Today’s interview was written and compiled by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.
After graduating from the University of Montana, Jennie landed an extremely competitive internship at a very well known marketing firm in Seattle, Wash. Today Jennie Morrison is the assistant account executive intern with Ruth: Edelman Integrated Marketing. Managing client projects from intake to completion, writing up project requests and briefing the creative team on the client’s situation and goals of each project, is only just the beginning of Jennie’s daily tasks. If you’re looking to make it in the marketing or advertising world, read on for her advice-packed interview!
1) Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you attend school, and what did you study?
I went to the University of Montana, which is in Missoula, Mont., and graduated from the School of Business Administration with degrees in marketing, management information systems and international business.
My favorite things to do when I’m not working include golfing, fly fishing, visiting Glacier National Park, floating the river and spending time with close friends and family. I also enjoy being a part of intramural sports teams because I enjoy the competition and the team atmosphere. I’ve made a lot of great friendships through playing on various teams.
2) How did you find your current position and why did you choose to apply?
After graduating last May with three degrees, I still did not have a job lined up. I was beginning to feel discouraged until I spoke with a University of Montana alum, Mario Schulzke. I sat down with him and his girlfriend, Amanda, and told them my concerns. They shared their right-out-of-college moments with me and also gave me extremely valuable pieces of advice.
This conversation with them began to change the way I looked at getting a job. Instead of sitting on my computer and searching for various positions, or expecting someone to come to me with a job, I decided to move to Seattle and start pounding the pavement. Mario was generous enough to connect me with his friends and former colleagues in the Seattle area and I was able to set up informational interviews with them. They were all more than happy to meet and chat about their job, what they are passionate about, where they got their start, as well as answer any questions I had about where to live and what activities and groups were available for people my age.
I am happy to say that not only did I learn a TON of valuable advice from all of the informational interviews, but I also got an internship out of the whole thing with a great advertising agency, Ruth: Edelman Integrated Marketing. I have been interning with this agency as an assistant account executive for more than 4 months now, and I love it!
3) Could you describe the interview process? How did you prepare?
My interview process was in phases, that together, lasted about two hours. I first met with my supervisor and the traffic manager I would be working with. They were both very welcoming and interested in hearing about my other internship experiences and other activities I was involved in. My interview with them was more conversational and relaxed compared to a rigid, question and answer session. After that, I was interviewed by the account director, as well as the executive vice president/managing director at Ruth. This phase of the interview, although conversational, was a bit more question and answer. They asked more tactical questions to see how I problem solve, deal with ambiguity, distribute tasks, why I felt like I was qualified, and most importantly, why I wanted the job.
In preparation for this interview, I went onto Ruth’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages, as well as the company’s website, to research their case studies, as well as the potential people that I could be working with. I wanted to know as much as I could about the team I would be meeting, as well as the company, so they knew I truly cared about working there.
4) What has been the biggest learning curve you have overcome, or are having to?
The biggest learning curve that I have had to overcome had nothing to do with my internship. It had to do with learning how to live in a big city. I was homesick, I missed Montana, I missed college, and most of all, I missed my golden retriever that I had to leave with my parents. Big city living was definitely a shock to me, and it took me about 3 months before I felt totally comfortable in Seattle.
My biggest learning curve that I have experienced at my internship had to deal with communicating with clients. Much of my work involves client communications and determining what questions need to be asked in order to write up an effective project request that the creative team can understand. In the beginning of my internship, I found that I was not asking all of the right questions and that this was stalling the project because the creative team did not have all of the information they needed. It took me a few projects, as well as a LOT of mistakes, to really get better at being a good account manager.
5) What are your career goals?
My career goals include working for a digital advertising agency and working my way up to manage larger/more complex campaigns. My ultimate career goal is to make sure that I have a job I am passionate about with co-workers who are smart and challenge me to be better.
6) Any closing comments or advice on landing a competitive position?
Network, Network, Network. I know this is everyone’s answer, but it really is the best way to find a job. When I first started networking, it was really uncomfortable for me. Reaching out for help, when I am not an extremely outgoing person, was very challenging. But, I sucked it up and began to reach out to people for help and advice. And now, I actually think networking is a lot of fun! You get to meet new people and hear so many experiences and pieces of advice that you can then filter and use to shape your own career.
I also have found that finding ways to make yourself useful, no matter what it is, is really beneficial at the workplace. I believe that it’s important for interns and other employees to try to find something that they are REALLY good at because everyone appreciates someone who can make their life easier.
