Erika Hermanson

Interview by Elizabeth Brunette

With which organization did you intern? 

Vyrill Inc.

Where is it located? 

San Francisco Bay Area, California

How did you find out about the internship? 

I was actually connected with Vyrill through the CLA Leadership Minor! The third course of the minor requires students to have a field experience and in the summers they offer a program for select students to intern in either San Francisco or New York City. I applied to the program and worked with the Academic Internship Council to best pair my interests with an internship in the Bay Area. I was then put in contact with Vyrill's CEO, Ajay Bam, and held an interview with him via Skype. He was very hard pressed on his interview questions and expected a lot out of me. However, he really liked my experience with copywriting and editing and offered me the position!

What were your responsibilities? 

I had a variety of roles during my internship with Vyrill. Throughout the six-week duration of my internship, I was tasked with several copyediting and copywriting responsibilities and tedious tasks such as creating an excel document with information on all the tech and beauty conferences Vyrill should attend. I also worked very closely with the Director of Marketing, Jason, and together we created a Linkedin Campaign for Vyrill's new light product, came up with several social media posts as well as blog posts for Vyrill's website, and created new collateral materials for the upcoming beauty conference, CosmoProf North America 2018, that Vyrill attending in July.

What did you most enjoy? 

I enjoyed the work atmosphere of San Francisco the most. I loved how the city was so laid-back, yet also fast-paced. Deadlines were very important, but as long as I got my work done I could essentially work however I preferred whether it be from the office, home, or my personal favorite was always finding a coffee shop.

What is something that you learned from your internship experience and how will your internship help you in your future studies/career? 

My internship this summer with Vyrill Inc. in San Francisco was an incredibly eye-opening experience that I will always cherish. My understanding of marketing and communications grew exponentially in such a short period of time, and I feel more confident than ever in myself as a professional. I found it very satisfying to be able to apply the knowledge I had gained from my courses throughout the academic year to real-life situations, and see the terms discussed in class come to life in a professional setting. I am excited to continue my studies in strategic communication this year as I can reflect on this experience as I work through course materials. I feel that this internship experience was very valuable in working toward my future career goals as it provided me with great information and experience in video marketing and artificial intelligence, which is where I believe the future of my career field is headed. I have had a few interviews with other companies since this internship experience, and I can't believe how incredible this experience has been in boosting my resume and preparing me for my career. 

What's one piece of advice you would give other students about securing an exciting internship? 

My piece of advice would be to NEVER GIVE UP. Finding internships can be stressful and time-consuming, but the effort you put into it will be so worth it in the end. As a senior, I will be graduating with three internships and great marketing experience under my belt all because I never gave up when I received rejection emails and put time and effort into securing these experiences for myself.