Beyond the Classroom: What we learned at our college internship

Meet our Summer Interns – Danielle Miller, Account Management Intern, a junior at Purdue University majoring in Agribusiness with a concentration in Marketing and minors in Farm Management and Communications; and Breanna Glasgow, Event Management Intern and a senior studying marketing at Indiana University Indianapolis.

Q&A?

Question 1: What team member from BLNKPG has made a big impact on you this summer and what do you admire about them?

Danielle: The team member here at BLNKPG I feel like has had the biggest impact on me is Allison. I have learned so much from her that will most definitely help me down the road professionally. We have spent many hours on social media content and ads for our clients. Something that I admire about her is that she is always making sure everything is perfect… or as close as it can be. She wants everything she does to be the best quality for her team members and clients. I feel that type of dedication is unheard of, and that her dedication to every single client rubs off on our team — and I feel makes us a stronger team because of it.

Breanna: Throughout my internship, I have come to know a few of my coworkers well after spending so much time in the office and at events. Because I can’t choose just one, I’ll narrow it down to two – our Project Managers, Bailey and Colton. They have both taught me a lot about event management and are always willing to help or answer my questions. I admire that they both stay organized in their work (even when projects can be not so straightforward), and know how to have a little fun in the office. Working with them has made my internship more valuable and enjoyable.

Question 2: What were the top 3 things you hoped to learn in this internship??

Danielle: I was excited for this internship because I knew it would help me so much with what my career goals are. First, I wanted to learn if city living is for me — and it is not! I loved our office in Indianapolis, but my rural roots are calling my name. Second, I wanted to build a marketing portfolio I could use for years to come, which I definitely did. And last, I wanted to learn everything I could about marketing, soaking everything up and being a sponge, as well as what it looks like through a marketing agency.?

Breanna: I came into this internship open-minded and excited. After all, I was going to be working at a marketing agency, so I knew I would learn a variety of things. First, I wanted to learn more about the event space and how marketing plays such a big role in that. I did not know much about paid social ads, email marketing, and signage, so that intrigued me. Second, I wanted to gain more experience with different marketing tools/platforms. A lot of marketing jobs require you to have experience with digital platforms, such as CRM or social media, and I knew an internship would be the perfect place to learn those. Last, I wanted to learn more about myself and how I function in a professional work environment. For my future, I feel it is important to know whether I work better by myself or with a large team.

Question 3: Is the most valuable thing you've learned at BLNKPG one of those 3 things, or something else you didn't expect?

Danielle: The most valuable thing I have learned at BLNKPG is just how much of a team effort it takes to get things done. I don't think I ever realized just how many people handle a client and how everyone's role and experience is important in making sure everything goes smoothly. It truly is amazing to see firsthand how well everyone does with their clients and makes sure the client's interest is top priority.

Breanna: I would not say the most valuable thing I have learned is from the list above. I think it is the importance of being flexible and open-minded as an intern and as an employee. I have learned that working in marketing can be very rewarding — but also difficult, at times. And even when you have a plan – the plans will change. Sometimes your client doesn’t have the same vision as you and you have to come up with a different approach, or the metrics are not performing as well as they should. This requires opening your mind to others’ thoughts and ideas, and pivoting quickly in order to do the best work for your client’s needs.?

Question 4: Imagine you're 10 years into your desired career and you're hiring an intern for your company — what do you think you'll be looking for in that person?

Danielle: One thing that immediately comes to mind is passion. This is big for me because I feel like if you have passion for something, then you will always strive to become better and are always willing to learn, which is what being an intern is all about. I think going into an internship, you should act like a sponge and just soak everything up and not say “no” to any project or task handed to you. It will make you grow, and you will get so much more out of your internship. I also feel like I would look for someone who is a great communicator. I know that is a pretty basic thing, but it’s one of the important skills that carry through with you to any job.?

Breanna: I would look for several different things, the most important being that they are open-minded. With BLNKPG being an agriculture-focused agency, I was not sure how I was going to like it. I did not come from an ag background like many of my coworkers, but I was open to giving it a shot. I have learned that agriculture is so much more than what we know, and I am genuinely interested in the industry now and definitely understand the passion BLNKPG brings to both agriculture and marketing. Honestly, it changed what I could learn from my experience.?

Question 5: What job did you want someday when you were child? If that has changed, why? (Or is it still to someday be a cowboy astronaut?)

Danielle: No, not quite a cowboy astronaut – although that would be awesome! When I was younger my dream was to be a large-animal veterinarian. It was my career goal until about two years ago. Growing up raising and showing cattle, it seemed like a perfect career that wouldn't even feel like a job. But after being in the “real world” and spending some time learning about all the job opportunities in the ag space, I made a switch. After my first semester at Purdue, I found Agribusiness Marketing… and you could call it love at first sight.

Breanna: When I was a child, I always wanted to be a dentist. This is probably because my childhood dentist was the best and always made me smile ear to ear. In high school, I shadowed a dentist at their office — and it was a terrible experience, to say the least. Things aren’t always what they appear to the child version of you. This dentist told me he was hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and that he hated his job. Unfortunately, that crushed my dreams and I never considered it again. But, I think marketing suits me better anyway.?

Final thoughts:

Danielle: I have learned so much as an account intern and no two days are the same, which definitely keeps me on my toes. From that I have written copy for ads and social media, as well as designed web pages, uploaded ads, and overseen project workflows. Throughout my internship, I have been able to gain so much marketing and life experience that I wouldn't trade it for anything. I would have to say one of my favorite things about BLNKPG is our company culture — at BLNKPG I feel like you always feel so supported to grow and learn, and even as an intern I feel like I was treated and respected as part of the team.

Breanna: As I approached my senior year, I knew it was important to gain experience in the marketing field. I applied at BLNKPG hoping for an opportunity to grow and expand my toolbox for the future, but little did I know how full it would become! I am thankful this internship has been a whole lot more than coffee runs and busywork. Since starting in February, I have touched many projects — some with events and some completely unrelated. But that is part of “agency life,” as they call it! My favorite part about BLNKPG is the team effort that goes into everything — it truly is an “all hands on deck” approach.