Hey everyone! My name is Alex, I’m a second year Communication Science student at the University of Amsterdam and I am pleased to announce that I have completed a 3-month internship at KittyKat in Singapore.
The ‘Creative Spark’:
Growing up in a household where my dad was a marketing/branding consultant and my mother worked in a kindergarten, I was always encouraged to explore and express my creativity, regardless of the outcome. Family discussions would consist of conversations about the way certain companies have nailed their marketing strategy, how creating a strong brand identity is crucial for success and the growing importance of having a social media presence for a brand in this day and age. When I was given the opportunity to intern at KittyKat, I could not help but think about how I would be able to turn all my dad’s marketing advice into practice!
THE ‘Creative Intern’:
My position was labelled as ‘Creative Intern’, which meant that I would be able to partake in all the companies ‘creative’ processes. Before starting, I expressed uncertainty about which specific sector within the company I wanted to specialise in and a desire to explore various options. KittyKat took it upon themselves to make that happen and give me the most diverse, hands-on experience! My tasks ranged from independently running a food photography campaign, which involved creating content, practicing lead generation, and learning client communication to leading my own client/sales calls where I created execution strategies to ensure client satisfaction. I gained a wide range of skills. My tasks also included managing clients for in-studio shoots and assisting the head designer in creating mood boards and the look/ feel for shoots. Finally, I was also given the opportunity to plan and shoot a KittyKat promotion video in which I starred in.
The learning did NOT stop at my tasks:
Sure, it’s expected that you would pick up at least a few more skills during an internship…but little did I know, each miniscule or tedious task that I was given had a ripple effect to how I conduct myself as an individual now. You’re probably thinking, “well of course Alex, internships are there to change your outlook on your career” and YES my career trajectory is currently under construction. However, I did not expect that shadowing my supervisor on a client call (which happens daily) would make me feel more at ease talking to strangers, which gave me the confidence to openly express myself to others and lay my assets out on the table. As my confidence grew, I found myself more at ease in various social and professional settings. This newfound assurance empowered me to network more effectively and engage in meaningful conversations. Ultimately, it culminated in the bold step of confidently approaching a stranger to inquire about job opportunities at my dream company. So yes, shadowing a client call may have landed me my dream job…with several steps inbetween, of course.
So, if there is that ‘dream’ that you’ve had but don’t know how to get to, take it from me: start with the small steps, embrace each small task, no matter how trivial it may seem. Accumulate each skill like it’s a coin you’re putting in a piggy bank for your future. You never know which seemingly minor experience may just be what puts you on the path to your dreams.