For the past month, I have been working as an Account Intern at Isobar in Detroit. Isobar is a creative agency owned by the Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), a global media and digital communications company. I am working out of the Detroit office, which is unique because we work solely on the General Motors (GM) account in close collaboration with a number of Isobar’s sister agencies also owned by DAN. Isobar delivers the creative work for GM’s in-market online advertisements. These are the online advertisements for Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac you see on websites like Kelley Blue Book or Cars.com, as well as off-site locations including your Facebook timeline or the CNN homepage. 

I fell into this position in a somewhat unusual way. Unlike most students’ experiences searching for internships, an Isobar recruiter approached me via LinkedIn in early spring. She had noticed my LinkedIn profile and past internship experiences, and after a couple of fun interviews with my future co-workers, I accepted a position at the agency. (So yes, LinkedIn is definitely worth your time!)

I was very excited to start working at Isobar since I have never worked in the advertising field before. Now, one month into the position, I am thrilled with the extent of information I have learned about the creativity, communication, and hard work that goes into producing and placing an online advertisement. My position allows me to work closely with our producers and creative teams by keeping them up to date on deadlines and client feedback. I have also taken on a number of exciting projects, and I am really enjoying the agency environment. Isobar has put together a number of workshops on advertising and branding, which were very insightful and engaging. In addition, I have attended a number of company social events around the city of Detroit and have become involved in our office’s women’s group. All in all, it has been a huge and enjoyable learning experience so far.

From an academic perspective, I think my major in Communication and Media and minor in Business have been the perfect foundation for my internship. My coursework in Communication and Media taught me to think differently and gave me the ability to look at media and advertisements with a critical eye. In addition, my business background opened my eyes to how companies function, while also educating me through hands on projects that test and refine the necessary skills for the world of business.  In combination, both of these programs have provided me with the insight, knowledge, and experience to enter this job fully prepared and ready to learn.

I am happy that I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone for both my current and past internship experiences. Throughout my college career, I always accepted internships in industries I was curious about, even if I had no previous experience working in the field. Now, as a senior, I can look back and make decisions about my future due to my exposure to numerous industries with various possible career options.