Getting the most out of your internship...

A part of it...but hopefully not the whole thing.

Hi gang.

We have a guest post for you today (two posts in two days - I'm as shocked as you). The very kind Lauren Ingram has written a post about her experiences as an intern, and offers tips for you lot about how to turn yours into a permanent job.


Getting the most out of your internship
by Lauren Ingram

If you’ve wangled an internship at an agency, make sure you give them a reason to keep you on, or invite you back after uni. It's all about making yourself invaluable.

I was on the IPA Ad School in 2011 in Client Services/Planning, and subsequently stayed on as a copywriter intern – this trial period was worth doing as I’m not quite cut out for Creative! So to distil some things that I learned the hard way…

Know what questions to ask and when to ask them: being curious is a positive trait in adland but don’t be a nuisance. Anything you could find out online – find it out online. Learn as much as you can about what a planner does, what an account handler does, and so on, and get to know your agency's campaigns in detail. This is still important even though you've got the internship now. Many agencies subscribe to Campaign mag as well as other titles, so borrow these during your lunch breaks to stay up to date.

Ask more about the projects your colleagues are working on. You get a better idea of what they actually do all day (and it’s not reorganising the stationery cupboard) and you can offer more relevant help this way. I often found myself asking “is there anything else I can do to help?” and this is fine, but what would be more useful for them is offering help on a specific task. For example, your agency is positioning a brand’s loyalty card, offer to do research into what other brands are doing in this area. Of course, your colleagues might have already done it, but it makes your mentor’s life easier if they don’t have to ‘invent’ tasks for you.

Make good use of empty time: As an intern you probably have more time on your hands than others in the business. Make use of it. Offering everyone tea won't build your skills but it does give you a chance to speak to more people. Also, read your company's blog and decide whether you could write something decent for it. There may be longer thoughtpieces by senior members of staff, but there may also be shorter pieces by other staff members on relevant news in adland. For example, at certain times of year (Christmas, Valentine's Day, around the Olympics, etc) there will be a flurry of advertising activity and you could do a round-up of some of the best ads during that period, or an emerging theme you have noticed within them. Ask who looks after the company blog, then ask them if your submission sounds suitable - they're usually always looking for more content to show how switched on the agency and its employees are. 

Also look at their Twitter feed, find some interesting links that you think would be suited to their style, then find out who manages it (more networking!) and pass on the links with a very short blurb for each. You could offer to manage the Twitter feed - the New Business/Marketing department probably looks after it - but they might say no as many a Twitter disaster is caused by a rogue intern. 

A last suggestion would be to ask to attend as many meetings as possible. Sometimes they will only want to have those who absolutely need to be there, so don't be offended if they say no, but for the most part it will give a good impression that you want to get stuck in.

All in all, it's a bit of a balancing act, making yourself memorable without getting in people’s way (and I still haven’t perfected it) but it might be the thing that gets you a Real Job.

Good luck!

Thank you, Lauren. Much appreciated.

Quirk need YOU...

This is the wrong kind of quirkiness to display...

Hi all.

I've had another request for a graduate position from the good people at Quirk.

I'll let them explain:

"Quirk is a dynamic, fun, hard-working and rapidly growing agency looking for an Intern or Graduate to join our Engage team.  The post is for a minimum of 3 months, and you’ll be working closely with our Paid Search and Social Media teams.  You’ll be supporting some of our largest accounts setting up PPC campaigns, monitoring Social Media accounts and even assisting our SEO Manager.  This opportunity will provide you with invaluable, hands on experience that will equip you with important skills & knowledge to help start your digital marketing career. 

You will also be required to support other areas of the agency as needed. Skills needed include: A real passion for digital, an analytical mind, excellent attention to detail, Excel experience, Google AdWords experience is advantageous - and finally, good writing skills.

Please contact tammy at quirk.biz for more information."

Good luck, chaps.

Karmarama need YOU...

