The Intern Life: A Summer with Stratus Interactive

A Reflection By Laura Gaumont

This summer, I was one of four interns who donated their time at Stratus Interactive, an inbound marketing firm located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It’s difficult to describe a “normal” day at Stratus, because each day I’ve been here has been a different experience. The aspect of each day that resonates with me: the consistent click-clacking of fingers tapping computer keys from every corner of the office. On a day-to-day basis, Stratus has a quiet atmosphere due to everyone’s involvement in his or her work and/or creative process. Yet, we’ll still break out of our shells when it comes to music or chatting with our neighbors. Stratus Interactive is my first, true, office experience after graduating college, and it has been a great one.

In the three months I’ve worked here, I have harbored relationships with my coworkers and have learned more about marketing than a textbook could ever teach me. As an English major, marketing wasn’t the strongest skill from my Rolodex. I arrived at Stratus Interactive in the beginning of June, armed with the knowledge that I could write, but how could I use this talent? What I didn’t realize at the time, was how important writing skill and creativity was as a marketer. Now, looking back on my college career, I wish I had chosen it as a dual major.

As an intern, I have created call-to-actions, inbound marketing strategies, top of the funnel, bottom of the funnel, lead generation, landing pages, Marketing ROI, and more, yet I’m craving more, more, more! My only disappointment is that my internship at Stratus Interactive is almost over… I mean, where else will I be motivated to peruse the internet for marketing strategies and interesting articles.

Throughout my time here, my advisors (Jennifer, Amanda, and Matt) have been incredibly helpful. I’ve been assigned projects, and given creative reign when it comes to my writing, which is huge. I’ve been able to hone a craft that I thought I’d only mastered with research papers. Now I know that I can research, and in turn, can write for anything.

I’ve also learned that social media is a great way for me to create my personal digital presence. Sometimes, when I contemplate the world around me, I see myself as a number, a nobody—a college graduate mixed in with the thousands of unknown (and more likely) unemployed college graduates attempting to start their career. The difference this internship has taught me, is that I need to market myself. Through Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, and blogging, I can actively apply what I’ve learned to my own career.

Finally, I have enjoyed this internship more than I ever thought I would. Each Monday and Tuesday, I looked forward to making my hour-long trek to West Chester in order to complete my to-do’s. I’d look forward to the cathartic process of writing for work, even if it wasn’t personal. I always thought editing literature was what I wanted, but Stratus Interactive has taught me that I enjoy more involved projects. I like being able to write and edit as part of a greater project, and I really enjoyed the variety of projects on which I’ve worked.

Stratus Interactive has provided me with experience, as well as another choice for my career path. I am forever grateful that Amanda responded to my cover letter and resume, and forever grateful that I responded, “Yes.”