I participated in MELT U the summer before my junior year of college (2017). After interning with MELT, I continued exploring the entertainment marketing world and went on to intern with Viacom on Comedy Central’s Brand Marketing Team during the summer of 2018. After graduating from Middlebury College with a B.A. in Film and Media Culture, I returned to Viacom as an Integrated Marketing Coordinator for the Music Division (MTV, VH1, CMT, & Logo). While working on the Integrated Marketing Team, I aided in the development and execution of multi-platform marketing campaigns for Viacom’s top advertisers. This May, after the Viacom-CBS merger, I made the leap over to the ViacomCBS Podcast Team, where I now help manage all podcast initiatives across the entire portfolio of ViacomCBS brands.
My best advice for current interns is three-fold.
- Don’t underestimate the power of handwritten notes.
By the end of the summer, MELT U Class of 2017 had collectively written thousands of handwritten thank you notes. No exaggeration. Although this may seem like an antiquated practice, I promise this minor detail will make a huge impact and help set you apart from your Millennial and Gen-Z counterparts. I truly believe that the simple act of writing a handwritten thank you note after every interview (informational or formal) helped me get to where I am today in my young career.
- Be open-minded and always say “yes.”
One of the best things you can do as an intern is make yourself indispensable to the company. Do this by saying “yes” to every task, no matter how big or small. This means being open-minded to assignments or roles that might not initially be what you think suit your strengths. However, by taking on the tasks that others won’t, you not only learn what you like and what you don’t, you also become that intern. The one who staff members can count on. The one that leaves a lasting impression.
- Life isn’t linear and that’s okay.
You will hear Vince and other speakers say this many many times throughout your MELT U program. And although I have only recently entered the working world, I quickly realized the truth behind these words. There will be times when obstacles arise, and if you are type-A like me, throw you off your carefully charted course. Rather than viewing these obstacles as the end of the road, look at them as opportunities for growth. You never know what might happen when you turn left instead of right.