What Is a Marketing Internship and How Can It Benefit You?

If you’re an aspiring marketer, we understand the frustrations when trying to gain that all-important experience. Many hiring managers want candidates who have worked in a marketing role for some time, so it can be challenging for students or those new to the marketing world. So, why not complete a marketing internship?

Internships are great for seeing how marketing fits into a business. If you’re asking yourself ‘What is a marketing internship?’, ‘How can it benefit me?’, or ‘How do I become an intern?’, you’re in the right place! We want to discuss the responsibilities of a marketing intern, its benefits, and some top tips for securing one.

What Is a Marketing Internship?

Internships are temporary programmes that can range from a couple of weeks to a year. Depending on the company, you can have various responsibilities:

• Supporting the planning and execution of marketing campaigns
• Identifying marketing needs
• Conducting market research
• Implementing email marketing
• Content creation and scheduling posts for social media
• Website edits and updates
• Evaluating current marketing efforts  

How Can an Internship Benefit You?

Undertaking a marketing internship gives you an edge over other candidates. As well as the opportunity to develop your skills in certain areas, becoming an intern has a range of other benefits. 

Finding Your Passion

Due to the versatility of a marketing role, it will allow you to identify areas you’re passionate about. This is essential due to marketing being so broad. You can find your passion through putting your ideas into practice, and seeing what works and what doesn’t. You shouldn’t be afraid to experiment. 

Gaining Feedback

Being an intern is all about learning and developing, so it’s a great time to ask questions and learn from your mistakes. Ask for regular feedback and take everything on board; you want to get the most out of your experience!

Increasing Your Confidence

For those studying at university, it can seem daunting to put the theory you have learnt into practice when securing a job. Internships act as a bridge between university and a full-time role. Implementing the theory you have learnt on your course will increase your confidence massively, and will make it much easier when applying for full-time positions. 

Networking Opportunities

As an intern, you will have the opportunity to meet a range of individuals within the marketing field. This can be great for networking, allowing you to forge relationships with like-minded people. Networking will enable you to identify opportunities that you may not find alone. Your network will allow you to gain insights into a range of fields and can offer support.  

Job Opportunities

If you make a good impression on the company you're interning for, who knows? You may be offered a more permanent position at the end! You will know a lot about the company at this stage and it is a great way to show progression within a role.

How Do I Get an Internship?

Due to these benefits, internships can be competitive. With this being said, there has been an increase in remote internships due to COVID-19, so don’t restrict your search to your area! LinkedIn and sites such as Indeed and Reed all have regular opportunities. Many universities also provide internships for students, so do some digging! We also recommend joining the Girls in Marketing Facebook Group; there is a range of opportunities with small businesses, so keep your eyes peeled!

Top Tips When Applying

• Show that you're passionate - you are more likely to gain an intern role if you have a passion for marketing. Completing voluntary work or free online courses highlight your passion and will make companies see your potential.  
• Be clear about what you want - it’s important to consider areas you wish to develop. Knowing the skills you want to enhance will make the internship more worthwhile and getting this across in your application will show that you’re eager to learn. 
• Make your CV pop - many companies want candidates that are creative and can think outside the box. Try to convey this on your CV, through making it visually appealing and not a simple word document. Canva is great for this and offers a range of free templates.
• Tailor your CV - not only must your CV look good, but we recommend tailoring it to suit the role you’re applying for. There is likely to be a lot of other candidates applying for the position, so it’s essential to tailor your CV to show your suitability to the role. 
• Utilise LinkedIn - having a strong presence on LinkedIn makes it easier for employers to find you and allows you to build a personal brand. Here, you can showcase things like voluntary work and other transferable skills, and it shows that you are networking with others in the field.

We hope our tips get you that one step further to know what a marketing internship is and if it's right for you. We know it can be frustrating when applying, sometimes it can take many applications before you are successful. However, don't let this put you off. Ask for feedback on the unsuccessful applications and use this to improve your next one. Who knows what amazing opportunities are just around the corner? Best of luck!

Written by Emily Ralphs