The TRINDGROUP team is made up of marketing, public relations and design experts, and we receive much support from our interns as well. We pride ourselves on offering a strong and comprehensive internship program for students looking to develop their skills in our industry and get hands-on experience before leaving school. As we are based in a college town, we’re never short on intern talent!
Our Fall 2017 interns, Emily and Zoe, are integral members of our team. Learn more about them in our latest Meet the TRINDGROUP Team interview.
Interns Zoe Hughes, left, and Emily Talka discuss their internship experience at TRINDGROUP.
Zoe Hughes, Intern
Auburn University; Major: Public Relations
Graduation: May 2018
TRINDGROUP Intern since August 2017
Emily Talka, Intern
Auburn University; Major: Public Relations, with a minor in Marketing
Graduation: May 2018
TRINDGROUP Intern since January 2017
What made you want to study public relations?
Zoe: I wanted to study public relations since I learned about it in eighth grade. I knew it was something I would be passionate about since I love learning about all the new rules of marketing and how you can use them to promote a client. I find it fascinating!
Emily: I wanted to go into public relations because I have always been interested in people. From the start of my appearance on Earth, my mom has always referred to me as “a people collector.” I am also a huge grammar and word usage nerd. To me, public relations is the perfect marriage between those two attributes.
What have you learned at your TRINDGROUP internship so far?
Zoe: This first month, I’ve learned a lot about different software tools and the day-to-day life of working in an agency with a wide variety of clients.
Emily: To say the least, I have learned a lot while interning at TRINDGROUP for the past two semesters. I have learned so much that I would have never been able to in a classroom. There is no comparison to real-world application. One key thing that I have learned is how to handle things that pop up last minute. The studio is a busy place with a lot going on!
What is your favorite thing about working at TRINDGROUP, so far?
Zoe: My favorite thing about working at TRINDGROUP is how communicative the team is, and how the interns are included in many of the tasks, both large and small, around the studio.
Emily: My favorite thing about interning at TRINDGROUP is the people. You can’t always choose who you work with, and so far, I have been #blessed. Everyone at TRINDGROUP is motivated and passionate about what they do. It creates a great work environment. Also, everyone is understanding and helpful. Being an intern involves a lot of learning curves and trial and error, which I imagine can be frustrating for people with experience. But, even if I do mess up, they turn it into a learning opportunity.
Why do you think having an internship as a student is important?
Zoe: I believe having an internship as a student is extremely important because it gives you real world experience that you cannot learn in a classroom. I always heard that throughout my first few years of school, but you realize how true it is once you actually participate in and learn from an internship.
Emily: Having an internship is important because it allows students to actually practice the skills that they have learned in the classroom. Luckily, Auburn University requires an internship to graduate, which gives us a leg up above students from other schools. Internships also aid in easing the transition from college life to working full time.
What is your advice for students looking for internships?
Zoe: Pay attention to the resources your university gives you, and check with your internship advisor at your school about potential opportunities. I found out about TRINDGROUP through an email that my college sent out, so it’s important to be on the lookout for those types of announcements – don’t just delete them!
Emily: To younger students looking for internships: don’t be picky. The search for internships can be competitive, so your dream internship may not be where you start out. Don’t overlook opportunities because they may turn out to be great.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Zoe: Something that takes a lot of my time outside the studio and going to class is Project Uplift. Project Uplift is a volunteer program through Auburn University that allows participants to mentor children in the Auburn/Opelika area. I’ve been participating in Project Uplift since my sophomore year, and do it almost every single weekday. It is a way to give back to the Auburn community while having fun, too!
Emily: Outside of the studio, I enjoy watching Food Network, HGTV and Netflix. When I’m not being a couch potato, I like to run, and I teach group fitness classes at Auburn University’s Recreation and Wellness Center.
Interested in learning more about our team and how we work with our clients? Contact us today!
