Published in Agency life
At the end of my first year at the University of Exeter, I applied to the London Internships Scheme in order to put my four-month summer to good use and gain an insight into a sector which had long interested me.
After successfully applying, I was partnered to work with MGA Group for a month, which I started with an open mind, not fully knowing what to expect.
Admittedly, the first team meeting on that initial Monday morning was like sitting in a room of people speaking another language – it turns out you can create whole sentences almost entirely with acronyms! On arriving at MGA however, it was made clear that the agency wanted to make me feel like a valued part of the team and get as much out of my month with them as possible. I was struck by their attentiveness to my individual strengths and interests, a method of gauging where I would be best placed within the agency. My expressed interest in online media, for example, led to me being given the responsibility of handling the agency’s social media accounts, sourcing relevant articles for the MGA’s Twitter page and assisting with posts for the website. I soon learnt that this one-to-one interaction is made possible by working in a smaller agency such as MGA, and which became so invaluable to my experience interning with them.
I was simultaneously involved in numerous ongoing client projects. This included proofing copy written for new client campaigns – in which I could put my English studies to good use – attending client conference calls and meetings, and assisting with research. As well as working closely with MGA, I was fortunate enough to spend time working with SGA Productions, helping with the development of upcoming pitches by participating in brainstorming meetings and writing customer profiles. Being so involved in both areas gave me the opportunity to gain an insight into the various stages of multiple projects and allowed me to observe how ideas are communicated by the agency to the client in a responsive and impactful way.
Now that my time with MGA has come to an end, I am grateful for the invaluable experience my internship has afforded me. I have a renewed sense of perspective and a sharpened skill set which I will take with me through my university degree and beyond into the world of work. And, what’s more, I’m reasonably proficient in ‘marketing speak’, a language I didn’t know existed four weeks ago!
Ellie McGarahan
Exeter University intern with MGA Group
