Our Quantcast Internship Program is a fantastic, hands-on learning experience, which provides our interns with an opportunity to focus on projects that impact both Quantcast and our clients. To offer an inside look at a Quantcast internship, I’d like to introduce you to our marketing intern, Sam Johnson.
Sam finished her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Advertising at San Diego State University this year and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Advertising at Boston University. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Sam to find out how she approached her role as a solutions marketing intern here at Quantcast, and what she learned from her experience.
What’s your favorite project you worked on?
My favorite project that I’ve worked on has to be the Quantcast Academy, our on-demand certification program that makes it easy to learn the language, tools, and processes involved in digital advertising. Quantcast Academy has been one of the biggest projects of my professional career, and I learned so much throughout the entire process.
As a newcomer to the ad tech industry, I found myself in the unique position of not only being a contributor to the project, but also one of the target consumers. I was tasked with curating content for some of the Quantcast Academy modules, and I needed to make sure that the content was student-friendly. This meant that I often would take a step back to look at the content from the point of view of someone who had little understanding of the ad tech world. This enabled me to develop content that was straightforward and not full of jargon and acronyms that didn’t make sense to the audience.
Another big piece of this project involved reaching out to Quantcast employees and asking them to record presentations for the modules. And because I learned how to edit video as an undergraduate student, I was also tasked with editing all the materials before they were added to the WorkRamp Learning Management System. It was a great project because I was able to leverage my video editing skills while learning new skills in content development and project management.
What advice do you have for other students considering an internship with Quantcast?
Be prepared for a dynamic work environment that’s both exciting and challenging!
The world of ad tech is constantly changing (i.e., third-party cookies), and that means you need to be agile and creative in your thinking. Watch, learn, and take notes. If you can work independently, yet be comfortable asking for help and advice, you’ll fit right in with the team.
I started my internship not knowing much about the ad tech industry, but the Quantcast team got me up to speed quickly, which really helped me gain confidence in the projects I took on. I felt that Quantcast gave me all of the tools I needed to succeed as an intern. My last piece of advice is that an internship is what you make of it. Don’t be afraid to take initiative and ask around for tasks. Dive right in and see what you can learn!
What’s the best advice you’ve received during your internship?
The best advice I’ve received is to avoid “happy meetings.” Ingrid Burton, CMO of Quantcast, explained to me that “happy meetings” were ones where everyone talks, but nothing gets done. I learned that every meeting should have a clear agenda and everyone should leave the meeting knowing what their action items are. That way, everyone has a clear plan for what they are responsible for, and no one leaves thinking “this meeting could have been an email or Slack.”
What skill(s) are you taking away from this internship?
Working with Quantcast has helped me learn how to work within a larger company. Since I had only worked at smaller startups prior to my Quantcast internship, I’ve never had to interact with so many people from so many departments before. During my internship, I met and interacted with Quantcast employees from all areas of the company. Now I am much more confident in reaching out to people in other departments. I’ve also honed my prioritization skills in order to successfully juggle all the tasks I’ve been assigned and meet all my deadlines. These time and project management skills will also help me as I pursue my master’s degree at Boston University.
Did you enjoy your time as an intern at Quantcast?
Quantcast is an amazing place to be an intern. I learned so many skills that will set me up for long-term success, and I also made some great connections with both Quantcast employees and fellow interns. I’m thrilled that my internship has been extended until next June while I pursue my master’s degree; I can’t wait to see what kinds of projects I will be working on!
Interested in applying for an internship at Quantcast? Check out our current internship opportunities.