Embracing Opportunities: Starting my journey as an Intern at Pinnacle Marketing Group
Have you ever felt like life has been moving too fast and you either have to sprint to catch the train or risk being left behind? As a student going into my final year at Bemidji State that very thought has come into my head nearly every day. It’s scary to think about your future and feel as if you may be underprepared to begin a career. I think Author, Seth Godin, said it best "If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try."
The task of finding an internship that sparked curiosity and passion seemed to loom over my head ever since I arrived at BSU. Luckily, I was able to find relief at Pinnacle Marketing Group.
My name is Connor McCarthy, and like many college students, I’ve had my fair share of doubts and struggles when it came to deciding on a major and career path that would keep me both interested and satisfied. Thankfully, I had a wonderful group of academic advisors and a supportive family to help guide me toward Marketing Communications. Along with that support, I’ve also had access to more resources than I could ever imagine, from alumni to teachers and even classmates, all of whom serve as valuable networking connections that will help now and in the future. One key example is my connection with Autumn Ricke, the Marketing Coordinator at Pinnacle, who taught my Social Media Marketing class. Through engaging projects and receiving her valuable feedback, I was able to apply what I learned in class to real-world scenarios.
Having done well in class and my interest being sparked, I decided to reach out to Autumn to see if there was a possibility for me to join the Pinnacle team. I must have made a good impression, as she was receptive to my inquiry—now here I am, writing this blog during my internship. This personal example emphasizes how crucial networking is in this industry. Making a positive impression and building strong connections whenever you get the chance can lead to exciting opportunities in the future.
One thing that drew me to marketing was the client work that comes with it. I enjoy interacting with others and doing my best to help them out. I am interested in working with clients to help them achieve their company goals. I hope to work with our account managers and marketing strategists to explore this interest of mine. I look forward to experimenting with a variety of work types, including website development, content planning/creation, video editing, marketing campaigns, and much more. Enhancing my skills and getting more comfortable--especially with software--is something that I hope to achieve in my time here. Programs like the Adobe suite offer so many types of creative tools that you can use to design, edit, and produce quality content. I also hope to learn more about advertising, especially on Google, to better understand how companies can use these programs to their advantage.
For the most part my anxiety regarding graduating and life after has been eased greatly since coming on board at Pinnacle Marketing Group. Having been here just a short while I have realized that it’s not as scary as I thought, and everyone is here to help. I am extremely thankful to have this opportunity to learn and gain experience. I look forward to the challenges I will face and am excited to grow both professionally and personally.
The connections that you form now can help set you up for later successes. Expanding your network and forming relationships with a variety of people will only give you a leg up and make you better prepared to enter the “real world”. If meeting new people is something that you struggle with, just try to remember that every interaction is an opportunity to connect. Something as basic as a smile or a follow-up email can make a lasting impression. As the saying goes, "If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try," so embrace those moments of discomfort—they often lead to the most rewarding experiences.
