It is a privilege to be asked to write the first Intern Notebook blog. As I searched for a topic, this phrase kept repeating in my head: “To know where you’re going, you have to know where you are; to know where you are, you have to know where you’ve been.” So, I thought this would be an excellent basis for my first intern blog; where I was, where I am, and where I’m going to be.
Where I Was
Let’s flashback to December 2021. I had just finished my fifth semester at the University of Delaware, my first full semester with in-person classes since the Fall of 2019! During U of D’s winter break, I accepted an internship at DSG stretching from the middle of December through the first week of February. That being said, I was able to accept a winter internship with DSG during that time. I vividly remember the night before my first day at DSG, I was both nervous and excited. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if I knew enough about digital marketing to be an intern at an agency dedicated to that craft. It turns out those nerves were unwarranted. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t know much about SEO and PPC because that was the whole point of the internship… to learn!
Before stepping foot into DSG, I had no idea what an online listing was, let alone Digital Business Information. Those first 7 weeks of interning played a huge role in my development. I received hands-on experience with how an agency operated on a day-to-day basis. I had the opportunity to work on client-facing tasks such as preparing slide decks and creating audits for multi-location businesses. I also was able to work on internal agency projects such as DSG’s branding and online presence.
Having the unique opportunity to be a part of a digital marketing agency’s internal and external operations taught me things I could never learn in a classroom. Fortunately, I continued to intern throughout the Spring and Summer in a similar role and eventually even participated in several sales pitches.
Where I Am Now
Currently, I’m doing another 7-week full-time internship with DSG. This time around felt a bit different, in a great way. I was extremely confident when I started this winter compared to last. Much of that confidence came from what I had already learned/accomplished in the previous year, but I also gained confidence from the trust DSG showed me by increasing my responsibilities at the agency.
While I’m still heavily involved in DSG’s social media marketing, I have seen a significant increase in client-facing work. This cycle feels more like an associate’s role than an intern role, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that I’ve never felt like an intern at DSG.
Everyone has always treated me with the utmost respect, truly like you would treat any other employee. My involvement from day one was unlike any other internship, in terms of the meetings I was a part of and the work I was tasked with. This is why I value my internship at DSG and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that @Paige, @Mike, and @Dean have given me.
Where I Am Going
The quick answer is: I do not know where I will be in 6 months or a year from now. Like most seniors in college, there seems to be more questions than answers. However, no matter where I am or what I do, I am confident that the skills, experience, and lessons I’ve learned while interning at DSG will be an asset and allow me to make an immediate contribution.
My introduction to Digital Business Information, SEO, PPC, and online listings as a whole are some (but not all) of the technical skills I acquired over the past year. I will continue to lean on these skills through the rest of my college and professional career. Along with the technical skills I’ve acquired, I have also learned three vital life lessons that can be applied to any job in any field:
- Approach every job/task with an open mind. Being open-minded is sometimes easier said than done, especially when starting a new job. It’s easy to get caught up in what can and can’t be done, but the advantage of being young and inexperienced is that you’re allowed to make mistakes.
- Embrace your mistakes. When starting anything new, it’s common to make mistakes, in fact, it’s encouraged. Learning from mistakes is the best way to grow and become more efficient.
- “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” This highly significant lesson comes directly from Paige Sawin. Getting caught up in the fine print and being a perfectionist will only come back to hurt you in the long run. Not everything has to be done perfectly and trying to be flawless can sometimes kill a project or a task. I’ve learned to avoid wasting time thinking about the what-ifs and realize it is good to take a calculated risk. I discovered that when you trust your instincts and just go for it, things often work out better. In fact, clients and employers aren’t looking for perfection either. They’re looking for people that work hard, have integrity and deliver quality work. Come to think of it, this exactly describes the people working at DSG and I’m lucky to be part of the team.
