What tips would you give for a fresh college marketing intern?

Charis Liao
6 replies
I'm a recent graduate who's been recruited as a marketing intern for an AI start-up. My background is in science and engineering, so everyday I'm learning something new about marketing. Here's one of the bigger lesson I've learned so far: - Marketing doesn't always have to be promoting or cold emailing etc., it could be data oriented as well. Analyzing market trends, what our competitors are doing could also be helpful. What are some advise you would give for a fresher entering the marketing field?

Replies

Sergey Koshevoy
Planyway
Launching soon!
Understand the Brand: Dive into the company’s tone, target audience, and mission. Study past campaigns and key metrics. Stay Curious: Marketing evolves quickly, so keep up with trends, tools, and strategies through blogs, podcasts, and social media. Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask why certain decisions were made—it shows initiative and a willingness to learn. Experiment with Tools: Familiarize yourself with platforms like Google Analytics, Canva, Mailchimp, or HubSpot. Your hands-on experience will be invaluable. Master Copywriting Basics: Clear and engaging communication is essential. Practice writing emails, social media posts, or ad copy. Analyze Data: Learn how to track and interpret key metrics like click-through rates, engagement, and ROI. Find a Mentor: Look for someone in your team who inspires you and seek their guidance. Document Your Work: Track your contributions and outcomes—this will be helpful for reviews and your resume. Ask for Feedback: Actively seek constructive criticism to grow and show your commitment to improvement.
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Charis Liao
@koshevoysergey This is such solid advice—thank you! I’m definitely trying to understand the brand better. Staying curious and asking questions has been my go-to strategy so far—it’s been super helpful in understanding why certain decisions are made. I’ll definitely look into tools like Google Analytics and HubSpot! Copywriting is something I really want to improve on too, so I’m going to start practicing small things like emails and posts. Finding a mentor and documenting my work are great reminders. Thanks again for this list, it’s such a helpful roadmap for someone new to marketing like me! 😊
Clark Gao
IMO, marketing is all about being analytical and data-driven. By the end of the day, marketers want to increase ROI in some metrics, which requires some careful and serious designing, planning and experimenting. It's a legit science :)
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Charis Liao
@clark_gao Thank you so much for this perspective! I’m really starting to see how marketing has such a strong analytical side—it’s a lot more like science than I initially thought. Each day, I’m learning more about how metrics and data play a big role in crafting effective strategies, and hearing it described as a "legit science" really resonates.
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Melody Nguyen
I found that you could always blend the use of data with marketing and use it to tell a story. Pitching any story and having numbers to back it up, always builds confidence.
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Charis Liao
@melodyxnguyen Totally agree, Melody! I’m realizing how powerful it is to combine data with storytelling—it makes the message so much more compelling. Numbers give credibility, and the story gives it life. I’m still learning how to strike that balance, but it’s exciting to see how data can make a narrative so much more impactful. Thanks for sharing this perspective—it’s such a helpful reminder! 😊