Written by: Amanda Young
Now more than ever, internships are becoming an important way to complement your educational program and secure your future career. At Brunet-García, we’ve recently launched an internship program that provides hands-on experiences with client work, fostering an environment of collaboration and creativity.
In honor of National Intern Day, we’re celebrating our four summer interns who have been instrumental in some of the impactful work we’ve developed over the past several months. To honor this observance, we asked our interns to share their experiences at B|G.
Jamie, our Public Health Intern, graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s in International Affairs and dual minors in Global Health and Health Policy and Management. Additionally, she has a certificate in Public Affairs Communications in Applied Politics. Fun Personal Fact: Has hiked Macho Picchu, cliff jumped in Zimbabwe, and swam with sharks in the Galapagos.
Abbigail, our Research Intern, will be graduating from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a minor in Business Administration. Fun Personal Fact: Has completed a half-marathon, is training for a triathlon, and currently reading (and recommends) “Malibu Rising” by Taylor Reid.
Sarah, our Accounts Intern, will be graduating from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, with a concentration in Advertising and a minor in Marketing. Fun Personal Fact: Loves to spend time in nature, cooking, and growing her own herbs.
Valerie, our dual Engagement and Accounts intern, graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. Fun Personal Fact: Currently hunting for the best chicken and waffles in Jacksonville, serves at her home church, and runs a natural hair blog on Instagram (@valshairdiary).
Tell us how you learned about B|G and what appealed to you about working here?
Jamie: I learned about B|G from our Director of Communications Strategy, LeShaundra. While I was still in undergrad, I reached out to her to learn more about her academic and career path. Throughout our conversations, her passion for B|G was evident, and I quickly wanted to become part of the B|G community!
Abbigail: I learned about B|G through my research mentor and professor, Dr. Nancy Daley-Moore, who thought this internship was a perfect fit for me. Once I read the job description and interviewed with Everett and LeShaundra, I knew that B|G was a perfect fit for me where I could grow and widen my knowledge and skill set. This internship marries my passion for public health and qualitative research.
Sarah: I discovered B|G through the UNF intern fair. I checked out their website and was interested in working here because it was clear that B|G chose to work with clients they believe in. At the fair, I connected with them on the importance of a positive work environment and how the higher quality of work comes from genuinely loving their job, being treated with respect, and feeling valued. I am passionate about working with companies that reflect those values.
Valerie: I learned about B|G from a social media post, and I followed the agency. I saw B|G was going to be at the UNF career fair, so I researched them and talked to a current employee and UNF alum. What attracted me to B|G was the Instagram account! When searching for places to work, I would look up their Instagram account to see how up-to-date they were. To me, it’s the best place to show the company’s creativity and employee diversity and get an idea of its work culture.
What was your first day at B|G like?
Jamie: I definitely had the first-day jitters! Does anyone else get more nervous over Zoom than in person? But once I started to meet the team, I immediately felt comfortable. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and just as excited as I was.
Abbigail: My first day was a whirlwind filled with back-to-back Zoom meetings and getting to know the amazing staff at B|G.
Sarah: I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. But arriving at the office, I felt more excited. Chad was welcoming and showed me around the office, which I loved. I spent most of my day in orientation, allowing me to meet Abby, my fellow intern, and learn names, faces, and some of the applications. It got me versed enough that I felt comfortable tagging along in some of Chad’s Zoom calls.
Valerie: I was super excited for my first day. I just got off this high of life, from leaving my college retail job to getting engaged and graduating within the same week. Although all those things were amazing, I was extremely eager to do something after having a whole month off, to say the least! I set up my laptop in my kitchen, put on my big girl blouse and slacks (something I quickly let go of), and was ready to take on a day filled with Zoom introductions and paperwork.
What does a typical day look like for you now?
Jamie: Every day at B|G is different. And that’s something I love. Working with people in various departments and on multiple projects has kept work exciting and interesting. I start by making myself breakfast, a new habit I’m trying to form, and get to work! Some things I do consistently: always make sure to get some time outside and end every day with meditation!
Abbigail: A typical day as a remote intern for B|G begins by checking in with my supervisor, Everett, to let him know that I am online for the day, and then I check my email, which always fills up quickly. Then, the day looks different depending on which project I am working on. In-depth interviews and focus groups are usually sprinkled throughout the day, where I assist with note-taking or timekeeping. If I am not in a meeting, I am working on cleaning transcripts or coding for the B|G Research Team!
Sarah: My understanding of the company’s structure and ability to follow along has come a long way. Additionally, as I have been able to work on newer projects, the Zoom calls have become more educational. A typical day for me now usually includes a few meetings or internal discussions, and I can do more independent work. I’ll often be making tasks for various teams or will be assigned tasks myself. I usually complete preliminary editing or compile and organize current assets or files. I enjoy being more hands-on with the work and, by extension, understand campaigns better.