Karma's a pretty big thing.

Hello all.

The lovely people at Karmarama have got in touch about their 2012 grad scheme, Karma Kadets (now in its 2nd year), which is now open. It is an 8 week internship that runs from the 9th of July to the 31st of August, where one person will be given a job as an account executive after the scheme.

Since their recent acquisition of Crayon, the Kadet opportunity has become even more exciting. From June the entire group will be contained within one floor of their new office in Farringdon, and the scheme will provide a full rotation throughout Karmarama, Kream, Kaper and Crayon with experience in areas including production, PR, data, planning and advertising.

According to the entry page, the application closes on the 4th of May. There will be interviews between the 21st and 25th May. Applicants will be informed on the 1st of June.

Good luck, all.

TCA have ANOTHER opportunity...

Not sure that would work as a CV posting.

Hello all.

The good people of TCA London have another intern position open for you guys.

I'll let them explain further:

"We have an opening for a paid Internship (£200 a week) for a 3-month placement within the Promotions team, starting immediately, working on the Argos account. For the right candidate, this could even lead to a permanent graduate role.

The Argos team creates collateral for Argos stores and argos.co.uk to complement a vast number of calendar and Argos-owned events, as well as creating and delivering high-profile consumer promotions. The Intern will work closely with the Account Manager to:

- brief Creative teams, Designers and Studio

- compile competitor reviews

- create weekly status and contact reports

- provide general management support for all projects

If you are interested in applying for this position please go to tcalondon.com and email your CV to the Recruitment email address, subject "Argos Intern".

The closing date for receipt of CVs is the end of the day on the 23rd February 2012."

Good luck, guys.

Lambie-Nairn need YOU..

You might be someone who thinks like this...

Hi all.

The lovely Lambie-Nairn are after a full time intern to start in November. I'll let the blurb explain more:

"We are looking for a full-time intern to start in November 2011 to support the marketing, communications and new business team. Activities will include processing weekly business development reports, research and analysis of sectors, monitoring of press for client teams and general administrative support.

The individual needs to have a positive flexible attitude, strong attention to detail and, most importantly, be an excellent communicator.

The internship would be on a rolling monthly basis and it's a great chance for the right person to gain indispensable experience in the world of branding.

People who are doing a year in industry are welcome but as it's a full-time position they must be able to do a full working week.

Applicants will need to send a CV and covering letter to careers at lambie-nairn.com with the subject header "Internship 2011"."

Is this you? Get in touch, and good luck, guys and gals.

One more job...

Good advice.

Hi gang.

The last vacancy before I go on holiday is from Quirk. They've got a need an intern for some social media work. Their clients are Warner Bros, Investec, SAB Miller, Nando's...to name a few. If this sounds like your cup of tea, email Tammy (tammy dot joseph at quirk dot biz).

See you lot in two weeks. Good luck.

Two new internship opportunities...

It could be you. Maybe.

In addition to the more established grad schemes, there have been two other internship roles that I've been told about.

The first is from Quirk. They need a few interns for some social media work. Their clients are Warner Bros, Investec, SAB Miller, Nando's...to name a few. If this sounds like your cup of tea, email Tom at tom.brady@quirk.biz.

The second is from Lambie Nairn, who are looking for a full time intern to start in February 2011 to support the marketing, communications and new business team. Activities will include processing weekly business development reports, research and analysis of sectors, monitoring of press for client teams and general administrative support.

They are after someone with a positive flexible attitude, strong attention to detail and most importantly, someone who is an excellent communicator. The internship would be on a rolling monthly basis; people who are doing a year in industry are welcome, but as it's a full-time position applicants must be able to do a full working week.

Applicants will need to send a CV and covering letter to careers@lambie-nairn.com with the subject header "Internship 2011".

Best of luck with those two.

A Classic Opportunity

Hey everyone. It has been a long time since I wrote something in this box. Humps has been awesome in holding down the fort while I sort some stuff out. Anyway I wanted to tell you guys about a pretty awesome opportunity that's been dropped in my lap for y'all.

Global Radio (home of Classic FM, Capital FM, Heart, XFM and Galaxy FM amongst others - basically the biggest commercial radio group in the UK with something like 18 million listeners) are on the lookout for an awesome marketing intern to work in their London HQ this Summer. They are looking for someone to come onboard for 2 weeks, with the opportunity to stay for the whole Summer. Global will cover your expenses and you'll be working with Sara Holt who leads marketing on Classic, Galaxy, LBC and XFM. I know Sara personally and she's really cool to work with and has won tons of marketing awards.

Rather than having a boring application process, we've come up with a way of applying that gets to the core of what you'll be doing. So here's the deal:

Classic FM are running a campaign this summer to help students through their exams. They're dishing out tips on Twitter and Facebook to help you guys get through this short and stressful time. There's a bunch of cool prizes up for grabs and some genuinely useful information along with that.

The culmination of this activity is the Classic FM Treasure Chase coming to campuses across the UK in the next two weeks. Classic are working with universities to hide 19 Fs up and down the country on campus. If you find that F on your campus and take a picture of it in the weirdest place you can think of you get the chance to win a shiny new iPad, fresh from the hands of Emperor Steve.

So apart from being able to get an iPad, for a chance to get work experience this summer at Global Radio here's what you have to do:

Think of a unique and interesting way to get people involved with the Treasure Chase. That's it. It's a blank canvas similar to the Saatchis application of 2007 that landed yours truly in some seriously warm water. You think of way to publicise the Treasure Chase on campus, think of how you'll measure it, and then put together a mini-case study of why you should be chosen in light of your little campaign idea.

The guys at Global will be looking at things like how many Twitter followers, Facebook fans you have managed to add and competition entries your idea brings. So those should be your key metrics.

Oh and one more thing, the winner gets to write a regular column (up to you how frequently) about your time at Global so the rest of us can get a taste of what working there is like.

So just to be clear, how you enter:

- Think of an interesting way to get the word out on your campus about the Classic FM Treasure Chase (you can enter that as well to have a chance at getting that iPad)

- Film it, record it, take a picture, write a song, hold a rally - do whatever you think works best

- Write up a summary of what you did, why you did it and how it worked (given their metrics mentioned above). Don't make it more than 2 pages or 5 slides, Will and I have to read them all!

- If you don’t have the Treasure Chase coming to your university just e-mail us and we can give you an exciting special brief.

- Send an email to me with your entry by the 25th May. The F could well be with you as early as next Tuesday.

Good luck everyone. This is a new way of advertising opportunities that we're trying out to get you guys used to how you'll be working in the way you apply. Any questions let me know! Boom.

BMB need YOU...(redux)

You could be involved in helping to produce stuff like THIS.

Hello all.

(NB - This job appeared last October, but there's a need for another production intern).

There's another opportunity for you guys. If you're interested, email Tom Brady (tom dot brady at bmbagency dot com):

BMB are looking for a digital production intern for 3 months to assist in our burgeoning department.

Responsibilities include:

* Assisting with the scoping of projects (statements of work, timings, budgets)
* Liaising with the traffic department to make sure work is effectively developed
* Liaising with the client services department to ensure the smooth transition of projects
* Dealing with digital client administration as and when required
* Briefing designers and developers on projects
* Working with the TV production department on projects as and when required


This in an internship position with a nominal weekly allowance, but with the distinct possibility of a perm role at the end of the period.

The ideal person will have the following attributes:

* Knowledge of the digital advertising industry
* A well rounded, outgoing and enthusiastic personality
* Excellent attention to detail
* Positive problem solving approach to work
* Ability to multi-task and prioritise large workloads


So there you have it. Best of luck guys.

THIS ROLE HAS NOW BEEN FILLED. THANKS FOR YOUR APPLICATIONS.