Full Name: Brendan Healey’16
Internship Company: Ogilvy & Mather
Internship Position: Account Management Intern
Internship Location: New York, NY
While looking for your internship, what services did you use at the Center for Career Development?
I have used the Center for Career Development since second semester Freshman year. So pretty much, I have used it for everything. I have had one-on-one meetings, drop-ins, workshops, etc. And they have all been excellent.
What skills did you gain from your internship experience and how have they added to your professionalism?
I gained a world of skills. First of all, simply being in a corporate office changes you, your demeanor, and really the way you carry yourself. While advertising, and O&M especially, is casual, it’s still a major office. You never know whom you’re standing next to, or riding the elevator with. And you work alongside people who have been in those environments for years. You have to elevate your skills. In terms of concrete skills, I learned and continue to learn how to create PowerPoint (“decks”). There is an art to them. I gained advertising-specific knowledge- processes, steps to take on different types of assignments.
How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans / goals?
I would say this experience certainly influenced my career plans. Ogilvy is a major company, with offices in every part of the world. It’s one of the best ad agencies. It’s fast paced. People are smart. People are interesting. It pushes you to be at your best everyday. It’s impossible not to want to work there, or for that matter, in the advertising field in general.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to the future intern?
Be a great ambassador of Holy Cross. Get there before your bosses. Be passionate. Bring positive energy. Offer to help and speak up for work.
Overall, what was your most exciting experience at your internship?
The best part about my experience was winning the team competition at the end. We were divided into team of 5, assigned coaches (full time employees), and given a real assignment for a real Ogilvy client. We were tasked with creating a comprehensive marketing campaign for a mid-sized bank. Over the course of 6 weeks or so, we conducted extensive research, interviewed people in-person and via survey, and put together a plan for the bank. In the end won after presenting to a panel of judges: Ogilvy executives and clients from the bank. This was an awesome experience given that our team was composed of liberal arts students – Colgate, NYU, Barnard, and Howard, which validated the Holy Cross experience more than I could have ever expected.
