After graduating from The University of Sheffield with a BA in English Literature in 2016, Jennifer Gwinnut managed to secure a three-month internship at iWeb. Read on to discover what she learned and how she progressed during her time at the company.
What role did you take?
I took the role of Digital Marketing Intern at iWeb and it’s interesting to see how I’ve evolved and changed as the weeks have gone by! Like with everything in life there have been breakthroughs and setbacks, obstacles and areas of personal growth.
How did Unitemps help you get your digital marketing role?
Like most people who graduate from university, the days and weeks after can be unsettling and the words ‘now what?’ start to float around your head. I myself started down a very different route post-uni but when I felt that an MA was no longer the path for me, Unitemps was there to point me in the right direction.
What’s refreshing about Unitemps is that it really does work for you. Employment can be temporary or, depending on the requirements of the employer, it can lead to something more permanent. The flexibility of short-term placements functions as work experience, a taster of full-time work and you don’t have to know exactly what you want to do. Before this placement, I still didn’t really know what my future career was going to be, but through it, I’ve really discovered how much digital marketing is working for me.
How did you find your digital marketing internship?
Considering other internship horror stories I’d heard, I thought I’d be sharing a desk (at best) and effectively working as the in-house tea lady! However, to my surprise, from day one I was front and centre. I was one of the team, making decisions and contributions on real projects. While I can remember turning up on my first day and wanting to run for my life, as the days and weeks went by I’ve settled in with the help of a warm, welcoming and digital creative team. I can see it’s the best decision I could have made for my future.
The wealth of information and knowledge about marketing, technology, client and professional working relationships that I’ve picked up is beyond what I had imagined. My co-worker Joe Turner has been a great mentor, allowing me to shadow him and collaborate on everything he does. This has included client meetings and conference calls, as well as producing content and conducting outreach – it’s not playing at work, it’s a real job – with a real income too.
The real-world application of the skills I nurtured while at university such as writing, researching and communication have been daunting. However, it’s also helped me to find a new sense of self-confidence.
Just as being an intern at iWeb was rapidly coming to its expected and inevitable close, iWeb offered me a full-time contract, which is the news I’d been hoping for!
What have you learned at iWeb?
I’ve learned a great deal at iWeb and had a lot of new experiences. As time has progressed – I’ve been given more independent responsibilities, which has been really great. One highlight was heading up a client meeting as the only representative of the marketing team. Without the safety net of Digital Marketing Manager and my mentor, Joe, it was a pretty daunting proposition. This experience and similar ones like it have given me confidence in my own abilities and I’ve learnt to truly back myself.
What are the highlights of your internship?
Working at iWeb there have been many highlights. One of the biggest has been going to my first ever conference, IRX17 (InternetRetailing Expo 2017) at the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) in Birmingham. The event was a really great way to discover the latest multichannel retail trends and innovations. I listened to industry experts and mingled with like-minded individuals. On my return, I wrote a blog about how the Lego Group have developed an integrated brand identity across all their channels. It was truly a great privilege to attend the event.
Looking into the future, I can see a promising road ahead with the company, there has been talk of expanding the marketing team which is great and means we can take on more work. I feel like a really valued member of the team and have already formed some great friendships with some of my colleagues. For my first job, it couldn’t have worked out better for me!
Has Jennifer’s story left you feeling inspired? Discover the job opportunities available through Unitemps.
Last updated on 9 December 2022
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