The Power of Placement – Week 4/6 as Marketing Intern

@mandamwright

I can’t believe how time is flying here at FUSE. Over the past few weeks I have really thought about what an internship is, and how it can affect a student. I know some peers went to placements thinking they were getting a job, some to graduate and move onto other studies, and many like me just didn’t know exactly what to expect. My belief is you should never go into a situation like placement and expect to get a job, there may not be an opening, maybe you don’t fit with the team, or maybe it’s perfect and you get it, but I think that if your entire focus is securing a job with the company you will over look everything else you can get from a placement.

These are my key takeaways from my internship at FUSE Marketing Group.


Networking – It is a given that being an intern allows you to meet a multitude of industry professionals, but taking advantage of this oppourtunity is how you will get the most out of your placement. The end goal is NOT to get a job but to make connections. Connect with your team on Linked In, shadow internal meetings and reviews, go out to lunch with the individuals you work with every day, connect with them on a personal and professional level. Don’t only make them your friends, but show them what you can do in the office as well.

Learn from these professionals, wow them, and search for that ‘golden reference’.

Studying – The office atmosphere has many differences from the classroom, but the main similarities I noticed was how close everyone becomes and how many different personalities comprise one team, let alone the entire office/company. Studying how all of these individuals interact with each other as well as how they adapt to the each unique client is a lesson in itself.

Understand the office dynamic as well as the many different techniques to adapt to different clients and you will go far in this business.

Experience – The one shout out I must give to my program at St. Lawrence College (Advertising: Integrated Marketing Communications) is our experience with local clients and the ability to run through the entire campaign process from the RFP and Pitch all the way through to Execution and Analytics has helped prepare us for agency life. In the office I suggest help with EVERYTHING, if there is anything on a project you are even remotely interested in, ask how you can help. Offer your time to everyone on your team, and to other teams, try to get your hand into as many projects as possible (without over extending yourself, because you want all of your work to be your best work) and expand your experience beyond sitting at a desk waiting for a project to fall in your lap.

My highlight of placement so far would have to be my work on the FUZZ Blog, not because it is astounding and groundbreaking, but because they trusted my work enough to have it associated with their brand. Seeing my blog post on the main website, shared on their Facebook and Twitter was the pat on the back I didn’t realize I needed.

My Advice to anyone entering into placement (Outside the obvious – show up early and be professional)

Everyday of placement is an in office interview. Never expect a job from an internship but earn an amazing reference. Every meeting is a first impression, every morning is a chance to show how dedicated you are to the industry and brand, and every interaction is a window of oppourtunity to create a long standing professional relationship to help you in the job search of the future.

Week 2 @FUSEmg! What have I learned? 2/6

Week two already, I feel like time is just flying and I dread the end of April! From client meetings, internal brainstorming, blog work and helping anyone who needs it my days are anything but boring. I was even able to show off my people skills this week while doing sampling on the street! The weather may be gloomy but my spirits are not.

I, of course, cannot disclose any client information but I have to say sitting in and listening to real clients is eye opening! Sitting in class listening to the teachers explaining how a client meeting will be does not prepare you. I am so glad that the last two years at St. Lawrence College we didn’t just receive lessons and lectures but were able to work on real campaigns and dip our toes in to the reality that is pitching to the client and adapting to their needs and desires. 

Lesson 1: The client knows their company better than you, as an advertiser, ever will, or should. The client should be an expert about their company and products; you need to be the expert on how to talk to and inform their target market and how they will respond to positioning and branding. As the marketer (from what I have seen so far) you need to be the channel, strategy and consumer expert, let the client tell you about their brand. Go in with facts and knowledge of the brand and leave all biased behind so that you can create a clear picture on how the client sees their own brand and how they want their customers to see it. 

Life at the Agency: The community and atmosphere of agency life (this agency) is so warm, even in a bad mood and completely stressed out and fighting to meet a deadline everyone here is supportive, understanding and friendly, it’s like a large family with strong communication skills. I’m only on my second week and I am greeted by everyone who walks by my desk, I am invited to lunches and meetings and I don’t think my brain has ever been so buzzing with information! The day is done at 5, and I am reflecting on what I’ve done, experienced and learned until I finally fall asleep at night (and I may even be dreaming it, who knows.)

Wish me good luck for my 3^rd week at FUSE Marketing Group and the halfway point of the best experience of my life! (Yup I’m sucking up :P)

@mandamwright

P.S. Cut down my coffee intake from 2  a day to 1 a week! 

Week 1 @FUSEmg #Reimagine #Placement

(That’s right I hashtagged my Title!)

It’s been a full week at Fuse and I already love it! I’vesettled into Toronto life and the agency atmosphere.

                Monday morning began with abrainstorming meeting where I was able to voice my suggestions and meet part ofthe Creative and Account team. It was very open, with all types of ideas justto get everyone thinking. After the exhilarating meeting I was introduced tothe team I would be working for, a group a fun and engaging individuals thatalways have something for me to work on. I started with client research, whichI am so thankful I did, because later that week I would sit in on a clientmeeting where I needed all the background info I could remember. Later they hadbe work on editing (yes they let me edit something!) and caught me up to speedwith the rebranding that was about to launch the next day.

                Tuesday was even more excitingwith FUSE’s Rebrand. #Reimagine #Results! I was able to help with some of theexecution of the new brand and the best part was joining the party downstairsin the Creative Department and meeting all the members of FUSE. It was my 2^ndday and we were having cake and FUSE-tinis. Though the day was mostly fun, itwas also a busy day, I worked through my lunch and didn’t notice until theparty what time it was.

                Wednesday and I am reallystarting to feel like one of the team. I come in early (Here at 8:30 everymorning because I’m terrified of being late) and almost everyone says hi ontheir way to their desk. I am remembering MOST of the names and becoming quitecomfortable. This day started with more research, some editing again and thenORGANIZING! I was able to organize and create a content calendar for one of theclients I am working on, and it was...sadly....very exciting, there werecolours and columns and now I KNOW I should stay on the account side just so Ihave an excuse to jump on Excel!

                Thursday & Friday almost toobusy to blog! Having a great time, and everything is getting a little clientorientated, which of course I am unable to disclose! But I am learning a lot,loving the ability to shadow, sit in on meetings and work on my own tasks! Iwill attempt to do an overview each week of my experience here at FUSEMarketing Group!

Stay tuned!

@mandamwright