Valerie: As soon as I log in, I check my calendar to see if I have any meetings or deadlines. Then, I check emails and Teamwork to see if I missed anything. I usually always have a long-term task to work on, and my supervisor will tap me in on projects throughout the day. Before the day ends, I log my hours and organize my next work day! Working from home has been the biggest adjustment, so I appreciate that the B|G office is always open if I want to come in, a luxury I don’t take for granted.
What is the most important thing you learned during your educational experience that prepared you for this role?
Jamie: This is such a hard question because I could answer in so many different ways! I would say asking questions is the most important thing I’ve learned to prepare me for my role. I’ve learned that it is okay to ask questions and that people appreciate them, too. So many people, especially at B|G, are eager to extend a helping hand and give advice. It’s also been an awesome way to learn about different positions and what they do daily.
Abbigail: My research mentor at my university prepared me the most for this role as I have gained qualitative research experience at my university that I was able to transfer to B|G.
Sarah: The most important thing that prepared me was a campaigns course. The class was an agency, and I was one of the ‘co-directors,’ akin to accounts here at B|G. The experience reinforced the importance of an efficient and robust communication system and showed me the complexity of campaign creation and dissemination. Each team works in tandem with the other to produce a cohesive result. These skills need to be learned by seeing and experiencing, something I got a taste of with this class, but I have learned so much more by being a part of work at B|G.
Valerie: The most important thing I’ve learned and developed is mastering time management. The agency, like most, is extremely fast-paced. Knowing how to prioritize my time and manage my workload made me more confident in completing tasks. Although no amount of schooling could’ve prepared me for the speed and volume of work, it gave me a place to start. I find myself comparing my workload across various contracts to homework assignments from different college courses. Some classes were easy and required less of my time, and some were difficult and required my full attention.
What do you hope to learn and take away from your experience here?
Jamie: I am confident I will grow personally and professionally from my experience here. I can see it already, and I’m excited to watch myself grow further as I continue my internship. I love that I’ve been able to have hands-on experience and apply what I’ve learned in school to my work here. I also love that I’ve been exposed to areas with which I didn’t have as much experience, such as the new business proposal process. I want to absorb as much knowledge as possible during this internship!
Abbigail: I have already learned so much from my short time at B|G, but I have gained invaluable research experience that I could never gain at my university. I have learned the inner workings of how to conduct qualitative research at a national level and learned how to use advanced coding software. I hope to continue to build upon these skills during the rest of my internship!
Sarah: One of the most important things I feel I’ve taken away from my experience here is being able to observe and partake in the communication systems, work dissemination methods, and overall function of B|G. Additionally, being able to experience such a positive work environment helps me set a precedent for future jobs. Aside from those things, I hope to continue to do more independent work, help out where I can, develop individually as a professional, and learn more firsthand about the decision-making and creative thinking that make B|G what it is.
Valerie: I’ve already learned so much! I entered B|G, hoping to refine my writing skills, discover what lane of communications to pursue, and broaden my professional portfolio. In my short time here, I’ve seen improvements in my writing, gained more clarity in the path I want to pursue, and am doing something new every day. I’d recommend this internship to every student I know who wants to build professional experience and confidence. The team and my leaders really believe in and trust me, not just as an intern but as a partner. And that’s truly a great feeling!
Tell us about your career goals.
Jamie: My career goals are constantly evolving as I grow. I started college wanting to work in cybersecurity and found my passions in public health along the way! I hope to return to school for a master’s degree, but I enjoy working and want to have more of that experience before returning. My main personal goal is to be happy because I believe happy employees make the best employees. My philosophy is that you produce the best work when you feel you’re the best version of yourself.
Abbigail: I hope to continue my education by obtaining a master’s in public health and, one day, a doctorate. I also hope to work within healthcare, either on the administrative side or research side, and thanks to B|G, I am learning that I could work in both these sectors. My career goals are constantly changing, but I hope to have a career where I find meaningful purpose surrounded by like-minded people.
Sarah: I love that advertising is utilized by every industry, even those you might not think of, like the federal government. Because of that, I can work alongside businesses from all different industries. While I am interested in advertising, my main goal is that wherever I end up excites me creatively and works alongside sectors I am interested in or campaigns I am passionate about. Additionally, I believe loving my job allows me to produce better work, so my ideal future career would be at a business with a positive and connected work environment.
Valerie: My dream career would be to open an inclusive hair salon for people of color. In the meantime, I’d love to grow my career as a communications professional in fields advocating for inclusion and representing diversity. B|G is a perfect start as our work advocates for all people and is accomplished with a team representing diversity. I am new to the professional work field, so the world is truly my oyster! I am open to any opportunity that will come my way, as long as it aligns with my values.
Thanks to Jamie, Abbigail, Sarah, and Valerie for sharing their intern experiences with us! It’s easy to see why each of them is on the B|G team, and we appreciate all the hard work they’ve done to learn more and support the work we do at B|G. We know they will continue to do wonderful things throughout their careers, and we’re honored to be a part of their paths this summer!
