Here at Zen Media, we’re pretty much obsessed – we eat, breathe, and sleep online marketing, and absolutely love what we do! So it’s only natural that we’d want to share the fun with the next generation. Our internship program gives college students the chance to dip their toes into the waters of web marketing, and learn valuable skills to help them land their dream jobs when they enter the workforce.
Today, we’d like to introduce you to Connor Chan, one of our promising young SEO/outreach marketing interns. We’ll let Connor tell you himself how he’s enjoying the experience.
1. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself!
My name is Connor Chan, I’m 21 years old and a senior at Connecticut College. I am majoring in English literature and minoring in computer science.
2. What is something unusual about you that makes you unique?
I grew up playing violin and trumpet in several different ensembles.
3. How did you first hear about Zen Media?
I found Zen Media while searching for internships online last winter. What struck me about MZ’s posting was that, unlike many other virtual internships, there seemed to be genuine accountability for the work involved and an opportunity to get involved with real, hands-on projects.
4. Why did you apply for an SEO & Community Outreach internship with MZ?
One question that many English majors often encounter is, “What do you plan on doing with a degree in that?” I’ve never had an answer. I never considered trying to do something with marketing until a friend jokingly said that I should be writing greeting cards or ad copy. This may not be the most satisfying answer, but I applied on a whim, hoping to get some experience in unfamiliar territory. Thankfully, it’s been working out!
5. Tell us a little about what you do as an intern for the SEO & Community Outreach Department at MZ.
In my time at MZ, I’ve gotten to try my hand at a variety of different tasks: writing for clients’ blogs, ghostwriting, managing social bookmarking accounts, keyword research, on-page optimization, content analysis, blogger outreach, etc. It’s hard to say what a typical day or week is like, as there always seems to be something new for me to do.
6. How do you feel about working virtually?
Initially, I was wary about working virtually—any other job I’ve held previously has required some kind of commute and being in the same building as my coworkers. I anticipated the adjustment being difficult, but it was actually quite easy to get used to, and I enjoy being able to do my work from the comfort of home. Plus, I’m spending much less on gas.
7. What has been your favorite part of your internship so far?
Doing research and writing blog posts has been enjoyable because I get to explore and learn about many different topics, ranging from eye health to mergers and acquisitions.
8. What has been the most challenging part of your internship so far?
Blogger outreach is always a bit tricky for me. It gets easier with practice, though.
9. What do you feel is the most important thing you’ve learned from your SEO/outreach marketing internship so far? Why is this the most important thing to you?
Most importantly, I’ve learned to never discount success, no matter how seemingly small. Every triumph is a step in the right direction.
10. How would you describe MZ culture?
The Zen Media Group is just that: a group. The virtual workplace is surprisingly great for encouraging teamwork. Getting help with anything I need rarely requires more than a quick message on Skype, and it’s rare that I ever feel I’m alone in working on any task.
11. Now that you’ve had a glimpse into the world of online marketing, do you have any new insights into how it works? Any comments or opinions you’d like to share about the industry?
Before starting my internship with MZ, I had absolutely zero experience with marketing in any capacity, so I truly had no idea of what to expect from working in the industry. I must’ve re-read the materials I was given at least twice just to begin wrapping my head around what SEO actually is. However, the learning experience has been invaluable. I’ll never be able to look at a meta description or think of Google rankings the same way again. If there’s any comment that I have to share about digital marketing, it’s that a little creativity can go a long way.
12. What are your plans for your future? What’s your dream job? How do you feel your SEO/outreach marketing internship with MZ will help you achieve those goals?
My immediate plans all involve graduating in December. Beyond that, I’m not sure. Grad school? Employment? Volunteer work? I’ve never had the best foresight, so it’s hard to tell right now. This internship with MZ will be a helpful tool in my arsenal for sure, though. It’s assured me that working in a professional environment isn’t as daunting as I may have thought.
13. Do you have any advice to share with future MZ interns, or with those applying for this position?
Never be afraid to participate in discussions or ask questions. Keeping up with the work going on around you is the best way to learn.
Are you interested an internship at Zen Media? Click here for more information! We’d love to have you on board!
