Direct Development offers internship opportunities for college students looking for hands-on learning experience with clients in the marketing and public relations world throughout the year.
We took some time to talk to our Summer 2018 interns, Shannon and Vanessa, to hear about their experiences at Direct Development. Both are rising seniors with Shannon pursuing a degree at Quinnipiac University in Public Relations and Vanessa majoring in Communication at Monmouth University.
Learn more about them in our interview below!
What types of assignments or tasks have you worked on for Direct Development?
Vanessa: From the moment that I started at Direct Development, I have been non-stop working and learning new things everyday. I assist in writing different press releases, editing newsletter content, creating blog post ideas and so much more.
Shannon: One area of work which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed is creating graphics for e-blasts and social media posts. I’ve also written several press releases, blog articles and social media posts. This internship experience has taught me a significant amount about public relations, my strengths and weaknesses and how to best implement marketing techniques into a work plan.
Tell us about the clients and/or projects that you’ve assisted on.
VF: On the first day of my internship, I was assigned to assist with a project that was tasked with creating a social media calendar for one of our clients. This allowed me to learn the beginning stages of strategic social media posting, advertising and getting a client or brand’s name out there. I created and formatted a social media calendar, which consisted of a layout of Facebook & Instagram posts, blog posts and other communications outlets.
SM: One of the continuous tasks for two of the clients I worked with focused on assembling weekly social posts with accompanying imagery. I’ve also utilized my design strengths and created numerous digital flyers for upcoming events and announcements that were used for email marketing with many of our clients. One of the smaller projects that I enjoyed was creating an e-blast for a municipality, which offered summer safety tips for children and weather concerns.
What are some new skills or knowledge gained during this internship?
SM: Throughout my time as an intern at Direct Development, I learned the importance of research, cross referencing past campaigns and compiling analytics. What is successful for one campaign may not necessarily be successful for every campaign or even the same campaign the next year. Having the ability to speak to a specific audience is an extremely important skill which I have learned here at Direct Development.
VF: This internship has provided me with a lot more knowledge in my short time of being here. I have gained new skills with different social media platforms and have a new understanding about how to grab an audience. Additionally, by assisting in writing press releases, blog posts and media advisories, my writing skills have improved.
What has been your biggest challenge while interning at Direct Development?
VF: Biggest challenge? I would have to say the biggest challenge is understanding the voice of the clients and understanding what they want certain things to say. I have a very bubbly and outgoing personality, so most of my social media posts would reflect a more excited tone of voice, however some clients prefer short, simple and to the point. It’s all about catering to the client.
SM: At first I struggled to understand the difference in client audiences. I struggled with changing the audience of who I was writing for depending on who the client was. Overtime, I began to learn that you are not always speaking to everyone and that regardless of the topic, the content still needs to circle back to the client who is always the main focus.
How has this internship prepared you for a career in your field?
SM: First, knowing and recognizing the importance of paying close attention to detail whether it be in your writing or in the client’s profile. Second, it is imperative to ask for help and advice and being willing to work off of constructive criticism. Lastly, valuing the opportunity to participate in meetings. During my internship experience, client meetings gave me a real-world example of the industry and what a client will expect from me in the future.
VF: This internship has allowed me to understand the importance of public relations in the role of everyday life. Watching my supervisor interact with her clients has allowed me to see first hand how to interact with future clients and how to understand what they want and incorporate it into the work being done. I always ask how to improve my work to become better in my field and this internship has definitely prepared me for my future careers.
What is your favorite part about working at Direct Development?
VF: There are so many things I love about working here at Direct Development. I really admire all of the staff here, because everyone is so down-to-earth and helpful. If someone’s struggling, someone else will pitch in to help. Something else I really love is that this isn’t like any internship I have had before. I am actually doing work for my supervisor and gaining an education from this.
SM: My favorite part about interning at Direct Development has been my supervisor’s willingness to help me learn. I was given the freedom to experiment and research marketing campaign ideas and approaches and the staff was always there to offer constructive criticism and help from start to finish of each campaign.
What advice would you give to a prospective intern?
SM: I would tell a prospective intern to work hard, be willing to listen and admit when you are wrong. Also to take advantage of the staffs’ willingness to help you grow and never stop asking questions.
VF: An internship is there to help you gain experience and to understand your field in a more in-depth way. You’re going to make mistakes no matter what, so don’t take any criticism to heart. The constructive criticism is just to help you become better in your field.
