Eager to gain practical marketing experience alongside my studies (Bachelor of Marketing/Int’ Business), I was thrilled to hear The Creative Collective were looking for students to complete the internship program – and I had a ball doing just that.

The team at the Sunshine Coast office made me feel welcome from day dot, exposing me to a variety of tasks in the world of digital marketing and offering helpful tips and advice whenever I felt stuck. As a result, the internship quickly became something I looked forward to each week.

A
hands-on experience

Given The Creative Collective is at the forefront of all things digital, propelled by the very driven and innovative founder Yvette, the hands-on experience provided me with a unique opportunity to put theory to practice, and develop a solid understanding of the latest tools, trends and strategies in the digital marketing industry.

I learned to migrate and edit websites on WordPress, create graphics for branding purposes using Canva, curate content and draft social media marketing strategies for clients, source key influencers, set up slide decks for webinars, turn briefs into budgets and so forth.

Be
curious & challenge yourself

The experience also enhanced my interpersonal communication skills and ability to build rapport with colleagues and effectively obtain new skills. These are “soft skills” that simply cannot be taught online, let alone from a book or in a classroom – instead, you’ve got to be right at the heart of action and learn by doing. Below are 3 key tips I believe are useful for a future intern to keep in mind:

1. Talk
   to people. Join conversations in the office and get to know your colleagues; this gives you a better idea of the organisational structure and may also inspire the next steps of your career path. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; in the car on the way back from a client meeting, I queried Tamara and Yvette on their take on the future of marketing (holograms anyone!?) and how our local area is likely develop over the next few years. Super interesting!
2. Listen
   carefully. Picking up on key phrases and mimicking the experts is a genius way of improving your professional communication skills (fake it till you make it). For instance, observe when team members brainstorm strategies, pitch ideas and talk to clients on Skype or the phone. When sitting in on client meetings, also make sure to take notes of the things you find interesting.
3. Challenge
   yourself. Dive head first into tasks and areas you have little experience in and give it your best shot. I really enjoyed learning about website development, and optimising content so it appears just the way you want it to. The key is to be open minded and have a positive attitude, and you’ll be surprised at the things you learn!

I’d like to say a massive thank you to The Creative Collective for this opportunity, and making me feel part of the team. The experience provided me with qualities and transferable skills which have not only enhanced my confidence and motivation, but also my competitiveness as a graduate entering the digital marketing industry. I recommend the internship to anyone who is keen to learn and wants to be part of a cool team.