My citizenM journey started at the beginning of March. I was ready to embark as the company’s new E-commerce and Digital intern. Anyone familiar with citizenM will quickly point out how weird that title sounds, given the fun and bold brand image the company boasts. With a name as generic and corporate as that, you must be wondering, what even is that position? Well, as many interns quickly discover, an intern’s responsibilities are not as straightforward as the job listing entails. My primary responsibilities were to analyze Google search trends, website performance, and to make sure the website is keyword optimized. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. As the days wore on, I had to go way beyond that and put the research into practice, by designing and writing the very content I thought I would only research. Here’s a closer look at that transformative experience.
Welcome Aboard! An Exciting Start at citizenM’s Vibrant Office
Stepping into citizenM’s bustling office felt like entering a digital playground—alive, electric, and just a tad mysterious. My title, the E-commerce and Digital Intern was a riddle wrapped in an enigma; comprehensive on paper, but so ambiguous in practice. Rather than intimidating me, this puzzle served as a fun challenge.
Diving into the Deep: Researching Google Trends, Analytics, and Keywords
In the initial weeks, I immersed myself in research, poring over Google search trends, website analytics, and keyword strategies. The role required a data-driven approach, focusing on the nitty-gritty details of digital marketing.
Diving into the Deep: Researching Google Trends, Analytics, and Keywords
As my understanding of the industry deepened, I realized that the research was merely a starting point. The digital world is ever-changing, and it’s not enough to just understand the data; one must put it into action.
A Surprising Shift: From Crunching Numbers to Crafting Content
An overworked copywriting department and looming deadlines quickly changed my intermediary role in content production. The time of communicating suggestions was over, it was time for me to convert my research into actual content and lots of it. That is how I started writing what is soon to become the expansive citizenM Travel Blog. These tasks, which initially seemed outside my job description, quickly became an essential part of my daily routine.
Rolling with It: Adapting to the Fast-Paced, Fun-Branded World of citizenM
citizenM’s fun branding translated into an engaging work environment where flexibility and creativity were the norms. A rigid adherence to a job title? That wasn’t the citizenM way. The culture encouraged stepping out of one’s designated lane when needed.
It was this very philosophy that allowed me to go beyond my designated role, turning research into actionable strategies, and strategies into captivating content.
Beyond the Title: Embracing Flexibility and Creativity at citizenM
The journey I embarked on at citizenM was more than an internship; it was a lesson in adaptability and open-mindedness. In an ever-changing work environment, it’s crucial not to be tied down by your job title but to go beyond it with an open mind.
My time at citizenM was a whirlwind of learning, adapting, and growing. I began with the expected task of conducting research, only to find myself creating content and contributing to projects I hadn’t initially expected. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I encourage fellow professionals and interns to approach their roles with curiosity and flexibility, to not only fulfill their responsibilities but to transcend them. After all, in the age of disruption, an open mind is your most valuable asset.