The beginning of the ride
At the start of this transformative journey, I was filled with a sense of anticipation and eagerness. Finding and securing the internship opportunity was challenging because it required lots of dedication and perseverance. In January, I was offered a position as a social media marketer at Rosie & Riffy, although it was not my first choice. Nonetheless, I decided not to take a risk and accepted the offer, as I was already familiar with the company which made it easier for me to get into the rhythm. My expectations were high when I started the internship because the tasks seemed interesting and they perfectly aligned with my profile. However, despite the excitement, the beginning of the internship proved to be exhausting as I had to memorise lots of new information.
The journey unfolds
Since my internship lasted a bit longer than 3 months, I dedicated myself fully to the tasks because I wanted to learn as much as possible. Although I had hoped to delve deeper into areas such as data analysis and digital marketing, this internship did not entirely satisfy these aspirations. Nevertheless, I found satisfaction in my overall experience. Witnessing the impact of my contributions as an intern was rewarding and satisfying. I also appreciated the flexibility and the absence of strict deadlines. As research formed a crucial part of the internship, it was decided together with the company to focus research on the effects of packaging design as they had been thinking about redesigning it for some time.
Culmination
As time went on, I got used to the workflow and I started feeling more relaxed and confident in my work. Eventually, I did not feel like an intern but like a valued colleague. Everyday work life became the norm. Throughout my internship, I learned and improved many essential skills that are highly regarded in the marketing field. For example, I improved my skills in graphic design. which I really appreciated because I am a creative person. In addition, I improved my copywriting skills since I had to create content for different advertising formats.
I also found my research topic really interesting as it intersected with the fields of graphic design and visual communication. I researched how product images on packaging influence customers’ purchase intentions and how these effects differ between low- and high-involvement people. The results of the research showed that product images on the packaging enhance one’s purchase intention, however, it does not differ between people regarding their involvement with a vegan product.
I would definitely recommend this internship opportunity to others. However, the owners, who had been my mentors and guides throughout the internship, made a decision to take a different route in their lives – they chose to sell their company and brand.