Bringing on a marketing intern this semester? Don’t just hand them busywork and hope for the best. A little guidance upfront can make the whole experience more valuable for everyone involved.
This intern-friendly guide was originally written for marketing students, but it doubles as a resource you can share with your own interns on their first day. It covers how to ask questions, take initiative, handle mistakes and make the most of the experience. Send it to them before they start, or use it to spark a conversation about what success looks like on your team.
You’ve just landed a marketing internship. Congrats! Getting that offer can feel like an uphill battle, but your job is only just beginning.
In our work, we’ve seen firsthand how students and early-career professionals use their internship experiences with us to land more marketing and editorial opportunities. We’ve also seen how easy it is to let those weeks slip by without taking full advantage.
Simply put: no matter where you go, your internship is only what you make of it.
In school, I had classmates who treated internships as just another box to check for graduation. They didn’t take them seriously; some picked the easiest options, and others tried to waive the requirement entirely. And honestly, when you’re juggling classes and part-time jobs, it’s tempting to pick whatever takes the least effort. But internships are your gateway to future employment opportunities. (I, for one, started at CPRM because of my internship at Lioness Magazine, our sister company.)
Whether you’re working remotely, in a hybrid role, or commuting to the office every day, here’s how to make your marketing internship count.
Ask questions, then ask some more
Nobody expects you to know everything on day one. The most successful interns ask thoughtful questions, and then follow up. Want to know why we follow a specific editorial style or prefer one email platform over another? Ask, then read up on it. That shows initiative and curiosity.
Treat it like a two-way interview
You’re here to learn—and that includes figuring out exactly which kinds of marketing work you enjoy (or loathe). Content writing? Social media strategy? Event planning? A marketing internship gives you a low-risk way to test different parts of the job. Pay attention to what energizes you and jot down notes for your future self.
Learn the tools of the trade
Familiarize yourself with the platforms your team uses: Google Analytics, Meta Business Suite, Canva, Asana, HubSpot… whatever’s relevant. Even if your next team uses Mailchimp instead of Constant Contact, the fundamentals will carry over—and give you a serious leg up.
Pick up on the unwritten rules
Every team has its own culture. Observe how people communicate. Do they use Slack more than email? Are weekly meetings formal and camera-on, or more relaxed? Who’s the go-to person for design help? Picking up on these signals will help you fit in faster and collaborate more smoothly.
Mistakes happen—it’s how you handle them that counts
Learning requires trial and error, and that means mistakes are going to happen. That’s normal. Things happen!
What matters is how you respond: acknowledge it quickly, fix what you can, and move forward. Don’t ignore the problem—and definitely don’t spiral. Over-apologizing or treating constructive feedback like a monumental failure just makes things more uncomfortable. Take a breath, own it, and show us what you’ve learned.
Don’t ghost when you’re stuck
In college, missing a discussion post or turning in a late paper might mean a few points off. In a marketing internship, letting an assignment drop is different.
If you don’t understand a task, tell someone. Ask for clarification or offer a partial draft—anything is better than sitting on your hands. A quick message like “I’m having trouble with this. Could we talk it through?” is always better than disappearing.
Reflect and record what you’ve learned
We ask all interns to keep track of their regular projects or major assignments before their internship ends. Part of that is for future letters of recommendation, but it’s also for you. Documenting what you’ve worked on will help you update your resume and articulate your value in future interviews.
Don’t count on remembering everything a year from now when you’re job hunting. Write it down while it’s still fresh.
Stay connected after the internship ends
If you haven’t already, connect with your teammates on LinkedIn, and make an effort to stay in touch. These are the people you’ll turn to for references or recommendations. Work hard to build and maintain your network. After all, it’s often who you know, not just what you know, that opens doors.
Make your internship count
A good internship won’t hand you a career, but it can lead to one. Treat this like your proving ground. Ask questions. Try new things. Learn from your slip-ups. Show us that you care.
This article was originally published by our sister site, Carlton PR & Marketing.
If your intern will be working remotely, be sure to share our companion piece, Our Interns Share How to Succeed in a Remote Internship.
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