What’s it like being accepted onto OLIVER’s intership programme? Intern Bea Farmelo shares the journey of her six months on one of OLIVER’s dedicated agencies.
With just two weeks left of my six month internship at OLIVER, I’ve been able to reflect upon the experiences I’ve had during my time here, the lessons I’ve learnt and the new skills I’ll leave with.
I started the internship just a few months out of university, confident that I wanted to work within advertising but unsure exactly which area would suit me best. Having previously done an internship in a research and insights agency, a friend recommended I consider Planning. Luckily, there was an opportunity at OLIVER and I was able to meet with Mark Stone, the Head of Planning for one of their clients, to discuss what I was looking for and the projects I could be involved in. OLIVER runs on-site agencies to provide creative strategy and agency services right where they are needed on client sites.
One thing that was immediately evident at OLIVER was that, even as an intern, you are thrown straight into the deep end. I was able to attend meetings from day one and managed to get involved in a number of exciting projects. The diversity of these projects has meant that I’ve already learnt a great deal about such a vast array of topics – from inner structure of world governments to the varieties of water types that can be used to make cocktails! Whilst here, I’ve worked on projects across financial services, transport, FMCG, technology and more!
One opportunity I enjoyed was working on a pitch in the beauty sector. It involved exploring general macro forces of change occurring within society today and considering their implications for the beauty industry. When researching current trends within this industry, I learnt the importance of having an eye for relevant and appropriate data, and to recognise what information contains value and what doesn’t.
During my time at OLIVER, I’ve worked very closely with Mark Stone, whose extensive experience within the industry and encyclopedic mind have been of immeasurable value to me. Having had no formal marketing background, Mark has provided me with knowledge, which has allowed me to start getting to grips with the fundamentals of strategy. I’ve learnt the need to fully immerse oneself within the client’s world and the value in empathising with your intended audience as to understand their behavior and how you can deliver value to them.
Having gained a vast amount of experience within the realm of Planning, I asked if it was possible to spend some of my remaining time supporting the account and project management teams. I’m aware of the fact that advertising is a tricky business to break into as a young graduate and I knew that immersing myself as fully as possible in all areas of the agency would serve me well in the future. I was taken under the wing of Erin Lo, an account director and someone who has proved to be an invaluable mentor. As well as showing me the ropes with costs, budgets and timelines, she helped teach me the importance of good communication and the ability to continually manage client expectations.
As my time here comes to a close, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at OLIVER for being so welcoming and specifically to both Mark and Erin for all your help and guidance during my internship.
We’re always looking for our next keen graduate to join our internship programme. If you’re interested in joining the team, have a look at our vacancies or send your portfolio and/or CV to our recruitment team. For a little glimpse into life at OLIVER, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.