12 weeks of internships seems like a long time for students. In some cases that might very well be the case. For me on the other hand Friday came around in the blink of an eye and there I stood with a drink in my hand at the team mixer. The first week of my internship had already passed.
Why Flexmail?
I opted to apply for an internship at Flexmail because it’s a company at the top of its respected field. My goal is to learn as much as possible in these 12 weeks and what’s smarter than to learn from the best?
Communications management
My student days are almost over. During my studies in communications management at PXL I learned that the end product is the most important part of the process. That is why choosing the right internship is so important. I searched for a fresh and dynamic company that had a good communications and marketing department. A company where I could put my best skills copy writing and online communication to good use.
The job interview
It was the job interview that really convinced me. It was a kind of speed date for future interns. I arrived at my current mentor Michelle’s table with a healthy dose of nerves. Michelle Dassen is the Business Unit Manager of Flexmail NV. She immediately put me at ease by letting me talk about what I liked and disliked about marketing, my hobbies and so on. I automatically felt comfortable and reassured. After our talk she encouraged me to take some time to deliberate which company I would choose to intern at. I followed her advice but really I already made up my mind right there and then.
First impressions
On Monday the 5th of march I was welcomed by a very spontaneous Lies. She gave me the nickel tour while I was waiting for Michelle to arrive. In the meantime my new colleagues started to come in. Each and everyone of them took the time to say hello, introduce themselves or even make a little chat. I was four colleagues in when the knot in my stomach disappeared and I realized that I made the right decision coming here.
Michelle showed me to my own desk, with my own laptop and my own writing materials. It was a wonderful arrival because I felt very welcome.
The first couple of days
During the first day I was thrown into the deep end. I learned a lot about the email marketing world. I learned how to work with the program, the intranet and I got my first real tasks. (Exciting!). My mentors Michelle and Tom let me complete these tasks in a manner of my own choosing. Occasionally they adjusted my course but credit was definitely given when credit was due. This motivated me to try even harder.
In my first week I finished a lot of work. In every marketing decision or meeting my opinion mattered. The subjects varied from a new design to implementing a new protocol. In a nutshell at Flexmail an intern is a part of the team and that is why I can’t do anything but sing their praises!
