Media Agency Intern Workday Routine + Tips
Ever wondered what it’s like to live that 9-5 agency life? As an intern at a media agency here in Boston, I’ve been lucky enough to experience it first-hand.
First off, in order to get the internship, make sure your cover letter, resume, and portfolio are well-adapted to the position and as strong as they can be. For help strengthening any of those documents, your school’s career center or experienced friends and family members are great resources to turn to. After you’ve obtained an interview, conduct extensive research about the company and record it in a Google or Word document so you feel prepared going into the interview. Practice what you’re going to say and dress professionally.
Once you’ve secured the job and filled out the forms, it’s time to get ready for your first day. More likely than not, the agency attire will be business-casual or casual. If you aren’t sure of what to wear, asking a co-worker or your supervisor is always a good idea. My agency features an endless array of jeans, t-shirts, and sweaters walking down the aisles with the occasional trendy vintage look.
I usually walk or take the T to the office. My workspace setup includes an office laptop, a separate mouse, and two side monitors. I normally start off with a check-in with my supervisor. Once the office starts filling up, assignments start rolling in. My assignments include many different tasks such as making media plans which feature budget allocation and campaign wrap-ups which feature data analysis.
A lot of the job includes juggling emails, data, briefs, or other research. In terms of making sure everything gets turned in on time, I recommend keeping an ongoing list of tasks and their due dates on your desktop. There are a lot of ways to do this, but personally I’ve found “Stickies” to be a lifesaver. Flagging emails with current assignments you're working on also works wonders.
My agency has taken a hybrid approach this year as one of their several precautions against the ongoing pandemic. Typically, on the day-to-day, there will be various Zoom or in-office meetings teaching the other interns and myself how to perform certain tasks, connecting us with our team, or simply checking in on us. To stay on top of the meetings, I like to either write them down or add them to my Google Calendar.
There are a multitude of different programs and ad managers we use in the agency that I had to get accustomed to early on as well. After finishing a task using one or more of these programs, I email it to the analyst in charge, wait for feedback, and get started on another assignment. If you’re having trouble understanding the feedback, reach out to the person who sent it to you--this can save a lot of confusion down the line!
The office presents itself as a pretty social place, so I try to introduce myself when I can and learn about different agency positions from the people who practice them. Fortunately, the strategy, media, and creative team all sit close together, so I’m able to get an inside perspective in various fields. I highly recommend networking as it may give you the chance to sit in on some pretty cool meetings later on.
The common space or kitchen is a great place to do this. One perk of being at the agency is that there is a fully stocked pantry and fridge. Coming from a college kitchen of frozen meals and veggie chips, this fact alone is pretty epic. After lunch, more tasks follow until the computer reads 5 p.m. and I clock out for the day.