I got the POWER: What I’ve Learned Interning at a Full Service Agency

When I first became interested in marketing, I didn’t have a specific job title or company in mind. I just knew I loved the idea of creating something that could bring people together whether through social media, events, or storytelling. I was drawn to the idea of helping brands build a sense of community, and marketing seemed like the field where all my interests could intersect. Now, I know it provides so much more and the best way to learn about it is to experience it firsthand. 

To be honest, I don’t know when I learned about the different avenues you could take in marketing, and to this day I’m sure I don’t know them all. But what I do know is that you can go in-house or to an agency. Originally, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to focus on social media, branding, content, or analytics. All I knew was that I wanted to be around people doing marketing, to absorb how the real world worked beyond case studies and group projects in class. As a full service marketing agency, POWER provides the opportunity to see and experience a multitude of different services. 

One of the first things you learn is just how broad this field really is. Marketing is not just ads or social media. It's research, brand positioning, digital strategy, visuals, data and analytics, the list goes on and on. It’s everything, everywhere, and it is never just one stand alone piece of this puzzle. 

Client Diversity means Creative Agility

Beyond being a full service agency, what makes POWER unique is the diversity of its client list across various industries. Real companies, real people. That’s what drew me in. In the morning, I could be creating a post for National Ice Cream Day, and by the afternoon, I’m drafting a copy for retirement planning. An agency gives you a crash course in adaptability across industries in which you have to understand the tone, strategy, and audience of each brand. And each project teaches you something different. 

When you're bouncing between industries and audiences, you have no choice but to become creatively agile. You quickly learn to adjust your voice, visuals, and approach depending on the client’s needs. Anything you do has to reflect who the client is and the brand that they have made. Before anything, you research. You dig, you become immersed in the client’s brand and who they are. You learn, you create, you do. Your clients become your babies who you look after, care for, and know what they need. My favorite part about POWER’s client list is being exposed to different industries that I never would have considered before. From lawn services to sports camps to bakeries, every client has something to teach you. 

In school, marketing is simplified. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming knowing there are so many different areas that need coverage in a project, but overall you get a full semester to work on one project for one brand. At POWER, everything is moving fast and each client has different needs. Adaptability is everything.

The POWER of Remote Work 

Going into this internship, I wasn’t sure what a remote work environment would look like. Most of the team is working East Coast hours, while I am on the West Coast. Since many of my peers are spending the summer working in person at offices, I questioned how this would go. 

What I found at POWER was the exact opposite of what I initially had doubts about. Even from behind a screen, I felt connected. The culture here is intentionally supportive and collaborative, and it’s clear that the team values learning just as much as productivity. And that’s what an internship should be. It’s an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to feel like you’re part of something meaningful. The POWER team has never been anything but that, and they’ve made it known from the start. 

Remote work requires you to be proactive and speak up for yourself. That’s something I had to learn right away. You can’t rely on stopping by someone’s desk or office for a quick question, but rather you have to speak up and send over a Slack message. These virtual offices however are always open and everyone is just a message away. I quickly learned that asking questions is a strength, not a weakness. Curiosity is encouraged, and the team is always willing to explain, support, and guide. And when you inevitably get confused again, they’re right where they were the first time, ready to help answer more questions. 

Beyond just learning the ropes to my clients and their accounts, I’ve had the chance to truly collaborate. Even though it’s remote, no one's work is done in isolation. Everything is done in a team effort with support throughout the whole process. It’s been incredible to work alongside professionals who all have their own superpower, no pun intended. Some are amazing with visuals. Others with strategy or storytelling. Every person brings a new perspective, and every project benefits from it. Each team member has a different set of skills and perspectives based on their experiences and the clients they’ve been exposed to at POWER and beyond. Everyone on the team has something to teach you because of this. 

Changing Perspectives

Marketing is a massive field, and it’s okay not to know exactly where you belong. I didn’t. And I still don’t exactly. But by starting somewhere I could learn a little bit of everything, I now have a clearer picture of what I love, what I’m good at, and where I want to go next.

I came into this internship with one goal: to be exposed to marketing in the real world. To know some of the options and opportunities outside of a classroom setting, and learn more about what types of industry I would want to work in, and the team culture I would like to surround myself in. At POWER I’ve discovered a passion for residential design, deepened my interest in branding, and I continue wanting to learn more about strategy. 

Whether you’re just dipping your toes into marketing or ready to dive in fully, know this: you don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to be willing to start. POWER gave me that start. And I’m beyond grateful for everything I’ve learned so far.