Hey there! My name is Stefania Presti and I am a third year Communication Science student at the University of Amsterdam.
From August 2021 two December 2021 I had the pleasure of interning for MakeSense Health in Amsterdam.
The company
MakeSense Health is a healthcare communication agency focused on developing communication strategies within the healthcare environment. The company aims at facilitating communication but more specifically innovation in healthcare, by connecting Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) with the pharmaceutical industry, and helping them to develop innovative ideas.
My role
My role as intern was that of taking care of the marketing, communication and content development of the company. I was accompanied on this journey by another intern, which made this first experience in communications less intimidating. We worked from home because the office could get crowded and most employees did except for the co-founders, but we were always free to go. My work week always started and ended with a catch-up meeting, as for the rest of the days we would talk to my supervisor at the beginning of the day about what to do and then I would adjust the workload distribution throughout the day (within the deadlines). I received a lot of support from my colleagues and there was no shame in asking questions when I didn’t understand some instruction because they prioritized effectiveness. The tasks I got to perform were of the most varied: from creating content for their social media accounts, or drafting an innovation program, to developing a promotional plan for international projects and many more. I learnt how to use platforms like Canvas, Figma, Slack and Airtable, which are widely used among most companies (even outside the Netherlands), so I’m definitely grateful for this kick-start which will allow me to have one less thing to worry about during my next job experience.
My advice
What made my experience most rewarding was working in an intimate environment characteristic of startups. These circumstances are a fertile ground for growth because, as it was for me, you are allowed to touch upon various sectors, broadening your horizons of interest, but above all to learn the most basic dynamics of a company. I would highly recommend that everyone start their career path small, not only because of the meaningful bonds you get to make with your co-workers, but also because it’s more common to find people who truly love their job and can pass on the same values to you.
Takeaway
As a result of this internship experience, I got a greater awareness of what my interests are in communications, which can often be a very broad sector. I realized that it’s not only important to work in the right industry, but that the operating environment of the company is also important. For example, MakeSense Health targets people in the field of healthcare and if I were to decide to continue on this path I would already have a well-established launch pad. However, having realized that I have no interest in creating content for this target group given the limitations that this entails, I know that in the future I won’t settle for this field of focus. Nevertheless, I am immensely grateful to UVA and the company for allowing me to have this experience and I feel less afraid to approach the world of work now.