After eight months with Barton Associates and graduation on the horizon, my time as Content Writer Intern is coming to a close. Like many college students, my goal was to land an internship so I could showcase to future employers that I have work experience outside the four walls of a lecture hall at Central Connecticut State University. My experience with Barton provided just that—I had the opportunity to see how marketing teams work in the real world, and I’m positive the skills and experience I gained during my eight-months at the company will prove invaluable as I enter the working world. Not only did I gain valuable insights about the healthcare sector, content creation, and search engine optimization, I discovered where ideas have the most impact and how to respond to an ever-changing market. Read on to learn the seven things I learned during my internship at Barton Associates.
1. Content Writing is a Craft
One of the biggest things I learned about writing marketing content is that you must unlearn and set aside some of the things school has taught you. I’m sure many of you were raised with the expectation that a high word count and a lengthy number of pages would equate to effective writing. Moreover, you were probably taught that big, incomprehensible words were good and that a strict, formal tone was the way to go. However, I learned that this mode wasn’t appropriate for promotional, educational, and conversational content. By removing the academic style of writing, I was able to connect with a broader audience and spark meaningful conversations.
2. When to Jump in With Ideas
During my time as a marketing intern, I had the pleasure of being an active member of the marketing team, contributing to team meetings and interdepartmental projects. As the newest and youngest member involved, I found it was important for me to listen, take notes, and learn the organizational structure. Like many young and energetic people, I was ready to jump in and take on an active role. However, I learned that when you’re starting out you should take a step back and reassess when and where your contributions are needed. To get to this point, I took the time to understand the team and company dynamic. This means observing how people interact, handle criticism, and listen to how people speak to one another. Once I had this down, I knew when and where it’s best to step in with ideas and critiques.
3. Healthcare is Complex
Coming into an internship at a company that’s a leader in the healthcare staffing industry, I had a big learning curve. I had no idea how the healthcare system worked and did not understand the many factors involved in the care I received. Thankfully, Barton provided me with a breakdown so I could get up to speed.
One aspect of healthcare that my internship opened my eyes to is the importance and distinction of mid-level providers. As someone with a nurse practitioner (NP) as a primary care provider, I did not understand the difference between an NP and a doctor. At Barton, I learned the distinction and how to write content catered towards a specific profession. Through this research, I grasped the knowledge of scope of practice by state, various specialties, and the difficulties people face when receiving care.
4. Change is Good
In a fast-changing industry with various metrics to reach and gaps to fill, change is inevitable. This is something I have always struggled with, no matter the setting. However, I needed to fully optimize my time and complete my assigned tasks even when things were constantly changing. Through this adjustment, I learned two important things—the first is not to resist change, and the second is everyone is learning at the same time. By accepting and welcoming change, you can evolve with everyone around you and take advantage of new opportunities. And since everyone is learning, I found it’s important to ask questions. You can’t control change—oftentimes, it’s best to take a step back, observe, and then come out of the transition more informed to respond the best way you can. I have been able to put this into practice not only during my time at Barton, but also in my personal life.
5. Stepping Up Separates Yourself from the Pack
As an overachiever, I was eager to learn and do more than what was assigned to me. When Barton’s dedicated social media manager left the company to pursue another position, this was a perfect opportunity for me to step up. I became comfortable with social media writing, formatting, and working on a small team to manage the company’s socials. With these added responsibilities, it was imperative that I managed my time efficiently. Through time management, I leveraged my strengths and determined the most effective times to complete certain tasks. By taking on more responsibility, I expanded my experience and honed skills that many did not pursue.
6. Interdepartmental Relationships are Key to Overall Success
Learning how to build interdepartmental relationships was essential to my success as a marketing intern. Marketing is the center of business operations and the voice of external communications—whether it’s company affairs, branding, or highlighting our success. By forging relationships outside of the marketing team, I was able to learn more about what other departments do and how we can work together more cohesively. This relationship gave me the context I needed to effectively market what Barton does and expand my creative scope. The most notable interdepartmental collaboration during my internship was with our talent acquisition team. Through this partnership, I played an active role in developing career readiness tips and creating content, like a monthly email newsletter, that highlights Barton’s entry-level positions.
7. You Get What You Put In
This may sound simple, but it’s true—what you put into an internship is what you get out of it. Like I said in the beginning, I wanted experience outside of the classroom. While internships are meant to teach you real-world skills, I learned that they’re limited to how far you take them.
To fully make the most of your time, you must start by asking questions and not being afraid to do so. The more I asked questions, the more I sent a signal to the marketing team that I’m willing to learn and take on a larger responsibility. Trust me, doing so was difficult at first. The truth is, most professionals are happy to offer advice and mentorship. In the case that you may feel as though you are overstepping, it’s okay to ask for clarification—everyone needs some sort of realignment.
Conclusion
Internships are an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the modern practices used in today’s workplace. It may sound simple, but internships are really what you put into it. Ask as many questions as you can and seek new learning opportunities. Work on professional relationships. Get involved in the decision making process. You won’t regret it.
Did you like hearing about my experience with Barton Associates? Interested in exploring more about the benefits of working here? Visit our careers page today to learn more!
