On my first day as a Spring 2018 intern, I had no idea what to expect. As someone who was in the public relations program down the road at URI, I knew a little bit about marketing, but I wanted to learn more about it. I was given the opportunity to work at KSA from February 2018 to July 2018. These are a few things I learned in my time that I thought future interns should be prepared for.
Experiences
As an intern, there are many times where you will either have to sit on the sidelines and watch as other people are working, or are given case studies work on, only to find out all the work you may have done was for something that was actually done weeks in advance. This was never the case during my time with Team KSA. You will be thrown right into the action, seeing how work you do makes a difference from day one. From working events to doing research on potential clients to meeting with actual clients, you will be able to get real-world experience. You will also never again work with a group of people who care about their job as much as the wonderful people here at KSA.
Teamwork
Everything you do is part of the team. There will be times when you will be asked to work on certain aspects of projects alone, but you will never be the only one on something. Everyone on the team has a dynamic skill set, and they all combine to make each project come together.
Each team member in the office is willing to put down what they are doing if you have any questions. They all truly want to make sure you succeed. You will have your hand in a wide variety of things and get to work with each member of Team KSA. Every client you work with is a whole new experience, and each one will help you bring become a better marketer.
Dedication
This is where you are tested on whether you are able to make it in the “real world”. While there is a relaxed environment in the office, everyone works hard and gets their tasks done, and you do not want to be the exception. There is no hiding behind coworkers here. It is not like school where you may lose 15% of an assignment if it’s passed in late. If you are in charge of something, it needs to get done. There is no skirting around the edges here at KSA. Everything happens in real time, so the farther behind you are, the worse off you will be. Fall to far behind and you will be shown the door. Everyone who works here is dedicated into putting in the best effort on everything they do. Whether it means getting here before the sun rises or working until after the sun sets in the summer, the job will get done no matter how big it may be.
Communication
In this day and age, all people do is text. That will not cut it in the business world. At KSA, you will learn how to communicate with coworkers, clients and customers on a professional level. The way you talk with each of them is different, and there is a precise art to how to handle each one to the best of your ability.
In conclusion, all I can say is, if you’re a student that’s looking for something easy that will be a resume booster, I will give you one piece of advice, look somewhere else. Everyone here is very dedicated to their job and I can honestly say this has been one of the best experiences of my life. The people who work here are all genuine and will always have your back. I will miss being a part of the team and know that they are an exceptional group of people.
P.S. One last thing of note is just so you all know, it’s not soccer, it’s fútbol.