It has been almost a year since my last blog and I am thrilled to say that I am back at Mediavest | Spark for another eventful and inspiring summer. Instead of working in the Human Resources department this year, I have decided to broaden my horizons and join the local activation team. This is a team that works in the media buying field, dealing closely with sales representatives and clients on a daily basis. Our job is to do extensive research on where we best believe certain clients and/or products should air their advertisements, and then to negotiate with the sales reps based on the agreed budget. It has been so incredible to learn this side of the business, and I feel as though I have gained so much knowledgable information in just these past two weeks.
My favorite part about my internship this year is how I got here. During my down time last summer, I would email other interns, or entry level employees, to see if they would allow me to shadow them. This would in turn, allow me to gain a better understanding of their day-to-day’s across several different departments. As i partook in exploring other aspects of the company, I fell in love with what the local team had to offer. They worked hard at finding the best placements and pricing for their clients, through the extensive relationships they have developed and strengthened over the years. I took a job in Human Resources last year with the desire to work with people and develop strong relationships, that is not what I got in return. Although I make great connections with my team, HR is not the department where you are tending to ongoing personal relationships in order to succeed – local activation is. Keeping these relationships with both clients, sales reps, as well as other colleagues in the office, is crucial to your success in this business – and that is exactly what I was looking for in a job.
I am a people person. I love to talk and listen to individuals, and having a job that requires me to do so on a daily basis, will give me a leg up in whatever it is I have to do. Both buying and sales are departments I can see myself forming a life long career in, due to the fact that I am truly excited to get up and go to work every morning. I know it is only early on in my experience here, but I can say almost certainly that I feel it is only going to get better in the coming weeks. The most important thing I have learned from last summer to now, is that these internships we are all fortunate enough to experience, are what we make of them. If I did not take it upon myself to visit and learn about other departments, I would not be in the position I am today. Take risks, take chances, and most importantly, challenge yourself…you never know where it may take you.
lsa summer vocation 2016 