What you hear when you think of internships
Being an undergraduate student in London feels like there is a bullet train passing that you are constantly trying to catch. You start your first year and everyone talks about societies and how important they are for your future professional career. And then it develops into the topics of CVs and LinkedIn, insight weeks and conferences. When you reach the end of second year, you hear the same question over and over “And you, have you found an internship yet?”.
In summary, you just turned eighteen and you think that you’ve got time, but you find yourself having to come to terms with intense pressure and anxiety. During this three year period, the impression is clear: any small mistake is detrimental. Anything that you do is going to define your future career – at least that’s what they want you to think. I call it the “internship effect”.
The “internship effect” is not only a catastrophe for students’ mental health but also has the power to destroy any positive thoughts you could have about getting into working life. You think of competition, horrible hours, pressure and unpleasant work. That was the way I felt, before starting work at The Agency Partnership (TAP).
“Imagine my surprise, entering an office full of pleasant people, constantly motivating each other and collaborating together. TAP was nothing like what I imagined, it’s a place that values imagination, creativity, and intuition.”
What my experience at TAP was and what I got from it
As a victim of the “internship effect”, I came in on my first day with the most horrible thoughts in mind. I planned my outfit weeks in advance and practiced the way I was going to introduce myself, over and over. Imagine my surprise, entering an office full of pleasant people, constantly motivating each other and collaborating together. TAP was nothing like what I imagined, it’s a place that values imagination, creativity, and intuition.
For eight weeks I collaborated with the team to help our clients get visibility by making sure they get the media’s attention, reaching the right audiences with the right messages.
As an intern, I learned how to create genuine relations both within the media industry and clients. Developing my communication skills I was in charge of building media lists, drafting press releases, collaborating on marketing initiatives and contributing to planning sessions. Learning here meant that I was given important responsibilities from the start and had the chance to make mistakes, try again and eventually do better.
Communication being the golden rule in the office, I learned how to be a team player at TAP. This meant seeking help and providing it to my co-workers, sharing my insights and receiving feedback without ever feeling judged or misinterpreted. I learnt how to be reliable for reasons other than for the sake of putting it down as a skill on your CV. I learnt the will to be reliable and to deliver quality work – for the team, and for the clients.
For the first half of my internship, I focused on one client in particular: VOLT, the UK’s leading e-bike brand. In many ways, VOLT became a full-time priority: I got to learn every single detail of the brand, share their goals, and their excitement for good news and great coverage.
TAP is a big family, a team where clients and consultants collaborate in meaningful ways and deliver high-quality results. The work has been rewarding and extremely enjoyable to produce. All of this, takes place in one of the best areas of central London, in an office full of good energy, humour, and support. If I was asked to remember one thing this experience has given me, it’s been the chance to finally feel the excitement of moving forward in my professional life – I hope all offices are like TAP’s.
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