Sara Gleim
Undergraduate Student at the University of Florida
Bachelor of Science in Advertising

Internship Reflection: Building Confidence in the Workplace for Success

Introduction

Growing up, I knew I wanted to enter the advertising industry, specifically social media. I always found enthusiasm in learning about new social media platforms and following trending content. Naturally, upon entering college, I eagerly sought internships across different areas. However, working as a social media management intern at CLC Enterprises this past semester provided me with the most invaluable experience yet. CLC Enterprises is a 360 degree marketing agency in south Florida that offers web design and development, graphic design, social media management, brand development, and more.

I gained a lot of professional and life skills during my internship as a social media management intern at CLC Enterprises. I conducted research, developed social media posts, created content calendars and more by combining my creative thinking and business knowledge. This internship was different from others I have had in the past because I was treated as an employee and tasked with projects I had not done before. I learned how to write editorials and rebrand clients with updated color schemes, usernames, bios, and logos, among other things. Yet, the most significant takeaway from my internship at CLC Enterprises was the enhancement of my workplace confidence.

Embracing Confidence

My confidence in my work has never been very high. I have often questioned whether my work in professional or educational settings was good enough. My lack of confidence set me back as a student as it prevented me from doing assignments to my fullest potential. However, throughout my internship, my supervisor would give me feedback on my work and ask me to make changes. I discovered that my supervisor's constructive criticism gave me the ambition to help me learn the most out of my internship. I became more confident during my time at CLC Enterprises because, besides giving me feedback on my work, my supervisor reassured me that she believed I had potential for success in the advertising industry.

For example, my supervisor gave me constructive criticism after my first couple of days working after I had created a social media graphic for a client. A lot of information needed to be in the graphic, and I needed to figure out how to create it without it looking too busy and chaotic. After my first attempt, my supervisor taught me how to reorganize some information and explained how bolding or changing the font of some keywords could help some information stand out more than others. After hearing her feedback, I was worried that she did not like the graphic I created, but then I remembered that making mistakes and being told to change things was part of the internship and that this was a learning process. After editing the graphic, my supervisor liked the final product and posted it on the client's Instagram.

Having confidence or boosting your confidence with your work is essential because it helps make you stand out from others. Advertising is a creative industry, and people will always have different opinions on what is considered "good." So, it is essential to always improve your confidence because professors and bosses will occasionally have different viewpoints in your work. Having confidence in my personal goals is also crucial because it can fuel my motivation to keep working, inspire others to continue working hard, and encourage personal growth and development. Confidence fosters a positive mindset, which is essential for staying focused on your goals.

Goals to Action

Improving my confidence while at work is connected to my educational, professional, and personal goals for multiple reasons. I have always been driven to challenge myself and become the best version of myself. However, my confidence was the one thing that prevented me from achieving that. I used to doubt myself and compare my work to others. Gaining confidence and knowing how to use it to my advantage will enable me to push myself even further to attempt and learn new things. I can apply the knowledge and experience I gained from this internship with CLC Enterprises to my future professional and academic efforts by using it in the classroom and my upcoming internships. From creating graphics using Canva frequently during this internship, I have learned what types of texts appeal to specific audiences and how to arrange images and texts to make specific information stand out.

Learning which graphic templates look best for different clients and companies took me a while. During my internship, I got used to using the same template for most clients. One day, my supervisor mentioned that I needed to create new templates and get more creative with different fonts. I initially got nervous because I did not want to make an unsatisfactory graphic for my supervisor and the client. After creating some new graphics and getting feedback from my supervisor, I realized I enjoyed playing around with all the different tools to create a graphic. I needed constructive criticism from my supervisor to help push myself out of my comfort zone.

Now that I have more confidence with my work, I will be applying to internships this summer and next fall along with seeking out more leadership roles in the organizations I am in at the University of Florida. I will also be reaching out and making new connections to meet more professionals in the advertising industry.

Impact on Endeavers

My time at CLC Enterprises has given me greater experience and self-confidence in my work, which will guide and support me in my next internship. When I began my internship with CLC Enterprises, my boss knew about my lack of experience, and that I was anxious I would make a mistake. However, I recognized her constructive criticism as indicating her interest in seeing me succeed throughout my time interning. I saw her corrections and critiques as an opportunity to improve and learn rather than as personal criticism. She cared about my growth, and I appreciated her commitment to guiding me to improve professionally. Now, I will not second-guess myself when searching for my next internship because I know I can fulfill the criteria that the company wants for an intern.

Highlight of Experience

The part I am most proud of during my internship, in addition to working hard and learning something new every day, is that I also recognized that my boss trusted me to assign me with important projects and that I was treated and worked with like an actual employer, not an intern. For example, my boss would let me take over projects that I would begin working on to give me more experience with social media management. She also let me take over a new client myself to rebrand her social medias. This includes creating a new color scheme, new graphics, new social media handles, new bios, etc. Throughout my internship, after completing a type of project I had never done before, my supervisor would ask me if I enjoyed doing it and if I would like to continue working in that area or try other types of projects that were different. I felt comfortable communicating with my supervisor because I knew she wanted to hear my opinions and task me with exciting projects. Having a healthy and professional relationship with my supervisor gave me more confidence in my projects and allowed her to give me constructive criticism on the projects. I learned more about the workplace environment and could picture myself working in advertising for the rest of my professional career. I learned what areas in advertising I enjoy doing the most and I feel more equipped to graduate and enter the workforce. I gained an understanding about the advertising industry through this internship, and I am eager to see what opportunities await me in the future.

Conclusion

After completing my internship at CLC Enterprises, I am most eager to discover how to further develop my confidence and discover what the advertising industry has in store for me. I want to always reflect on this internship as the most beneficial and successful one I have had. I gained a lot of new life and professional skills that will be useful in my future jobs. In conclusion, building confidence at work is crucial for both professional and personal success. You can develop the self-assurance required to succeed by recognizing our abilities, establishing achievable goals, receiving input, and fostering a positive mindset. Looking back on my internship, I appreciate the valuable knowledge I gained and my progress in boosting my confidence. However, there is always room for improvement. I am eager and determined to keep working to build my confidence going forward and explore the vast opportunities that the advertising industry holds. I am confident can fulfill my greatest potential and make meaningful contributions to the field of advertising. My internship at CLC Enterprises has been a cornerstone in my journey towards self-assurance, and I am excited to see where this newfound confidence will lead me in my future endeavors.