It’s been nine short weeks, and it hasn’t taken long for me to fall in love with JWT. The chance to intern at one of the world’s most recognized ad agencies has been invaluable to my aspiring advertising career. JWT and The University of Rhode Island, which is the university that I attend, are developing a program in which one student will be selected each year to intern at the company’s New York headquarters. I’m so happy for this opportunity, and I’m glad I can be a part of the JWT family – even if it is only for a few months.
As the first student selected for this program, I have to say that I was excited for my first day, but I couldn’t help but be a little intimidated. Not only would I have to set the standards as a URI student, but it was also my first time working in New York City for a network as large as JWT’s. Contrary to my worries, I immediately felt at home. It’s comforting to know that I am working with people that are excited to teach and mentor me. I’ve already learned so much about the industry and I look forward to getting the most out of my final weeks here.
The internship program at JWT has been hard work, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been fun! The incredibly trendy offices make coming into “work” everyday fresh and exciting. As an added bonus to this internship program, my fellow interns and I take part in a weekly summer speaker series, where leaders from across different departments talk about their work and how they got their position. We’ve also had the opportunity to network with other WPP interns, take part in a city-wide scavenger hunt and volunteer for the day at City Harvest. These great events have provided me with an opportunity to learn, give back and get to know the other interns in the program.
Getting to know the other interns who share the same affinity for the industry has been one of my favorite parts of this experience. It’s great to collaborate with such bright and creative students on projects that are completely developed by interns, as well as work on assignments that have a direct impact on campaigns for different clients.
Filled with big personalities and inspiring minds, the JWT family has really made this experience special. As sad as I’ll be to have to leave JWT when our ten weeks are up, I’m excited to have had such a great time. Throughout the past couple of months, I will have worked with 3 different brands, contributed to major industry campaigns, collaborated with senior executives, and even have developed quantifiable work of my own. After interning with JWT, I can confidently say that I’m ready for an advertising career of my own.
All JWT New York interns posing for a picture on their first day.
— Jesse Girard is a Project Management intern at JWT New York for the Summer of 2013 and a rising senior in the Harrington School of Communication and Media at The University of Rhode Island. For more insight into the JWT internship experience, be sure to check out our internship series on the JWT Blog.