The following post is from Brett S. who interned with Reynolds this summer.

Eight short months ago I received a call from a recruiter telling me, “Congratulations, you have been hired by the Reynolds marketing department.”

Cut to: present day. I am nearly three months into my internship and two weeks away from its finish. Writing this article while reflecting back on my time at Reynolds, I basically feel like Elle Woods giving her graduation speech in the movie Legally Blonde.

The time I have spent at Reynolds does not reflect the usual representation of an internship. While I filed papers and researched tons of data, that made such a small portion of my expected duties. Right from the start, I was a respected member of the team and entrusted with impactful projects. Even though it was a temporary stay, everyone took the time to get to know me and teach me the ins and outs of Reynolds, both in marketing and in general.

Here are a few things I learned along the way:

Be a sponge

The corporate working world is different from the university world. It was up to me to keep my brain open and ready to learn. Going through the steps in a classroom setting is one thing; it’s an entirely different thing to perform them in actuality. Not to mention I was used to the verbose world of English majors, I came to realize that only flies when you’re writing essays for school. Your business professors aren’t lying when they teach you K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, silly).

Be ready to do some work

Within the first week, I was assigned projects that would actually be released to the public. My submitted work would have an impact on the company, so expectations were there for me to do as well as anyone else. This meant asking the right questions and knowing where to look for help.

Be open to new experiences

The Reynolds marketing team works on a variety of different media levels that require different strategizing. I was given the opportunity to experience it all. Transitioning from one channel to the next is not as simple as some light copy changes. It involves new ways of thinking and a complete understanding of the audience, something I learned early on.

Be drinking coffee

‘Nuff said.

My time interning at Reynolds has been rewarding, to say the least. Working alongside professionals who truly exhibit the meaning of the word has been a priceless experience. Over these three months I have grown exponentially because of them. I can’t thank Reynolds and Reynolds enough.