They Aren’t Kidding About Networking

My name is Hailey Rose and I’m currently an intern for the Philly Pretzel Factory marketing team. I’ve been interning there since June of 2023 and will be starting full time as a junior graphic designer in January of 2024. This experience has been amazing as it has reaffirmed my love for advertising as well as my passion for graphic design. Being able to feel confident that my time at Temple has prepared me for this career is so exciting and being able to say that I have a job lined up prior to graduating is even more exciting. Having the opportunity to be a part of an amazing creative team and learn from the very talented women that are around me in the marketing department has been a dream and is something I am very excited to keep exploring. I can also confidently say that regardless of how prepared I feel due to my Temple education, I also feel that I’m learning something new everyday. My day to day tasks don’t feel like work. Not because we aren’t working but because we all truly enjoy what we do so much. It sounds like a cliche but when you find work you love to do, you are never truly working. 

Some advice I would give to those looking for an internship is to network! I know that is what every professor says but it truly is the best way to find opportunities and put yourself out there. Along with that, never be afraid to reach out on LinkedIn, this is one of the best resources. I got my internship, and then eventually my first full-time position from reaching out on LinkedIn. Connect with everyone you can, and always write a message when connecting saying how you may know them, what work they have done that you enjoy, or any small personal touch you can include. Another bit of advice is to lean in to the imposter syndrome. You will feel little confused or lost when you start your internship, remember you don’t know everything and you are not supposed to. Internships are meant to be learning experiences, both in performing your job duties and also how to manage communication in the work place. It is important to show yourself grace and uphold your boundaries.  

When I first started my internship, I remember being so nervous to speak up, ask questions or provide my opinion- even though I felt comfortable with those on the team, I hadn’t built a lot of confidence in my professional self. Confidence really is key. Being able to voice what makes you different, what you have learned and what makes you a valuable member to the team is the reason most companies hire interns. They are looking for a fresh perspective and a new way of tackling the job. 

One more tidbit when finding an internship- or a job- is to create your own personal brand. If you’re in advertising this is especially important, but regardless, you need to be able to tell people who you are and what makes you awesome. This isn’t something to overthink, this is just making sure you go into every situation being able to represent your authentic self.