This week, I finished up what began as a summer internship in marketing at Paramount (and became a fall internship at Paramount, too). Before my internship, like many other UCLA students, I was daunted by the sort of mystic impossibility of the industry. I was told by countless fellow students that getting an internship would be impossible, especially without pre-existing connections in the industry.
And then, multiple friends (and myself) got internships at major entertainment companies. None of us were anything “special” compared to our peers; we just worked on building our resume with relevant experiences, practiced interviewing and expressed a strong interest and enthusiasm for the job. I genuinely believe that anyone can get an entertainment internship; we simply need to demystify what it takes to get them and expel the misconceptions.
Beyond what it takes to “get in the door,” I also learned a lot from the process of interning itself. Here’s eight things I (and my other friends in entertainment) have learned from our internships:
- You don’t need “connections” to get in the door
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Probably the #1 thing I hear cited as a barrier to getting into the entertainment industry is that you need connections to get your foot in the door, and that is simply not true. Though nepotism does exist (as I assume it does in nearly every industry), the majority of interns I met did not have any prior connections to anyone at the entertainment company they interned with. Moreover, I was shocked to learn that most full-time employees (from entry-level to managers) did not have connections within the corporation prior to employment. That being said, prior experience in the specific field you are looking to intern in (whether digital marketing, project management or software engineering) is helpful.
- Don’t be afraid to ask to work on or learn specific things
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When I asked my boss if I could learn how to use the TikTok ads platform, he immediately referred me to a team member to help train me. If there is something specific you know that your team uses or works on, and you would like to try or learn it yourself, do not be afraid to ask. Most likely, your team wants you to feel like you’ve learned or gained something valuable from your internship experience and will be eager to do what they can to help you do so.
- You can “talk like a person”
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I was shocked to realize that my coworkers talked to each other like friends. They often used informal non-corporate talk, chatted about their lives and interests and joked with each other. Sometimes, they even poked fun at or lamented “corporate talk,” preferring to create a friendly, intimate working environment by just “talking like a person.”
- Ask for help right away if you’re confused
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One of the positive points of feedback my boss gave me before the end of my internship is that I was proactive; if I had a question about something I was working on, I tried to figure it out myself but also asked questions along the way to make sure I was on the right track.
- some things are out of your control
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Corporate communication can be…slow. And complicated. Sometimes, things you’re working on might take a lot longer than you expect. Do not blame yourself if this happens; your boss or manager is probably very familiar with just how long it can take to get things done when there are a lot of moving pieces. As long as you are on top of your responsibilities, follow up and keep people in the loop, you’re probably good.
- People are busy–but they still want to help
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Everyone is super busy. Entertainment is a fast-paced industry, especially marketing and advertising in entertainment because new ads and campaigns must be constantly updated and implemented. That being said, people will make time in their schedules to help you. Do not feel daunted by packed schedules in Google Calendar; ask your coworkers quick questions over Slack and see what times work best for them for longer meetings to work on projects, training or coffee chats and be willing to reschedule.
- There are a lot of teams
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And there are teams that do things you probably never even knew existed. Every task is intricately delegated in major entertainment corporations. Be prepared to encounter tons of different teams, and do not be afraid to reach out to them or collaborate with people beyond your immediate team. There are jobs that you might not even know of but should definitely explore.
- Things change constantly (especially in social media)
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Working in advertising in entertainment, specifically digital marketing, you realize how constantly everything changes. I worked on a playbook for my team highlighting the different ad products we use for each platform, and details changed even as I was working on the document. Everything (every document, sheet or slides) is always a work in progress. Social media platforms constantly update and release new ad products, and you have to constantly adjust and accommodate these changes. Pay attention to detail, and be prepared to always be learning.
Interning in entertainment is an incredible experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is even slightly interested. From the fast-paced working environment to the friendly, welcoming teams to the obvious benefit of getting to work on the shows and movies you love (in one way or another), entertainment internships are extremely hands-on and immersive. And I can guarantee you will never be bored!