Mollie Crompton

What is a typical day as an intern like for you?

When I come into the office of a morning I sit down at my desk and answer some emails while chatting with the team about how they’ve been. I’ll set my to do list for the day after a quick catch-up with my supervisor Jane and then get to work. My day could involve a multitude of things: creating copy for websites or EDMs, assisting with planning CFPS Team events, or liaising with stakeholders to deliver projects. Every day is different! I might have a few team meetings to go to, in which the Communications Team will provide updates on their current projects and organise future events that we may need to assist with or plan. Then at the end of the day I say goodbye to my amazing team and head off, excited to come back and see what new challenges the next work day will bring.

How has your internship supported your career and/or professional goals?

When I applied for the S@W Internship Program I wanted to gain experience in a professional marketing and communications setting as my degree was primarily theory and journalism based. This internship has provided me with so many opportunities to push myself and work on projects I never would have dreamed of doing. I feel like I’ve developed my professional speaking skills, gained knowledge and experience in the Comms sector, all the while learning about my own work style and learning how to communicate this to work effectively in a team environment.

What have you enjoyed the most about your internship?

I was lucky enough to work on and partially take responsibility for the University’s appearance at the Portsea Markets for the Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station Project. I got to see this event through from initial plannings phases, through to design and copy, to delivering it on the day and actually attending the markets, before coming back and debriefing to measure the engagement of the event. It’s been a great learning experience to juggle all of the stakeholder, team and public expectations to deliver a polished final product that people really enjoyed.

What is one skill you learned during your internship?

Communication (which is funny to say when working in Comms). No matter how big or small the project, having clear communication and documentation of expectations, planning, timelines and delivery is key to success. I had the chance to stretch these skills multiple times in my internship because the team really brought me on-board and involved me with as many projects as possible so I got experience with this in multiple settings.

What advice would you give other students wanting to apply for the S@W Internship Program?

Be passionate, driven, and authentic. This is one of the best career experiences I’ve had in my working life and these traits are what has allowed me to get the most out of this experience. Come in with an open mind and be ready to learn because there’s so much you can do, you just have to push yourself to try!