An internship for me was never just an option, it was imperative. I have always been a kinesthetic learner. I learn the best when I see, do or experience something. Textbooks were never my best friends. In one of my first marketing classes I realised that marketing is as old as business itself. Learning things like the meaning of a brand is not synonymous with Gucci or Pucci, but to brand is to mark something with a branding iron, piqued my interest. That was the moment when I got “married” to marketing.
Going digital
When I was in the second year of my BBA at SRM University, I was advised to take up an internship for the sake of completing my final year dissertation. A summer internship with the marketing team at RheinBrücke IT Consulting, Chennai gave me that opportunity. Marketing has gone levels up from using hand-painted signboards to attract customers to an all-digital system. And surely even the marketing expert Philip Kotler wouldn’t have predicted this; no textbook could have taught me this.
I entered a young and pumped up digital marketing team as a novice. But because I had my “extrovert skills” at disposal, I could communicate effectively with all the members and began to understand the vastness of digital marketing. It was a gradual process and just a summer wasn’t enough. I am doing what I call an extended internship and am close to celebrating my first work anniversary.
I started off with lead generation using sales navigators and directories and then progressed to content writing which involved developing content for company collateral such as blogs, whitepapers, and case studies. By leveraging marketing intelligence and data analytics I could make recommendations regarding the content and social media marketing strategy. I was over the moon when my blog generated a lead! I am currently working on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).
A startup like RheinBrücke is synonymous with small teams comprising mostly young people. Such teams promote effective communication. I am glad to be a part of the team that has supported me immensely, equipping me with resources that gave me a broader insight into marketing. And the result is a whole bunch of certifications in various facets of marketing that look appealing on my profile. I can now fully appreciate the profound effect digital marketing has on our lives and businesses.
Over the last year, I have experienced practical learning coupled with multitasking. This experience has undoubtedly forged, hammered and tempered me into a mix of rectitude, fortitude and patience. I have even used this experience to secure offers from a couple of prestigious business schools to pursue my master’s in marketing. I owe it all to my internship experience and my tryst with marketing!
Radhika Sriramineni is a third-year student at of BBA at SRM University.
