While other college students may be spending the summer hitting the beaches and the malls, Maggie Wilson of Western Springs is getting an early jump-start on her career. The 19-year old, who just completed her freshman year at Marquette University in Milwaukee, has landed and is relishing a summer internship at Robert Brandt and Associates in Burr Ridge. Maggie is majoring in advertising with a minor in graphic design. Robert Brandt is a highly reputable firm, which provides advertising, marketing, and public relations.

Maggie said that typically internships are sought after sophomore or even junior year in college. Eager to delve into her major, however, she decided to pursue the possibility a bit early. “At school I was a little unhappy because I couldn’t get into my core classes towards my major,” she said. She did some publicity for a friend’s radio station, and also worked on publicity for a school event. “I got interested and wanted to get more involved and thought with this stuff under my belt I might be able to get an internship even though it was a bit early,” Maggie said. “When I sent my resume to Robert Brandt they said they usually only hire juniors and seniors. I got lucky,” Maggie said.

While Maggie receives only a stipend for her 9 to 5 job, she will receive three credit hours at school.
Maggie explained that Robert Brandt handles advertising for many local and small-to-midsize businesses. As the only intern in the firm’s creative department, “I do small revisions to advertisements. I change copy for ads, do some resizing and editing images. Every once in awhile I get to do a creative job from start to finish. I’m told what a client wants in an ad, and can design the ad and send it to the client and get feedback. It’s just small classified ads in the newspapers, or perhaps something small for a Website,” Maggie said.

“I’m liking work a lot,” she said, “It’s not much of a summer to relax but I’m leaning a lot and everyone’s really willing to teach me. I’ve learned so much in the time I’ve been here because it’s a small agency. They really do want to use my help so they’re willing to take the time teach me,” Maggie said.

Maggie said that she could “absolutely” envision herself working in a similar environment when she graduates from Marquette. “It’s definitely the kind of work I like to do. And I’m tending to favor a smaller firm,” she said. “One of the people here commented that I’m doing a lot of the work that they’re weren’t even given when they were working in big agencies. I’m given a lot of opportunities which is nice,” she said.

In addition to her internship, Maggie is working to stay fit, as she is a member of the women’s tennis team at Marquette.