Summer Orientation: A Little Schooling for the Company

Another summer, another set of interns. Whereas some companies may feel the pang of uncertainty when bringing in a group of new minds, it’s a time that we look forward to at New Media Campaigns. Since the beginning, the company has had the advantage of gaining some really valuable talent. Many have gone on to do great things and none have failed to impress.

Coming in as an intern last summer and hearing what past interns had accomplished, I knew I was joining a group of people that not only strive for the best in their work, but in their people as well. At first, I was a little lost – everyone seemed to click so well together and here I was, new kid in the office, with no knowledge of the team and how they worked together.

It didn’t take long to become part of the team, but this summer, I provided something for the incoming interns that would make the transition into the job a little easier – the New Media Campaigns Intern Orientation packet.

When it came to the overall feel of the packet I wanted a design that reflected the light-hearted tone of the writing. The color scheme derived from the colors used in all of our branded material, just a little brighter, and the lines and geometric shapes were similar to the shape of our site.

Initially, I wanted to create a piece that focused on a few key aspects: a synopsis of our company, a background of the team, and a taste of the culture they were about to dive into.

The packet essentially evolved into a combination of history and comedy – including a brief history of the company and general tid-bits of knowledge about the office, the company, and work life.

Each team member received a page detailing such information as their goals for the summer, favorite song, and favorite YouTube video.

In the end I was surprised (and delighted) to see that there was a lot I didn’t know about the people I work with. I realized that this packet wasn’t only useful to our incoming interns, but to everyone at New Media Campaigns. The packet provided insight to what inspires, entertains, and drives each team member – things we’d love to know but aren’t the usual topics of conversation during the workday.

So what started as a simple project to guide our interns turned into a piece that provided value for everyone involved – similar to our internship program as a whole. Interns come in looking to gain knowledge about the industry and we welcome them knowing that they’ll provide us with great ideas and great work. In the end, it’s a win for everyone. 

Check out the official New Media Campaigns Intern Orientation packet and let me know what you think. Does your company do anything similar for newcomers?