Why Students Need To Do Marketing Internships & Why Employers Should Offer Them

Why Students Need To Do Marketing Internships & Why Employers Should Offer Them

By Lucy Harris, Intern at Kai Communications

Benefits for the intern 

There are many ways students can gain valuable experience by participating in marketing internships. 

Students can benefit from the application of theoretical knowledge learnt through their studies to real-world situations, which helps bridge the gap between learning and industry practice. One study showed that those who take part in an internship reach a management position after graduation in just under four years, compared to nearly six years without one.

Marketing internships offer students the chance to develop and refine their skills through practice, networking, and industry exposure. Individuals who have taken part in an internship also reported having the opportunity to learn new career-related skills, clarifying their career goals, and becoming more confident in pursuing a future career.

They can offer a wide range of roles and responsibilities depending on the company you are working for, the organisation’s needs, the intern’s skills and interests, and the goals of the internship programme. Common experience gained includes: 

1. Market research – Interns may assist in gathering data about target audiences, competitors, industry trends and market dynamics all to help inform market strategies.
2. Content creation – This can involve writing blog posts, social media management, and website updates. 
3. Campaign planning – Interns can be involved in planning and executing marketing campaigns, involving coming up with ideas, developing content, creating visuals and tracking performance.
4. Public relations – Interns may assist with drafting press releases, communicating with media outlets, and tracking media coverage. 

Internships also offer students insights into the work culture and dynamics of different companies. Individuals are able to determine if the organisation’s values and practices align with their own goals and work style all whilst building their resume and promoting personal and professional growth through taking on new experiences and overcoming challenges. 

Successful internships can lead to reliable referrals and positive references to benefit students’ job prospects, or even job opportunities post-graduation at the company they interned for. 

Benefits for the business 

With nearly 70% of participants choosing their specific internship to gain experience in the field they plan to pursue companies can benefit from running internship programmes as the time and resources put into it are being used on by energetic, ambitious individuals who have a clear interest and alignment with the relevant field. Students can bring a new energy and enthusiasm to the workplace having a positive impact on team morale and productivity.

By offering marketing internships employers can contribute to the education and development of students whose future prospects relate to the field. They can also grow and develop as a company through the introduction of fresh perspectives and potential future employees. Here are some other ways marketing employers benefit from hiring interns: 

1. Additional resources – Interns provide additional resources to the marketing team which can relive some pressure from full-time employees by assisting with time-consuming tasks such as content creation and data entry. 
2. Increased productivity – Students can bring a new energy and enthusiasm to the workplace having a positive impact on team morale and productivity. The additional assistance also allows marketing teams to manage larger workloads which increases efficiency.  
3. Talent acquisition – Internships offer companies a cost-effective way to identify and evaluate potential future employees, which can help develop a streamlined recruitment process. Interns that are candidates for more permanent positions will also have been trained and mentored within the company, so they are better prepared to contribute and fit into the organisation after they graduate. 
4. Diversity – With marketing companies employing student interns there is more potential for diverse backgrounds and skill sets which can enhance the organisations’ capabilities. 
5. Leadership development – Offering internships gives companies the opportunity to develop mentorship programmes, and leaders can develop their skills through supervising interns. With subsequent feedback from interns companies can also continue to improve and refine their working environments and entry level into the business. 

Being open to learning and adapting to new environments is important for success as marketing is a dynamic field with many different roles. It is also a competitive field so being able to stand out as a candidate through preparation, enthusiasm, and having the relevant skills can lead to success when applying for internships. When applying for internships have a great CV and covering letter detailing your relevant experience.

By highlighting skills that best suit the internship this can show the company how your interest and experience match up. Also make sure there are no errors and your CV is laid out appropriately to show employers you are serious about the position and create a positive and professional first impression.