For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in a marketing internship for The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. I learned a new email marketing software Acoustic, I produced and sent over 170 product bulletins and newsletters, and I also assisted in creating a companywide taxonomy. I also participated in an intern group project in which we presented to our managers and peers.
With the start of May and the end of the school year comes a new wave of promise and opportunity. For me, it was the beginning of my STEP project, an internship with The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. I was very excited because this was my first marketing internship of my professional career. Before the program started, I was nervous. Nervous about what to wear, how to act, and if I would know what insurance associates were talking about in a conversation. Without a doubt, after my internship I have gained so much confidence and developed into a marketing professional. Before the internship, I had some assumptions about the corporate world and what it would be like. I thought everyone would wear business suits and send serious emails late into the night. What I learned is that everyone who is an employee is also a person who wants to have a fulfilling career and personal life.
Along with new perspectives, I also gained a new outlook on life. As I approach the start of my senior year, it has finally sunk in that this is my last year of college. For my entire life all I have known is school. I’ve loved the experiences, appreciated the people, but it is time to put the knowledge to the test. With this internship, I gained a valuable insight into how having a full-time job can change your life. It comes with real responsibilities and deadlines, but it also brings a stable income and professional relationships. This internship has taught me the benefits of having a positive attitude and working hard. People you work with can be extremely helpful if you treat everyone with respect.
A relationship that made me recognize the importance of professional connections is the one with my manager. I really look up to my manager and admire her hardworking attitude. She taught me so much about being kind to others and making time to help out. Even though she is incredibly busy, she schedules touch points with all of those she manages to check in and give time for questions. For me, that is a great example of selfless leadership. She inspires me to be a better employee and care about my work.
The second aspect of my internship that I learned a lot from was my intern group project. The prompt was to research a developing technology for the Cincinnati Customer Care Center. Through this, I got to work with a team with varied backgrounds. Some people were strong in IT, others enjoyed graphic design. It was a fun challenge to figure out what tasks each person would excel at. I also appreciated the opportunity to present in front of a large audience.
And finally, the day-to-day responsibilities taught me so much about my work style and the best way to communicate with other professionals. I learned how everyone has different preferences and ways of completing tasks. I enjoyed the flexibility that the company provided. All of my co workers trusted me to get tasks done on time and so I could arrange my schedule in the way that works best for me. This made me excited for what is to come after college because I believe that the professional world is becoming more open and accepting outside of a traditional 9-5.
This transformation through my internship was crucial before my senior year. In my major of Marketing there are so many avenues you can go down. This internship allowed me to narrow down what I want to do. One day in the summer, the other Marketing intern and I had the opportunity to shadow an advertising firm. Immediately, I was drawn to the company and the people who work there. I am now taking an advertising and promotional strategies class in which I can pursue this passion further. If I had any advice for college students, it would be to get an internship in your major to determine what you are interested in. Aside from professional development, I also grew personally. I am starting to understand more about what hobbies are realistic when I have a full-time job. This knowledge about myself will aid in deciding where I want to live, and what type of career I want. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity and all of the help and guidance STEP has provided.
