My name is Mia Rubenstein, and I am a marketing intern at RealtyAds and an incoming sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis. Initially, coming from a competitive university, I felt overwhelmed seeing my friends and classmates secure positions at prestigious tech and finance companies. I had always heard that having a well-known company on your resume was the key to ensuring the next internship or job, and I felt like I wouldn’t be as successful working at a startup. However, my experience at RealtyAds has convinced me that there is much to gain from working at a startup, especially at the start of a career. It offers a unique combination of learning and real-world experience that I could not have found in a traditional internship.
From the beginning, my onboarding process at RealtyAds was designed to mirror that of a full-time employee. This provided me with unique insight into company operations, giving me a comprehensive understanding that goes beyond the typical intern experience. Unlike other internship programs that restrict interactions to a few select teams and employees, I had the chance to connect with leaders from every department. This inclusivity made me feel well-adapted to the team and comfortable collaborating with my peers. In addition, the in-office experience was especially beneficial, allowing me to easily approach colleagues with questions or have impromptu discussions in the office kitchen. These casual day-to-day interactions fostered a sense of community and made me feel confident in sharing my opinions and actively participating in projects, knowing that my contributions were valued both in and out of meetings.
The first four weeks of my internship were devoted to absorbing as much information as possible, ensuring that I had a solid foundation to build upon in the subsequent weeks. Leaders from graphic design, finance, sales, account management, and marketing generously dedicated their time and energy to teaching me about their roles, providing valuable insights into various aspects of the company and the current CRE market. This not only helped me grasp the different functions within the company but also how these subteams work together for the greater success of RealtyAds.
While I was given the chance to learn and shadow different departments at RealtyAds, my main focus was working with the marketing team. During the second four weeks, I applied everything I had learned, honing my marketing skills through hands-on experience. This practical application—writing copy, various blogs, and social media posts—solidified my understanding of RealtyAds and allowed me to make meaningful contributions to the team. Being trusted with this responsibility and independence gave me an active role in contributing to the company’s success, even allowing me to lead some client-facing operations. Handling these high-impact projects was crucial for my growth and boosted my confidence.
One of the most rewarding aspects of working at a startup has been the opportunity to implement my own marketing campaign for RealtyAds. I not only developed and planned marketing ideas but also created content, analyzed campaign performance, conducted research, and presented my findings on my final day. Each post introduced unique challenges and learning opportunities, allowing me to develop a diverse skill set independently. In doing so, I was also able to provide RealtyAds with valuable insights into improving its current marketing strategy. Additionally, I successfully elevated our organic engagement rate by 11%, our overall engagement rate by 19%, and page views by 8.2%, surpassing some of our largest competitors.
I also had the opportunity to lead an internal event, where I reflected on my growth throughout my time at RealtyAds. By organizing the event and catering Portillo’s for the entire office, I was able to connect with my coworkers and mentors on a personal level, beyond just professional interactions. These colleagues have become incredible role models and friends, providing invaluable guidance and support throughout my summer.
I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by such empathetic, hardworking, and knowledgeable individuals who have fostered a creative space for me to learn and explore my interests. As I prepare to present my final project and my internship comes to a close, I am excited to return to college with a new set of professional skills. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me, my colleagues, and this amazing company.
RealtyAds is helping commercial real estate find, advance, and close more deals by engaging decision-makers and their representation on the world’s most effective customer acquisition channels. For more information, visit RealtyAds.com and follow RealtyAds on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.