My Experience as a Marketing Intern at HAD

October 20, 2019

Over the past couple of months, I have been working as a marketing intern with HAD’s marketing and communication team. Coming into this internship, I didn’t know what to expect. I have to say, this internship has far exceeded any expectations I could ever have had! 

Marketing is an integral and vital department within any organisation. