You’re starting an advertising internship. How can you use it to learn more about the industry?

One way to use your internship to learn more about the industry is to engage in various tasks and projects that expose you to different aspects of advertising. You can learn about the creative process, the research and analysis, the strategy and planning, the execution and evaluation, and the client relations. You can also learn about the different types of advertising, such as digital, print, radio, TV, outdoor, etc.

Starting an advertising internship presents a golden opportunity to immerse oneself in the industry's intricacies. I plan to absorb knowledge like a sponge, shadowing experienced professionals, and asking insightful questions. Actively participating in brainstorming sessions and projects enables hands-on learning. Networking with colleagues and attending industry events broadens perspectives and fosters valuable connections. Embracing feedback with an open mind fuels growth, while staying updated on industry trends through research and reading enhances understanding. By approaching the internship as a continuous learning journey, I aim to gain invaluable insights, skills, and experiences to propel my career in advertising forward.

Starting a new internship is an exciting and valuable step in a career journey. In a dynamic field like advertising, it's an incredible opportunity to gain firsthand experience. With a focused approach, you can transform your internship into a powerful launchpad for your future. Here's how: Set clear objectives: Define what you want to achieve – whether it's mastering specific software, understanding client psychology, or building campaign strategies.

Be curious and proactive: Ask questions about creative briefs, market analysis, and how campaigns tie into broader business goals.

Keep a learning journal: This becomes a reference point for your development, tracking insights gained and challenges overcome.

Outside of the obvious relationship building and connections with your immediate managers and team in the agency, get to know people in other pods and departments. Don’t forget your fellow interns as well, you never know where they’ll be years down the road (a potential client, agency partner, or even manager). Networking is overrated but real relationship building is where to focus.

Build your network: Connect with colleagues across departments. Their diverse perspectives will enrich your understanding of the industry.

When you’re first starting out, building your network can pay dividends. As you meet and connect with people within the industry, you can often learn from them and follow up with them throughout your projects and career progression. People in this business value personal connections.

Observe everything! (Every single aspect of advertising and implementing campaigns) - How ideas are brainstormed - How tasks are managed - How revisions are made - What tools are used - What's the workflow I learned about Grammarly during my first internship. Can't write without it now.

Seek opportunities for growth: Take on new tasks, propose ideas, and show your willingness to contribute to ongoing projects. Observe the workflow: Pay attention to how projects move from concept to execution to understand the collaborative nature of advertising.

Be interested. Don't be afraid to ask. Talk to people and try to absorb as much knowledge as possible from all areas of the company. In times of remote work, opt for an internship in the in-person work model, as the experience and learning will be much richer. From a distance, it is unlikely that you will be able to effectively learn something in depth and will only continue to perform operational tasks of little relevance.

Think of this: jumping into an advertising internship is like getting backstage passes to the industry. Be curious—ask tons of questions and soak up everything like a sponge. Dive into different projects to get a taste of various roles and skills. Shadow pros and learn their tricks. Take notes on what works and what doesn't. And network like you're collecting friends, not just contacts. It’s your sneak peek into the ad world, so explore every corner and turn that pass into a VIP all-access experience.