Chernoff Newman developed an entry-level, 8-week agency immersion internship program that serves as a crash course introduction to our profession.
Over our 50 years in business, Chernoff Newman has had much success, but as we look forward we know we need to continually adapt to ensure we’re delivering the best campaigns and programs for our clients and for all consumers. One of the ways we get there is to expand and diversify both our agency’s and our industry’s talent and creativity.
And so the Agency Immersion Internship was born. We developed an entry-level, 8-week internship program that serves as a crash course introduction to our profession. Our goal with this pilot program is to broaden the pipeline for this next generation of agency professionals by exposing students who may not have had the same access to internships and agency opportunities as other students. Target applicants for the internship are students currently enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program who are curious to learn more about the marketing, communications and advertising industry.
Along with one-on-one meetings with agency leadership to learn about different aspects of the industry, our interns spend the rest of their time completing hands-on work with each discipline within the agency: public relations/social media, creative/graphic design, interactive/web, paid media and account service.
The Agency Immersion Internship kicked off this summer with two students from Benedict College: Lucy Rios (below left) and Simone Bryant (below right). We talked with Lucy and Simone near the end of their time with us to get their perspective on the internship and the advertising industry as a whole.
Before we dive in, tell us a little more about yourselves.
Â
Lucy: My name is Lucy Rios, and I’m originally from Colombia, South America. I came to the U.S. to pursue my degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Marketing. I’m currently a senior at Benedict College in Columbia, SC. In the future, I aspire to complete a master’s degree in either journalism or something related to the marketing industry. Some of the things I enjoy doing the most are writing, dancing and taking photos.
Simone:Â My name is Simone Bryant. I am from Indianapolis, Indiana, and am currently a rising junior at Benedict College. My major is Business Administration and I aspire to go to law school after college. Currently, I am very involved at my school and serve in the honors program as a Benedict College Cheerleader and I founded my own dance organization called the Umoja Dance Organization. My passions include social justice issues, singing and dancing.
What areas of communication do you find interesting in the world around you?
L: I have always been really interested in what’s happening around me, hence one of the reasons why I chose to pursue a career in the communications industry. I believe, especially in this era, we have the power to lead the conversation about any topic or issue. I really like to be aware of what’s happening globally in terms of politics, social issues, and keeping tabs on social media and pop culture.
S: The areas of communication I find most interesting, especially recently, are politics. With so much controversy going on in recent years between COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter movement and our newly elected presidents there have been a lot of things I have found very intriguing.
Knowing this was a new yet immersive program, what attracted you to this type of internship?
L:Â Like most seniors in college, I am not entirely sure about what I want to do after graduation. Even though I know some things that interest me the most, it is hard to decide which professional path one should take. This said, when I heard about this internship, I thought it would be a perfect fit for me: it was an internship that would give me a closer look at the communications/marketing industry, but not just in one area. Instead, I would have the opportunity to interact with professionals who work in different agency departments while learning, networking and getting more insight to decide what I would like to do in the future.
S:Â What attracted me was the ability to work with several different areas within the company. Being able to work in public relations and social media, as well as account management and media, allowed me to really explore the possibilities of how I could use my degree in different ways after college.
Out of your eight weeks of learning at Chernoff Newman, what were you most surprised to learn about the advertising industry?
L: All of the different departments that convene in creating and producing a campaign. I used to think it was mostly a creative job. But there’s so much more, and many people have to work together to come up with great things.
S:Â Advertising can play a huge role in making a positive impact on the public. Being that this is something extremely important to me, I was very pleased to learn of all the ways an advertising company can help the community.
Is this an internship you would apply again?
L:Â Definitely, I believe I have learned so much, and it has helped me better understand the marketing world and all the work and effort behind campaigns and advertisements.
S:Â I would definitely sign up for this internship again. I feel like doing this internship, especially in the future, would be very helpful in developing me as a professional.
Finally, what advice would you give other students who are still trying to figure out what they want to do after college?
L:Â Go out there and find internships that you think you might be interested in. Like someone really wise once told me: the only way to know if you like something or not is doing it.
S:Â Try to take part in internships like this. I believe that experience is the best teacher. By trying out different things to see what best fits you, it truly helps you learn what you would like to pursue as a career after college.
If you are interested in a potential internship at Chernoff Newman, visit our career opportunities page.
