By Caitlin Chambers, Intern Communication Consultant
During my final semester of a dual degree in Business Advertising and Professional Communication at QUT, I was excited to get some hands-on industry experience and feel so fortunate this was with the team at Urbaine.
Working primarily on a major client campaign, I was given great insight into agency life and what goes on behind the scenes to make events happen and bring stories to life. I was also able to dip my toes into an array of other client projects. Working alongside Sarah, Emily, and the entire Urbaine team was such a privilege, and they taught me skills that will prove valuable throughout my career. Here’s what I discovered during my time as an Intern.
Be eager to learn.
This was my first opportunity to put theory into practice. Research tasks and content creation such as social posts were taught at university, but I was exposed to many new tasks, such as drafting media releases and eDMs, allowing me to improve my skills and fuel my passion for writing content.
I found that it’s good to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and seek new experiences. Be enthusiastic about the unknown. With no prior industry experience I approached Urbaine with an eagerness to learn and an open mind. I came into the office each week prepared to learn new skills, write in unfamiliar formats, and meet new people.
Hard work pays off.
A highlight of my experience was attending a client event, the culmination of months of preparation. This was a fantastic opportunity to interact with the client and their stakeholders, and it was amazing to see all the hard work we had done behind the scenes come to fruition. I gained so much confidence through this experience.
It was eye opening to work on real client projects and gain an understanding of the types of tasks that pertain to them. I discovered the importance of creativity, collaboration and showing a genuine interest in topics you are working on. One of the most important things is the value of building and maintaining positive connections with clients and industry contacts.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Day-to-day, I worked alongside Emily who gave me new and exciting briefs each week. I really appreciated her guidance as she shared tips and tricks to expand my skillset across a range of areas.
I believe that to gain value from an internship you must ask questions and be open to constructive feedback. Upon reflection, I am glad I felt comfortable seeking assistance from the team when unsure about something, as this helped boost my overall confidence in the role and remove my self-doubts.
A supportive team is everything.
Working in an all-female team was inspiring. I was blown away by their support, as well as the level of trust and autonomy they gave me when completing tasks for clients. Their valuable feedback has helped me hone my craft and show me what a career in this industry looks like.
Something that really stood out was the positive, fun workplace environment. Everyone was enthusiastic about having me in the office and it really helped ease my nerves. It is so important to find a workplace that aligns with your values, and you feel like you can seamlessly fit into.
“Caitlin has proven herself as an outstanding communicator during her time at Urbaine. She has an infectious positive attitude, a knack for writing and is always keen to learn. I have seen her skills improve and her confidence grow day by day. I am certain her skills will take her far!” – Emily Lowe, Communication Consultant
Final thoughts.
I was surrounded by a group of inspirational women who believed in me and my quality of work. This internship has been the highlight of my university experience, despite my nerves transitioning from the classroom to a professional setting. I would strongly encourage other students to seek out an internship, no matter how daunting this may seem. It is truly the best way to gain first-hand experience within an industry and build confidence in your skillset. My time at Urbaine has truly exceeded my expectations of what an internship could be and opened my eyes to the world of opportunities that await post-graduation.
