My time as a marketing and customer service intern at Marleylilly has almost come to an end! I am in disbelief that this semester has gone by so fast and that I have only a few more days left at #MonogramHQ. They say that time flies when you're having fun, and that is certainly the truth when it comes to my time here.
In honor of my last few days, I thought it would be an appropriate last hurrah to share 7 things that I learned during my time as a Marleylilly intern.
1. Always Have a Long-Term Mindset
This was one of the first lessons I learned as a Marleylilly intern. Coming in on the first day, it resonated with me that this company was someone's dream and passion, and that shouldn't be taken lightly. Although I had signed a paper for a five-month internship position, it was my responsibility, just as much as anyone else's, to make sure that I was conducting myself and completing my work in a manner than would help the company reach it's goals - monthly goals, yearly goals, and goals for the future. Everyone's work matters!
2. Invest in Relationships
I can't express how grateful I am for the relationships that Marleylilly has given me. Of course, networking is very important, but I've learned that there is so much value in getting to know someone on a professional AND personal level. I believe that I am here to not only learn aspects of business from talented professionals, but to learn how they became so skilled at what they do.
Being the youngest intern and being over 2,000 miles from home, naturally, there were so many times that I was in dire need of support and advice. So many people at Marleylilly provided me with so many pieces of professional and general wisdom. They shared their background, where they went to school, their journey to Marleylilly and to finding success professionally and personally. Additionally, the other interns took me under their wing (on the clock and off) and helped me feel at home. This semester would not have been the same without our friendship and the drive from Clemson to work everyday would've felt much longer.
Thank you so much to the employees at Marleylilly, who I consider mentors, and to the other interns, who I consider great friends. I will remember all of your advice and your personal stories for the years to come, as it has inspired me so much!
3. Values Matter!
Some of the highlights of this semester were not entirely work-related. On the Friday before Halloween, Marleylilly held a Halloween costume contest, followed by a delicious lunch from Henry's Smokehouse. This lunch was incredibly special because the proceeds of the meal went to SGT. Conley Jumper, a Greenville police officer that passed away in the line of duty. Another highlight was getting to celebrate the ten year anniversary of Marleylilly by enjoying lunch with everyone in the building. I was also able to take part in a number of fun, team-building activities with the marketing department and other interns, such as team breakfasts, marketing team trivia, a potluck lunch, and a fun game of Telestrations! I am really looking forward to our next activity around the holiday season - The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program that provides gifts to children in need, on Christmas. Taking part in these activities and events made it apparent to me how much Marleylilly values community and helping others. I recall asking myself what it might be like working for a company that didn't have these values that are important to me. I think that it would make work difficult and I wouldn't feel as connected to the company and brand, like the way I feel connected to Marleylilly. I feel so lucky to have been able to intern at Marleylilly, a place that values many of the things that I value. I believe that everyone should make sure that the company they work for has values that align with their own.
4. Take Your Work Seriously, But Not Yourself
I was tasked with filming and editing a number of TikToks and Instagram Reels, and I had the opportunity to model some products for the creative team. In November, the other marketing interns and I had to present an innovative idea in front of the company executives. These tasks provoked some anxiety for me. I consider myself to be a recovering and struggling perfectionist, so doing these things was very uncomfortable and I was critical of myself while doing them. I feel like it is absolutely necessary to give Emily U., Katie, Clifford, and Lina a huge thank you, as they gave me a number of pep talks this semester. They really helped me learn to be less critical of myself and my work, and to recognize that everyone makes mistakes and everyone is always learning. What matters is that you try, and give it your best shot.
5. Always Be Kind
I can't exactly say that I learned this lesson solely from working at Marleylilly, or my parents would be mortified and terribly disappointed in themselves (don't worry Mom and Dad!). However, my time responding to Instagram and Facebook comments for Marleylilly social media pages, and my time answering customer inquiries in the customer service department taught me so much about how to interact with customers. Holly, the marketing director, and Lindsay, the director of the customer service department, and so many others in the marketing and customer service departments acted as great role models as they dealt with some difficult questions and situations so professionally and always treated our customers with kindness and showed their appreciation for them. I feel like my vocabulary has grown to be much more professional, which is due to the fact that I have been able to listen and watch how the people at Marleylilly communicate with our customers, and I have tried to adopt their verbiage. I know that this will be helpful in so many different areas of my life.
6. Be Sure to Take Notes (AND Pictures!)
I quickly realized that taking notes was imperative while I was completing weekly tasks for the marketing department, and while I was being trained in the customer service department. I referenced the notes that I took in my first week even months later! Although asking questions is never a bad thing, it saved me, and in turn, other people in the office lots of time, as I didn't need them to reteach everything. As I worked on this blog post, I realized that I didn't take as many pictures as I wish I had. Taking pictures and writing down notes are important to do, not only to document your memories, but to remember and reinforce what you learned.
7. Do What You Love!
This is very cliche, but this was such a big lesson I learned this semester. Yes, being fashion-obsessed and working at a clothing company can be a bit self-destructive to your monthly budget, however, every single day will feel like fun because I enjoyed what I did. Not to mention, doing what you love leads you to find other people that also enjoy what you like, which makes it easier to find great friends (I'm talking to you, ML interns!) and incredible mentors! This semester would've been so different, had I been in a different industry of business that wasn't my cup of tea. Being so far from home likely would have been too difficult to bear. Thankfully, I was working for a company that I adore, with amazing people, and with clothing that I was truly passionate about. I feel like sometimes college students, including myself, don't prioritize finding a career that truly fits us! Don't get me wrong, it's important to be flexible, but I would challenge you to think about how much better your work will be, and how much more fulfilling your life will be if you enjoy your career and are surrounded by people that share that passion too.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read about what I have learned as an intern at Marleylilly. I hope you have enjoyed it, or gotten some insight into what life is like as an intern at #MonogramHQ. Thank you so much to everyone at Marleylilly for providing me with the opportunity to work here and join the Marleylilly family. It has been such a highlight of my college experience. It makes it hard to want to go back to college! This has been a fantastic experience, that I will certainly remember forever!
Peace, Love, and Monograms!
Maria M.
Fall 2020 Marketing + Customer Service Intern
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