Not Your Average Internship
Every spring semester, the same question starts circulating across campus: “Where are you interning this summer?” For many students, that question brings clarity. For others, it brings uncertainty. A year ago, I was a third-year marketing student applying to every opportunity I could find, reaching out to connections and trying to determine where I fit within an industry that’s broader and more dynamic than it first appears.
Even though I was starting my final year in college, I still did not know in which direction I wanted to take my professional career. Not only was I looking for experience, but more than anything, I was looking for mentors. For leaders who welcomed questions, encouraged curiosity and believed in investing in the next generation of marketers. I wanted to be in a place where growth wasn’t accidental, but intentional. Where asking 100 questions wasn’t seen as a weakness but as the starting point for becoming better. The Adcom Future Marketers internship gave me that and so much more!
Inside the Future Marketers Experience
Week one set the tone. We began with marketing fundamentals alongside Ohio State Fisher College of Business professors, grounding us in strategy before diving into agency execution. From there, Adcom’s team led us through every department in the agency, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how integrated thinking comes to life. Week two shifted us from fundamentals to execution as we began our project with Destination Cleveland. Our objective was to attract more Gen Z visitors to The Land. We broke into teams and were assigned locations to experience, capture and reimagine through a Gen Z lens. It was the kind of hands-on experience that showed us how strategy and creativity, powered by collaboration, drive meaningful work. From kayaking to the Cleveland Museum of Art, our group covered it all and enjoyed every minute of it!
By week three, it was time to build. We moved from exploration to execution, diving into CapCut, Canva and TikTok to transform the content we captured into purposeful, platform-ready media. We made sure every cut, caption and visual choice laddered back to strategy and audience. Week four shifted us into presentation mode. We brought our thinking to life in a polished pitch deck and presented it to Adcom leaders and our client. It was more than a recap of the past month. It was a strategic, insight-driven story about experience, audience and opportunity, delivered with confidence and clarity.
What I Learned From My Marketing Internship
When I started this internship, my expectations were simple. I wanted to gain some experience for my résumé and hopefully make a few connections along the way. What I got was so much more. In just four weeks, I experienced the full scope of agency life while building relationships with sixteen other interns who were navigating the same questions and opportunities that I was, and I still talk to many of them today. Along the way, I grew more confident in my marketing knowledge, professional skills and the soft skills that are just as important in this industry.
One thing that stood out most was how open and supportive everyone at Adcom was. People were always willing to grab coffee, share how they started their careers and offer advice on the many different paths marketing can take. That openness made a lasting impact on me; therefore, the experience didn’t stop when the program ended. After the four weeks, I was invited to continue working with the team through the rest of the summer. I returned during my winter break and now continue to support the team remotely while I’m back at school. It’s amazing how many doors can open from just four weeks of learning, collaboration and showing up ready to contribute. For me, the Future Marketers program was more than an internship. It was an experience that built confidence, relationships and opportunities I am still benefiting from today.
If I could offer advice to incoming Future Marketers, it would be to stay curious. Sometimes it’s easy to think that asking questions might make you look inexperienced, but I learned quickly that curiosity is valued here at Adcom. The more questions you ask, the more you learn. That curiosity is what helps you grow, not just as a marketer but as a professional. My other piece of advice is to be intentional about building relationships. Go out of your way to ask someone for coffee or a quick chat. Those conversations are where real perspective and guidance come to life, and the connections you build can stay with you throughout the rest of your career.
If you want to be a part of this years' experience, apply here!
