Finding an internship is not an easy task, especially if looking for something entirely related to marketing or sales in an international institution. Since the very beginning of my studies, I wanted to experience a good lifestyle and study abroad. Therefore, participating in an exchange semester in Denmark at UCL (University College Lillebaelt) and having a fantastic experience was an inspiration and motivation to continue in the same manner. For that reason, I chose to do an internship at the International Office at ISCAP (Porto Accounting and Business School) in Porto, Portugal. These experiences would not be possible if IBC-M did not have a bilateral agreement with the institution, and I am grateful because of these opportunities for professional and personal development.
This internship contributed immensely to my further career steps. The ISCAP, as an international institution, offers a lot to a student who is willing to engage in different extracurricular activities, study sections, and events. Moreover, the surroundings and the positive and easy-going atmosphere make it a pleasant feeling. Moreover, the ISCAP’s staff and its approach to their interns were incredible, which made working enjoyable. The daily feedback provided by supervisors and the individual work gave freedom to interns to show the capabilities and skills and bring to the world something else that was hidden deep inside. In that manner, the overall experience was positive and raised my level of confidence in my work.
I was engaged in the organization of the “Technical Communication Summer School 2020”. My tasks were to provide the input into a marketing strategy, to create the content for marketing campaigns (posters, flyers, the logo of the event), social media management, financial management, and other ad-hoc activities. This experience helped to bring to light my creativity, implement the theory, and develop new skills and competencies.
The challenges during the internship period were all about meeting the expectations, learning new skills (graphic design), organizing and assuring that everything is going as planned. Additionally, the level of responsibility during the events and activities raised the capacity of my abilities.
The goal of this internship was to provide practical knowledge related to dissemination (marketing activities) of the event. Also, it was the perfect time to bring to light the creativity and implement graphic design skills using Photoshop and Canva.com. Moreover, this internship helped in understanding and experiencing different work cultures and to be part of a diverse workforce.
These marketing activities contributed a lot to my professional growth since I applied theoretical knowledge into practice. It helped in implementing content marketing and defining the target audience while using different techniques that were learned during the previous semesters. In this manner, I discovered what a marketing manager precisely should do, and in what way you should be prepared for when conducting a marketing campaign.
My opinion was appreciated when providing the inputs into marketing strategy, planning, and developing ideas, which was like a fuel for the upcoming engagements in different tasks and activities. While also being responsible for many things because of the hands-on approach, I experienced individuality and appreciation while working.
If one takes into consideration the placement of the internship, the International Office, which was always my wish to experience, the dynamic working environment is a perfect match for my abilities and personality. Moreover, the chance of being engaged in different activities and events helped in realizing which one I truly enjoy.
Also, developing graphic design and Photoshop skills, which was an unknown field, identified new interests for me. The newly acquired competence in this area and many other fields will be useful in the upcoming periods. As stated before, in an area of changing and challenging markets, it is always appreciated to learn new skills and gain new competences in different fields. For these reasons, I genuinely believe that this internship experience helped in my professional growth.