Ready, Set, Go! The Roadmap to Your First Agency Internship

READY

Imagine that you just got the call for your dream internship after applying and waiting to hear back. You feel a sense of relief. The summer is already looking brighter.

Real Chemistry summer interns Aviya Garg, a rising junior at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University studying public relations and marketing, and Chigozie Okuagu, an incoming student at Boston University who will be pursuing a Master’s degree in public health, felt the excitement bubbling months before. In early spring, both participated in a series of interviews, a process many college students are familiar with that can be daunting and intimidating. Chigozie, however, did not have that experience. “Everyone I interviewed with was consistently excited about the work they do and how important it is. Hearing the passion and excitement that radiated from the multiple people I talked to made the interviews engaging and exciting rather than intimidating,” she explained.

Both interns found that, throughout the interview process, they were able to get a good sense of Real Chemistry’s culture by the way recruiters spoke about their colleagues and described what they enjoy about their jobs. “Everyone lit up with excitement as they detailed their current projects,” said Aviya. The interview process got Aviya and Chigozie ready and familiar with the people at Real Chemistry and the culture, and paved the way to success – with Aviya landing a spot on the Corporate Strategy team and Chigozie joining the Global Inclusion & Health Equity team.

In late May, they started the 10-week summer internship program. And what a whirlwind it was with orientation, onboarding and questions galore! “Even in the first couple of days, I could tell how comprehensive the program would be and how everyone was prepared to work with us. I felt comfortable asking any questions I had to our Internship Program Manager and my corporate strategy team. Everyone was patient while I learned the ropes and became acquainted with the materials and teams I would be working on,” said Aviya.

Chigozie found the onboarding process to be thorough, educational and interesting. During the first two weeks of onboarding and during later Lunch and Learn seminars, the interns heard from executives from each of Real Chemistry’s business units and other executives. Chigozie was excited to hear about the integrated nature of Real Chemistry and the different ways the business units work together to leverage strengths and capabilities to support each other and clients in working toward a common goal. The interns also participated in a series of trainings, workshops and networking events that were “surprisingly engaging despite being virtual,” said Chigozie. During the workshops and training sessions, the interns were often separated into breakout rooms to connect with other interns, where they had the opportunity to engage with each other. Both Aviya and Chigozie thought Real Chemistry’s interview and onboarding process prepared them well for the 10 weeks ahead.

SET

Tuning in from two locations thousands of miles apart, Aviya and Chigozie felt fully immersed in the internship experience. Chigozie, working remotely from Kansas and unable to go into any Real Chemistry office, said, “Everybody at Real Chemistry communicates so well and there are so many opportunities to talk to other interns and people across the company through Lunch and Learns and intern meet and greets.” According to Aviya, “We realized days into the program that there is nothing to worry about being remote. Everyone is very productive regardless of where they are working from. I felt just as visible as I would have been sitting at a desk next to my manager or another team member.”

For Chigozie, “Working on the Global Inclusion & Health Equity team in particular and at Real Chemistry in general, I found that everyone was ready to hop on a call if I had any questions or just to chat. There is a culture of open communication and curiosity. Being remote is not isolating.”

Aviya, who works remotely from New York, had the opportunity to go into the office for a couple of days. She said, “It was wonderful to have that in-person time with members of my team. The culture translated right from the computer screen to the office space. The office felt homey and was buzzing with productivity. Plus, the view was out of this world!”

As a member of the Corporate Strategy team, Aviya spent the summer supporting the accounts of two multinational pharmaceutical companies. She had the opportunity to prepare real-time news and social coverage monitoring reports, assist with research and audits, develop social engagement suggestions for C-suite leaders of the companies, and schedule posts on the corporate LinkedIn and Twitter pages, among many other tasks. According to Aviya, “Each member of the Corporate Strategy team brings a unique background to the table. Work is done efficiently, and it is made clear what actions everyone needs to complete for the day or week to keep moving forward.” She noticed that, when facing challenges, the team frequently engaged in open discussion to determine the best course of action rather than relying solely on a few individuals to make executive decisions. She also found her team members actively seek opinions and advice from colleagues outside the team, such as members of the Media Activation team. Every Friday, Aviya’s team came together to play games and catch up, making the work environment fun and engaging.

As a member of the Global Inclusion & Health Equity team, Chigozie found that most of her work is focused on driving health equity, vaccine accessibility and diversity in clinical trials. She participated in research, sat in on client calls, and prepared a weekly media round-up of the latest news stories relating to health equity. She also contributed to the Health Equity Digest, a monthly newsletter that informs Real Chemistry colleagues and clients about the healthcare landscape through the lenses of diversity, equity and inclusion (you can subscribe here). “I enjoyed all of the work I did, but the best part about my experience working on client and non-client work was that, at the core of all of the projects, I was able to see how Real Chemistry upholds the company mission, values and commitment to advancing health equity,” she explained.

Chigozie found the Global Inclusion & Health Equity team to be a “team of dedicated individuals who have a common goal of making the world a more equitable place. Everyone on the team was welcoming, encouraging and always just a Zoom call away.”

Both interns found that their summer at Real Chemistry prepared them to go out in the world and make a difference.

GO

As the summer internship program comes to an end, Aviya and Chigozie recount the lessons they learned that will set them up for success in their future endeavors.

Both learned to switch gears quickly. “Working on multiple accounts, it’s important to know how to balance many tasks over the course of a workday – or as my team likes to say, wear many different hats! One hour you may be researching for one account, and the next you may be attending a meeting on a completely different type of task or project,” said Aviya

They also learned the importance of managing their time. They recommend staying flexible and always taking notes.

They encourage other interns to use their voice and ask questions. “Stay curious and if you feel that you need more clarification, speak up. It will only benefit you and your team,” said Aviya. “Talk to as many people in the company as you can as they are excited to share what they are working on and want to help you make the most out of your time here,” she added.

They found that Real Chemistry truly values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds and thinking that employees bring to work with them. “Real Chemistry doesn’t follow a blueprint for who they select for the internship program. There are undergrads, postgrads, people transitioning careers, people who studied business, biology, you name it,” said Chigozie. She was grateful to be a part of a company that embraces the different paths of people united under one cause to make healthcare better.

Both interns found it rewarding to work for a company where the work they are doing has an impact. “There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you're helping biopharma companies communicate with patients so they can receive the best care and treatment possible. The healthcare industry is growing fast. It is such a great feeling knowing that your projects are relevant and needed,” says Aviya.

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