The first time I walked through the doors of Firehouse, I was a senior at the University of Arkansas, visiting agencies in Dallas with the Advertising Club. After learning about Firehouse and touring the office, I knew I wanted the chance to work here.
I patiently waited for the internship application to open, checking the website often, until I opened my Instagram one day to see a post from Firehouse announcing, “Internship applications are open!” I spent the rest of my day perfecting my resume and application, thrilled for the chance I had been waiting for.
As I am now in my last week as a Firehouse intern, I want to reflect on everything that happened from then till now and how it not only gave me agency experience but also served as the perfect transition from college to the real world, filled with people who wanted to support my growth both inside and outside the agency.
“One of the biggest things that makes Firehouse such a special place to work is the people within.”
Working closely with the social team, I had the chance to get to know these incredible individuals well. They helped show me the ropes and become accustomed to the Firehouse way of things. Shannon gave me the grand tour, including where to find the extra snacks and gum drawer. Kinsey showed me the extra chair in her office and let me know it was always open for me. Erin introduced me to Hootie the Owl and gave me the chance to explore my creative side, writing tweets for him. Tori answered my many questions, without hesitation until I was able to do it myself. Tara has taught me what it is to be a good leader, helping me find confidence in myself and my abilities.
With this team, I had the opportunity to work on exciting projects with clients including Hooters. It took me a while to grasp the ins and outs of this client. From being a restaurant to hosting a pageant to filming a commercial, they moved fast, and taking part in these various projects helped me learn to adjust to the fast-paced life of being at an agency. I learned social media management tools, Sprout and SOCi, that help schedule posts and manage any engagement that comes along with them. I helped with Firehouse's social media, sitting in on brainstorms for new trends or team ideas to post. I saw these out from start to finish, continuing from the brainstorming to plan and execute these ideas that you can now see on the Firehouse Instagram. One of my favorites was the agency tour with Steve for the “We let our intern edit this” trend going on at the time. I even had the chance to go to a Hooters photoshoot with the team, one of my favorite days of the summer. Being able to experience the photoshoot gave me a wider understanding of the client and all the behind-the-scenes that go into each post you see on their socials.
“As I became more familiar with the client and my confidence grew, I became interested in other aspects of the agency lifestyle, from project management to account management and even creative.”
Thanks to people like Phil, Damon, Samhaior, and Veronica, I was able to wrap my head around the many roles and moving parts of the agency and the project lifecycle.
Phil sat with me during my first week and answered my many questions about his role at Firehouse and how to get the most out of my experience. He encouraged me to meet with someone from every kind of role, so I not only got to meet everyone but also gained a wider understanding of all the moving parts at an agency. Damon trusted me with writing the executive brief for a Fall Football Campaign, giving me confidence in my account management skills and opening up the idea that I could pursue a career in account management. The creatives, Samhaior, Veronica, and JP, put together a project for Lauren, the other intern, and me to understand the creative process and come up with a campaign.
“This internship not only provided me with valuable agency experience but also helped me transition smoothly from college to the professional world.”
As my internship at Firehouse comes to a close, I can’t help but feel a mix of gratitude and excitement. The past few months have been an incredible experience filled with learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences. The skills I've acquired, the insights I've gained, and the relationships I've built will stay with me throughout my career.
This internship has solidified my passion for advertising and opened my eyes to the various career paths within the industry. I am particularly excited about pursuing opportunities in account management, where I can leverage my organizational skills and strategic thinking. Additionally, my experience with social media management has sparked an interest in exploring digital marketing further. I am eager to continue learning and growing upon the foundation Firehouse gave me.
“I am immensely grateful to the entire Firehouse team for their support and guidance throughout my internship.”
Special thanks to Shannon, Kinsey, Erin, Tori, and Tara for making me feel welcome on their team and for being such incredible mentors. I also want to thank the rest of the Firehouse team for their invaluable insights and encouragement during the summer. This experience would not have been the same without all of you.
“To future interns at Firehouse, my advice is to be proactive and open to learning.”
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek feedback; it’s the best way to grow. Take advantage of every opportunity to network and build relationships within the agency. Be adaptable and ready to take on new challenges, and most importantly, enjoy the experience. Firehouse is a place where you can thrive, so make the most of your time here.
