Beber Silverstein Group’s summer internship program is an educational experience, intended to provide you with a thorough understanding of how an advertising agency operates, and practical experience within a full-service agency.   This is a non-paid internship program (except for a modest stipend at the end of the program).  We do give college course credits based on performance.   Our internship program is scheduled for approximately 8 weeks and is divided into two segments.  The program starts June 7th and ends July 30 th.

The first five weeks consist of a rotational schedule whereby each intern will spend one week in each of the following departments: Account Management, Social Media, Creative, Public Relations and Business Development.  You will learn from observation, as well as performance of specific tasks as outlined below.  Additionally, you will attend trips to various facilities outside the agency to give you a broader perspective of the world of advertising.  Potential examples of field trips:  TV and/or radio networks, a photo shoot and/or a commercial shoot and/or radio production, a print production press run, participation in off-site public relations events, etc.

During the final three weeks, you will be given the opportunity to apply the knowledge you’ve gained both from school as well as during your first few weeks as an intern.  We will divide you into two “agencies”.  Yep, like “The Apprentice.”  You will develop an advertising program (including marketing research, media and creative) from start to finish.  Each intern will assume a specific role within their “agency” in order to complete the final objective.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• To gain a complete overview and understanding of the functions performed in an advertising agency.
• To understand the role of each department and the relationship between the departments.
• To understand the agency’s responsibilities to its clients and the relationship between the two.
• To understand the working relationship the agency has with the advertising media and suppliers.
• To perform specific tasks that will significantly enhance their understanding.

ACTIVITIES/SCHEDULE

In addition to weekly presentations by each of the department heads, interns will also do the following:

Account Management

–        Observe various internal meetings (including research, a Creative Briefing, and a strategy/planning session.)

–        Observe a client meeting and presentation of creative work.

–        Prepare functional documents (e.g., a Work Order or Creative Brief) for an account executive.

Social Media

–        Participate in crafting messages on Both the Twitter and Facebook platforms.

–        Assist in Twitter follower database maintenance.

–        Learn the importance in Trust, Influence, Engagement and Popularity in Social Media

–        Please note that you must read Social Media 101 by Chris Brogan before your internship.

Creative Department

–        Observe and participate in a concepting session with a creative team.

–        Observe a meeting where creative concepts are presented to the account team.

–        Discussions with art directors and copy writers.

–        Observe focus groups where concepts are being shown to targeted individuals.

–        Attend a photo shoot or commercial shoot.

Business Development

–        Observe the process we use to generate new business leads.

–        Participate in database assistance to keep our contacts current.

–        Generate business development ideas for specified prospects.

–        Observe and assist in the compilation of an RFP (request for proposal).

–       Learn how to sell us. In turn you will learn how to sell you.

Public Relations

-Attend brainstorming meetings to develop promotions.

-Write draft press releases and learn the how and why of press releases.

-Develop media lists to decide where to pitch news stories.

-Assemble materials (i.e. press clippings and press kits) for our clients.

-Participate in off-site public relations events.

Please note that we normally accept around 8-10 interns.  This internship is not for the faint of heart, but you will learn what it takes to get hired and succeed in this business.

There is also a fair amount of reading that is required after you get accepted and before your internship starts.

How to apply:

Please send any type of promotional piece demonstrating as much of the following as possible:

-Your creativity.

-Your desire to work with Beber Silverstein.

-What value you will bring us.

-Your willingness to learn and to help.

-Any special skills your think may promote you and benefit us.

-Your willingness to work hard.

-Your willingness to work hard.

-Your willingness to work hard.

Please include a resume, but we will be doing the large part of our screening based on your promotion piece.

What are we looking for in a promotion piece? It can be anything.  In the past, people have made videos and uploaded them to You Tube.  One person sent a shoe saying she wants to be in our shoes for the summer.  Another made a sculpted giraffe 10 feet high and put a sign on it saying he had tall plans for his internship this summer with Beber Silverstein. People have sent cakes with messages in it.

The best promotion ever was not sent to us, but it was sent to an advertising agency. It was a young copywriter who was looking for a job.  He sent and envelope to the head Creative Director.  On the outside it read: “I hear the Martin Agency is hiring copywriters for $24,000.00.  Inside he wrote a check to The Martin Agency in the amount of $24,000.00.  He got position there two weeks later.

We get a LOT of applicants.

We put all the self-promo pieces out in the middle of the agency.  What will make everyone in our agency want to see it?  Do that and you’ll be all set. And have fun.

PLEASE NO PHONE CALLS REGARDING OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.  PUT ALL YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION ON ALL CORRESPONDENCE.

PLEASE HAVE A CLEAR AND PROFESSIONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE, GET ONE.

I.E. luvpuppies@aol.com- bad.  Jim_johnson@fiu.edu- good.

PLEASE ADHERE TO THE ABOVE GUIDELINES IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.

-Please send your mind-blowing self-promotional piece to us by May 1st.

Please send all inquiries to joseph@thinkbsg.com.

Thank you for your interest in us and good luck!