects of advertising.
My overall experience at TheNest1324 has been an emotional roller coaster but in a good way. This internship has taken me out of my comfort zone and taught me to advocate for myself, ask questions, and trust my instincts. I’ve learned many transferable skills that will be helpful in future jobs and opportunities. Although the marketing scope wasn’t my favorite, I did enjoy hosting brunch events, student center events, and learning the best way to decorate a table. Without this internship, I would’ve walked into this industry blindly.
The advice I would give others is to be yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions or admit you don’t know something. Being honest and transparent in a role like this is essential. If I had never asked questions or told my manager about my concerns, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My manager/mentor, Kristie, is one of a kind! Throughout my internship, she has pushed me to be better and know my worth as an employee and a person. For that, I am forever grateful to TheNest1324. If you are enthusiastic and love social media, event planning, and marketing, The Nest1324 is the place for you!
The biggest lesson I have learned from this experience is, don’t let a major put you in a box. If you have a dream and aren’t afraid to fight for it, do it! Set the standard and become the dream you want to achieve.
