5 THINGS I LEARNED AS AN INTERN AT A CREATIVE MARKETING AGENCY
Janelle Banalo, Business Development Intern, May to August 2022,
Vitalstrats Creative Solutions
Bachelor in Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management,
Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Taguig
It seems like it was just yesterday when I first started my internship journey at VCS, and now I'm almost at the last stop of my 600-hour ride.
Just a brief backstory: I learned about VCS through its Chief Creative Officer, Ms. Amrei Dizon, who was the guest speaker at a webinar I attended, the ESME’s Youth Talk Series webinar about content marketing campaigns. We were also fortunate to have her as a guest speaker at my student organization, PUP Taguig—Junior Marketing Association, for our annual Integrated Marketing Communications-themed event. Eventually, I found myself browsing the online platforms of VCS.
My interest and curiosity about how business case studies are done in school compared to how they are done in the corporate world led me to pursue an internship at a creative marketing agency. Entering this field was surely intimidating as someone with no creative background. But if you find yourself feeling intimidated like I did, don’t talk yourself out of it just yet! In my internship, I realized that there are other roles beyond creative work that might suit what you can bring to the table.
Here are the five things I learned as a Business Development Intern at Vitalstrats Creative Solutions:
#1 I got a panoramic view into the real world of creative marketing agencies.
I witnessed firsthand how brands of different sizes and industries communicate their concerns, needs, and wants to VCS and, conversely, how VCS provides their services as solutions. I witnessed how ideas were developed and presented– from research, brainstorming, white paper, revisions, decking, to pitch presentation– and how compromises between clients and a creative agency were reached. I saw the process of how approved proposals were then executed, particularly how the pace and responsibilities were shared among the different departments like the Business Development department, Accounts department, Creative Design department, Strategy and Copy department, Production department, and Social Media department. This gave me a much clearer and more detailed understanding of how marketing campaigns are done in real life compared to just knowing it through textbook concepts or classroom-learned theories.
Perhaps the biggest benefit I found from working at a creative agency is that it exposed me to different minds, including strategic and creative thinkers, both among clients and the people I work closely with. Having the opportunity to get close enough to observe how they think was an invaluable experience, as it also influenced my way of thinking. I believe this will guide me in addressing and taking on challenges as I move forward in my personal career journey.
Similarly, working in a creative marketing agency exposed me to a wide range of English vocabulary, business jargon, industries, brands, and their respective activities. Being familiar with the different areas and languages used in the professional setting will help me adapt more quickly to the respective working systems I will encounter in my next career stage.
Collectively, this armed me with a broad base of marketing knowledge that I can refer to, work from, and build on throughout my career regardless of whether I will be pursuing agency-side marketing or brand-specific-side marketing.
#2 I learned to pay attention to the basic things that we tend to overlook.
The first few days or weeks of my internship were simply about adjusting to the working system or standard operating procedures and getting tasks done. Part of it was writing about my learnings, accomplishments, and questions at the end of each day before logging out. After some time of doing this, I began to naturally reflect on my actions and pay attention to what could be improved.
Because of this, I finally fixed my relationship with time and improved my time management skills. Before this internship, I was notorious for always being late at our school. I also remember being guilty of tolerating the “Filipino Time” culture at our student organization, like canceling at the last minute or starting later than the agreed time. Working at a creative agency, I realize how important being on time is in showcasing professionalism, productivity, and building relationships or showing respect.
Even the simplest things, such as cross-checking, proofreading, staying organized, and taking care of myself, have a positive impact on my workflow. Developing the habit of reflecting has helped me step away from my habitual acts and thoughts. I believe this will help me be more effective not just at work but also in my personal life once I take on more responsibilities as an adult.
#3 I learned to be intentional.
This is the mindset of treating each working hour or task, no matter how big or small, as an opportunity to learn something new. For instance, one of the simple tasks I actually liked doing was transcribing interviews for website articles, not because it was easy, but because of the valuable life and business lessons I learned from the narratives of entrepreneurs, and people with substance.
Perhaps it was the healthy working culture at VCS that allowed me to step back from putting too much pressure on myself and take time to digest and absorb all the information I encountered. In doing so, I found myself focusing on what I could learn and how I could add value instead of dwelling on unnecessary thoughts. Then it hit me: so this is what it actually feels like to enjoy the process.
Moving forward, this will serve as my reminder whenever I find myself getting caught in a routine: that I can always step back and learn something new every day.
#4 I got exposed to professional work habits.
Perhaps, one of the challenges of working from home is the ambient distractions that make it harder to focus. This was one of the challenges I encountered during my online classes, and as an intern, my responsibility of capturing necessary project details during meetings has considerably restored my concentration.
Working closely with the VCS team, particularly the business development and copy departments, has shaped the way I think, act, and feel in a professional setting. More specifically, regular occurrences like attending meetings and creating contact reports have allowed me to pick up effective internal and external communication styles, including effective meeting management practices. It also strengthened my listening skills, note-taking habits, and confidence in meeting people. Possessing these work habits will help me present myself more properly and perform more effectively in the next phases of my career.
#5 I learned the value of accountability.
Working in a creative marketing agency has shown me that a successful project relies heavily on the collaborative efforts of the different departments and the contributions of each team member. This gave me a sense of responsibility towards my actions, words, and decisions, knowing that every task entrusted to me has a corresponding effect on other people and their work.
Mistakes do happen. When they do, I realize that it saves more time and emotion to be honest about them in order to take the necessary actions immediately and prevent them from happening again.
Moving forward, this attitude will help me build trust and have healthier relationships not just at work but also in my personal life by teaching me how to take ownership of situations I’m involved in, regardless of the outcome. At the same time, knowing how to be accountable will help me increase the effectiveness of my craft and performance in the long run.
This internship experience taught me that learning can come from a variety of sources, including but not limited to tasks, situations, and people. Perhaps my desire to learn as much as I can and make the most out of this experience was sparked by the sincerity I felt when I joined VCS. Thank you, VCS team, especially to my BDI skype-thread fam! Your guidance, leadership, and expertise have helped me grow significantly both in a personal and professional manner.
Bonus: I actually read and applied the VCS Blog titled “LUCKY 13: THIRTEEN TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING NOTICED — AND HIRED — BY A CREATIVE AGENCY” to my internship application! If you are interested in being part of the VCS team, you might as well check that out.
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