The internship
As part of my second-year course, I had to complete some time doing an internship. I managed to land a role at West Northamptonshire Council in the digital marketing department.
When I first started my internship, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect as I study Fashion Marketing and Promotion and the local government is a completely different spectrum, but I quickly learned that the work happening behind the scenes at the council was just as dynamic and creative as the fashion industry. My experience there didn’t just teach me new skills but reshaped the way I understood communication, audience and the power of digital content.
My First Day
When walking into the office on my first day, I was met with the most welcoming team that were passionate about the work they were producing.
By the end of my time there I found it inspiring to work somewhere where digital marketing wasn’t just a tool for promotion but a bridge between an organisation and the people it serves.
What the internship involved
One of the first tasks I took on was helping with a campaign they do each year called Merged Futures, I was tasked to create the graphics and come up with ideas for social media promotion. This enabled me to take all the skills I had learned in my lectures and apply them to a real-world situation. Every post needed to be clear, accurate and relevant, which taught me to pay close attention to tone, timing and messaging.
I also had the chance to sit in on planning meetings where campaign goals, engagement results and ways to improve were discussed. Being in those meetings gave me insight into how content decisions are made and how different departments collaborate.
The overall experience
By the time my internship had ended, I had gained far more than experience I had gained confidence.
I had learned how to manage schedules. Collaborate with professionals and approach digital marketing with both creativity and strategy.
I recommend an internship to anyone who has the chance as it gives you so much more than you can imagine not only in experience but confidence and could even lead to a job at the end.
Find out more about internships and placements at UON
