We thought it’d be a great idea to occasionally share some experiences of other L&S students. This blog post was written by Christina Marie Kalsow- Ramos, an L&S Senior. Christina is a great example of how one opportunity led to another, and she emphasizes the importance of building relationships and making the most of an internship. During tough times in the job market, establishing relationships and acquiring a skill set is essential. Read on to hear about Christina’s experience.
Internships that Rock at NBCUniversalI have spent the last two summers interning at NBCUniversal in Rockefeller Center in New York City, where the internships have truly rocked. During the summer of 2010, I interned with the Branded Entertainment Department, a group that specializes in in-show advertising integrations on NBC’s cable channels: Bravo, USA, Syfy and Oxygen. This mode of advertising is vital with the increasing presence of Tivo, online syndication and Hulu which makes traditional advertising spots less effective as viewers can opt into viewing them or just fast-forward. I worked with USA network and Syfy and had the opportunity to go to shoots, write proposals for advertisers and create sizzle reels recapping integrations and placements. Having to coordinate with production, legal and the advertising companies on a daily basis taught me the ins and outs of the mass media.
During the summer of 2010, I participated in the Reel Intern Contest. Twenty-five interns were selected to take part in the contest and were tasked with creating a 360 degree campaign to promote NBCUniversal’s internship program, including a sizzle reel, grass roots campaign, digital campaign, posters and one-sheets. This was a great opportunity to connect with talent at NBCUniversal and meet interns from other departments.
During the 2010-2011 school year, I was selected to be the NBCUniversal student ambassador at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, where I functioned as a resource for students who had any questions about the company and its internship program, as well as facilitate the communication between prospective interns and human resources department at NBCUniversal.
I was invited to return to NBCUniversal during the summer of 2011. I choose to split my time between the Branded Entertainment Department and Telemundo Marketing to gain as much experience and exposure to the field of mass communication as possible before graduating this coming May. At Telemundo I worked specifically with the affiliate stations on their marketing tactics of Telemundo shows, their budgeting and identifying issues with their current marketing strategies.
Additionally this past summer I had the opportunity to participate in NBCUniversal’s Pilot program. Only twenty-five interns were chosen to participate in creating a pilot to air on NBC. Each group of five created a pitch for a pilot, a marketing campaign and a financial plan.
Each week lunch & learns, resume workshops, and speakers were offered to the interns to learn more about the industry and the company. It was a great opportunity to intern with NBCUniversal in New York for the past two summers. I acquired valuable skills and knowledge that will be very valuable when I enter into the workforce full time.
I would definitely recommend applying for summer internship opportunities. It is the best way to find out what you are passionate about and what areas you are not. When applying for internships I wouldn’t let big name companies be discouraging. There is no harm in applying. I find that companies like when applicants write personalized cover letters that show they have done research about the company and gives a flavor of who the applicant is.
Once students secure an internship I would recommend to get involved in as many opportunities offered by the company as possible such as special projects, workshops and socials. Getting involved is a great way to network and build relationships for the future. Asking questions and requesting feedback on your work is important to increase your knowledge of the field and improve the quality of your work. Post-internship I would recommend to keep in touch with colleagues and if you are back in the area, request to grab coffee or meet for lunch.
Christina’s Bio
Christina is a senior graduating in May 2012 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is pursuing a double major in Strategic Communications from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and in TV, Radio and Film from the Communication Arts Department. She is originally from Lexington, Massachusetts. Currently, Christina is the Webmaster for the University of Wisconsin Advertising Club, helps with multimedia at the Daily Cardinal Newspaper and plays forward for the University of Wisconsin Women’s Club Lacrosse team. Post graduation she hopes to be working in advertising in New York, Boston or Chicago.
