By: Ariana González
Christmaelle Vernet
Major(s): Journalism, and a minor in IT
Graduation Year: 2025
Internship: UMass Press Marketing Operations Intern
What drew you to your internship before applying for it? Which interests aligned with the type of work you would be doing?
What drew me to this internship was the opportunity to work for a publishing press since I didn’t even know that UMass had one. I found the position by talking to my professional writing professor, since lots of people had worked there before, and they were looking for a professional writing intern. The internship is for people who have a mix of interests in marketing communications and any sort of marketing promotional material.
How was the application process?
The application process was really simple. I sent my resume to the manager and had my interview quickly thereafter. From there, it was a smooth and easy process that was also very conventional.
What previous experience prepared you for the interview?
Before this internship, I had leadership experience with the Rebirth Project on campus and had interned as a technical intern for Iron Mountain over the summer. I also did research and took relevant coursework.
What did your first days look like in the internship in comparison to your last? What were some of the things you learned?
For my first day, while it was a hybrid position, I was in the office. Everyone there was super friendly and showed me what to do. I mainly worked on onboarding myself. Chelsey, who works remotely, would check in on me all the time. Every week we had different meetings on different topics. As for my last day, I was able to have a final review of everything I was able to do during my time there. I had several press releases that were published and several communications drafts in my portfolio. I also got bonus tips on networking and building my LinkedIn profile
Was there anything about your internship that surprised you? Things you didn’t expect?
I didn’t expect to see how much marketing is integral to publishing. I got to see what role marketing plays in the drafting process of a book to its publishing, which is very hands-on. It also surprised me how important a book cover is to marketing, even the small choice of a cover and how it's formatted is a marketing practice.
What are some of the things you learned from your internship? How did it inform your long-term career goals?
This experience informed my career goals by showing me a more professional and corporate track of writing. It showed me how writing can be applicable in so many different avenues.
What advice would you give to someone applying for this internship in the future?
I would advise them not to be discouraged if they don't get it the first time. I applied for it before and didn't get it. If you want to do it, don't be afraid to reapply. Even if your experience is not relevant, don’t be afraid to promote yourself and sell yourself for the position, since they will most likely still take you in.