Brooke Perkins, senior at Missouri State, has gone through great lengths to secure a position in the workforce and stay engaged in her studies as a Market Research major. Brooke has made a name for herself in the local community, and in an interview with the Marketing Department, she shared some tips for success and how to best market yourself as a College of Business student. Listed below is a Q&A with some of her key advice:
Q: What is an unusual skill you possess?
A: “Making any normal situation an awkward one!”
Q: Do you have any advice for getting a marketing internship?
A: “The best thing you can do is get involved with your community. This includes volunteering, networking, and getting connected with local professionals and peers in your field of interest.”
Q: Where are you from and what lead you to Missouri State?
A: “I was born and raised in Springfield. I’ve always loved my community and I wanted to be a part of a university that cared about the community just as much as I—Missouri State aims to stay involved.”
Q: Why did you choose a marketing degree, and in particular, why marketing research?
A: “I started working for a social media marketing company at age of 18. Since then, I’ve also worked for several nonprofits and found love for marketing. I chose the marketing research track because I find myself to be creative, and I love numbers and research. It seemed like a great fit for a job in marketing research.”
Q: How did you find your marketing internship with Paragon Architecture?
A: “I got my internship at Paragon from previous employers and networking—they were a client for the last company I worked at.”
Q: What exactly do you do in your internship with Paragon?
A: “I give updates on current projects and communicate what phases they’re in. We usually have about 40 projects happening at-a-time. I’m also in charge of following-up with clients—doing client touchpoints.”
Q: What does a typical day look like at your internship?
A: “A typical day involves providing client touchpoints, managing social media marketing, planning giveaways, and formulating business-to-business booklets for clients.”
Q: “How have your marketing classes so far prepared you for your internship?”
A: “My instructors were a great resource to help me market myself and network. Such as providing me with letters of recommendation and connecting me to various local sources.”
Q: What advice do you have for students who are looking for marketing internships?
A: “Just get out there! Go to local networking events, get involved with your community, volunteer, and start meeting people. This will be necessary in building a foundation and professional network for your career.”