Internship Ideas: Kylie at "Storefront Media"

I know that many of you are hoping to find internships for the fall semester, so, to inspire you, here is another edition of “Internship Ideas.” Today we are featuring Communication Studies major Kylie Li! Here we go…

Q: Where do you intern and what do they do?

Kylie: “I am an intern for Storefront Political Media, which is a political media consultant firm. Our firm coordinates political campaigns for politicians and other figures of that arena, managing all aspects of a campaign, from field marketing to policy research and all other marketing aspects. The most unique trait of this firm is our innovation based in how we conduct our campaigns and agendas. For example, our current tool for marketing is utilizing the untapped population of San Francisco youths by using social media (Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc).”

Q: How did you find your internship?

Kylie: “I came across this internship when I met the executive account manager at our firm, Kate Maeder, at USF Coms department’s Pizza with the Pros event at the end of March in spring of 2011.”

Q: Why did you choose to intern there?

Kylie: “After hearing the panelist of pros and their job descriptions, Kate’s profession stood out to me immediately. After hearing about what she does and all the unique traits of Storefront Political Media, I introduced myself to her and after a few minutes of casual conversation, Kate hired me on the spot to be the newest intern at her firm. Since my time here, I have not even considered seeking a different internship because I love what we do and the people I work with.”

Q: What do you do on a regular basis at your internship?

Kylie: “Since my first day in April, I have been working directly with Kate and Joshua, who is the primary campaign director for Phil Ting, a candidate for the SF mayor election this November. I work alongside around a dozen fellow interns and each member holds a specific position at our firm. My internship position is mostly directed in the promotional and marketing side of Phil’s campaign, from field marketing to bilingual assistance, since I speak Mandarin fluently, to policy research and blogging for our www.Resetsanfrancisco.orgdomain. Our teams works closely with one another, aiding in any area of the campaign that we can. I was primarily hired as a PR/linguistic intern, however, my bosses encourage all of us to seek out of our titles and to contribute to the political push for social reform, by keeping involved with current city events and issues. This is the second reason why I chose this internship, and why I love it! As a pre-law graduating senior at USF, I felt blessed to have been chosen at a firm that incorporates my my ability to perform well in the marketing industry along with my interest in politics and social change. Our goal is to make social, economic and political issues heard by encouraging every voice to be heard in the community. Phil is currently our Assessor and Recorder in city government and has held a reputable image amongst San Francisco citizens since his elected position in 2005.”

Q: What have you learned from your internship?

Kylie: “After working with my Reset San Francisco team for the past 6 months, I have learned more about city government and social change than I ever have. This internship has pushed me to utilize all aspects of my academic knowledge in sociology and politics, and taught me to apply these realms into the reality of life in San Francisco today to inflict progressive change for the better.”

Q: What advice do you have for other students looking for an internship?

Kylie: “My advice for future internship seekers is to simply get involved whenever and wherever. As a Communication Studies major, our job market is vast and full of opportunities. The key is to network with the right professionals and to make your efforts visible by these professionals. Although the competition is fierce, I really believe that there is a position out there fit for every individual. Going to career fairs and events such as Pizza with the Pros, as I did, opens the doors for networking and getting internship opportunities. So my advice is just to go out there and get it because there are PLENTY of opportunities available!”

Thanks, Kylie, and congratulations on your internship! What a great success story from our Pizza with the Pros event, and a testament to Kylie’s networking abilities that she was hired on the spot!

Communication Studies major Kylie