My Experience as Adverb’s First Summer Intern

Madison McKee and Maya Smith

The world of communications and content marketing is constantly changing. In my opinion, there’s no better way to learn than to be on the ground running. This summer, I had the opportunity to work as Adverb’s first summer intern. And what a sprint it was. 

Building off my prior experience communications and marketing, I not only learned about industry best practices but also about what makes a great team, the power of building industry connections and putting yourself out there confidently—no matter how uncomfortable it may be. And I had just a little bit of fun along the way.

Putting yourself out there and pitching yourself is something you’ll rarely regret.

Sometimes, the easiest way to land a job is to just ask for it. That’s how my internship journey at Adverb began—with me pitching the idea to Adverb’s partners, Adam and Tyler. From previous part-time work with the agency, I had already built a connection with the teamI knew that I had a mandatory work term approaching, and I couldn’t think of a better fit than Adverb. 

While there was no job posting for a summer student, I asked to meet with Adam and Tyler to discuss the possibility of creating a position where I could learn from the Adverb team and grow as a young professional. To my delight, they offered me a summer position, and I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to work as Adverb’s first summer intern.

Get to know your crew, and let them get to know you.

I’m used to working in larger companies, so working with a smaller team was new to me. Adverb truly sets itself apart from being just another small agency in the way the team builds each other up and collectively sets the intention to continuously learn and improve together. There is always room for what the team needs to feel supported, resulting in both personal and professional growth.

Through my internship, I’ve recognized and embraced that teamwork is indeed the key to success. Achieving victories for both clients and the agency itself is a collective effort. Our team thrives on the collaboration of brainstorming sessions, working together until we unearth creative solutions that produce concrete results. At Adverb, support is abundant. There’s always a helping hand within reach and a shoulder to lean on, even in a virtual environment. We’re our own biggest cheerleaders. And that feels really good.

Keep those connections alive.

This summer, I was lucky enough to attend SocialWest, where I had the privilege of networking with some of the industry’s best and taking in top-notch information about best practices and new trends. While attending this conference, I mingled with professionals from a variety of different sectors with years of experience that I don’t have (yet!) The conversations I had between sessions at SocialWest are some that I will never forget, and will continue to apply as I develop in my communications career. Since attending the conference in June, I have made a conscious effort to continue building on the connections I made. Whether that meant a follow on Instagram or LinkedIn, or snagging a business card to reference in the future, I set an intention to keep those connections close, because I want to continue to learn from and connect with others within my industry.

Be confident in what you know and how you can contribute, but stay hungry for growth.

I think for most students entering an intern role, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that you’re the new person and you sit at the lowest rung on the ladder. From my first week at Adverb, I was reminded that I had new, fresh ideas as a newcomer to the business—and this was a unique value I could bring to the table. 

This perspective shift helped me to feel more confident in contributing ideas, leading meetings, and taking on projects even when I felt intimidated., At the same time, I think it’s important as an intern or early-career professional that you don’t lose track of why you were hired. I joined Adverb because I was looking for opportunities to grow my knowledge and experience. And those opportunities are everywhere as an intern. So, network with clients, grab coffees with coworkers to pick their brains and watch the techniques and practices at use closely. You never stop learning.

Don’t be afraid to say yes, and know that you WILL be asking questions.

At the beginning of my summer term, I often found myself feeling hesitant to put my hand up to help on projects, because I was nervous about the knowledge I lacked and the amount of questions I may have to ask to get the task past the finish line.

I soon discovered that not jumping in on new projects and tasks only set me back and hindered my professional development. Instead, I chose to move forward with a drive to try new things as they were offered to me, knowing that I would have questions in the process. When I reflect on the biggest things I learned this summer, a number of them are rooted in questions I asked when I didn’t know the answer.

This summer at Adverb has been a transformational experience. It’s reaffirmed my beliefs in the value of learning through action, the power of teamwork, and the significance of connections in the ever-evolving world of communications and marketing. As I move forward in my career, I’ll carry these lessons with me, eager to continue growing and embracing new opportunities.