After nine awesome months as an intern for HMG Creative, my time has come to an end. I entered this position promptly after graduating from The University of Texas and I’m leaving it with my first full-time job opportunity. I can truly say I’ve learned everything I know from the team at HMG Creative, and I’ll miss them dearly.
Last year, I graduated from college with a journalism degree, unsure of what the next chapter was for me. The traditional (and insanely competitive) path to journalism scared me and I wanted to first gain skills in other fields that would be valuable to any business I would work for in the future. However, I was quite overwhelmed by the expectation of obtaining a full-time job and starting my career right after graduation.
I knew I wanted hands-on experience in a professional setting, and I felt that this internship would be the perfect opportunity for that — and it was. I came into this position with very minimal knowledge or awareness of the digital marketing sphere. I still wouldn’t consider myself an expert, but I’ve learned to appreciate the complexities of it. The skills I learned in digital media, marketing strategy, and overall B2B partnerships will follow me anywhere I go!
The first few months were mainly about learning different platforms, strategies, and ideas. I had to learn to use WordPress, Facebook Ads Manager, Hootsuite, eConnect, Google Analytics, and so much more. I spent most of my time researching and writing about relevant industry topics like eCommerce, email marketing, web accessibility, and digital marketing. Most of my days started off with facilitating PR opportunities. I was responsible for managing community involvement throughout all of HMG’s social media platforms and managing our relationships with other B2B companies.
Along the way, I enjoyed the experience of joining in on important meetings with some of our clients. Although at times it seemed like I was a fly on the wall in these meetings, I learned so much from them. Whether it was a brand workshop, a call with a client, or watching the way the HMG team fosters its relationships with clients when they visit the office, I retained so much about how to build strong professional relationships.
During my time here, I was also awarded much more beyond the realm of digital marketing. The team at HMG Creative became my good friends and mentors. Whether they were teaching me to master the art of ping pong, constantly checking in on my wellbeing, or teaching me how to do my taxes (yes, that happened), I was always learning something new and always felt at home here. It goes without saying, but I am incredibly grateful for the HMG Creative team!
So, what’s next? While it’s been a strange time to be on the job market with all the uncertainty of a global pandemic, I was lucky enough to get a full-time job offer. I’ll be moving forward as a Digital Content Specialist for a nonprofit media lab. I’ll be able to use the digital media skills I learned from HMG Creative and combine them with my passion for spreading high-quality, fair, and just news to people from all communities.
As for the rest of the year, I don’t have any major plans yet. Given the circumstances, I’ll be tending to my growing indoor garden, perfecting my coffee recipes, and planning my 2021 vacations. Europe, anyone?