There are some prerequisites for new grads or junior marketers. You’re coming in without enough knowledge or experience, so you have to stand out somehow. Below are the three qualities that I look for.
Work ethic
You must be a workhorse…and keep up with my energy. Whatever needs to get done, you’re there to help. However tedious the task, you’ll stay until it’s finished. Even if the task isn’t as glamorous as what everyone else is doing, it’s still important. This allows everyone else to stay on track with their projects. Doing a great job on your tasks and you will be rewarded with other tasks.
Creativity
You’re coming in with fresh eyes, so I’m expecting you to bubble over with creativity. There may be business or technical limitations to why an idea can’t be implemented, but I expect an intern’s ideas to be different and creative at the very least. Give me the wacky, the far out. Again, you’ve got to at least bring ideas that are as creative as mine.
Tech savvy
I’m always surprised when I come across Gen Y marketers who aren’t familiar with technology or social media. They don’t use Skype. They don’t use YouTube. They don’t use Twitter. They are missing out as marketers. If you’re sticking by the security blanket of your pop-up booth, it isn’t a safe bet. I’m expecting interns to know more about this than I do. And I love tech.