By Kendra Young, Account Coordinator
“Is there some reason that my coffee isn’t here? Has she died or something?” – The Devil Wears Prada
When imagining what an internship looks like, what do you see? I know for me, my mind instantly filled with images of Meryl Streep in her iconic role as Miranda Priestly as she sternly communicated (ordered) those around her to go fetch lunch and coffee, take notes in meetings, and pretty much nothing else. This is what entertainment taught me to expect when trying to break into an industry. Rest assured, future interns, my past four months at The Hoffman Agency couldn’t be further from this image.
I’m here to give you the inside scoop on my time here at Hoffman and what I’ve learned from my internship. From Day 1, I knew this experience would be unlike all the others I heard about in our field. Obviously, I was no tech wiz coming into the internship, so I had a lot to learn (and frankly still do) about the ins and outs of the clients I work with. I think that was the first thing I began to understand; I’m always going to be learning new things and that’s OK. As I gradually started to understand what a semiconductor was, my responsibility on accounts started to increase in turn.
I quickly found myself offering input on stories and doing things school didn’t prepare me for, like sitting in on my first media briefing. I bring this example up specifically because to say I was anxious would be an understatement. I didn’t know how to talk to a journalist — in my mind they were a foreign species so elusive that I wouldn’t have a conversation with them for at least five years. Since it was my pitch that got them there, my team thought I should attend to see it come to fruition. Now, I haven’t gotten another bite from media since then, but I know the day I do my team will be there to support me every step of the way. This is my favorite thing about this job, the mentorship.
The culture of Hoffman is welcoming, inclusive, and challenging (in a great sense). People are always reaching out to ask me how I feel about a task or encouraging me to ask questions. I’ve even been able to meet some of my coworkers in person … crazy I know. A weekly working coffee date with a coworker can turn an entire week around! I truly feel as though I’m building relationships with mentors and friendships that I’ll carry with me forever.
My time here so far may not have been spent getting coffee for Meryl, but I couldn’t have asked for a better launchpad for my career and am excited to see what else we can accomplish together!
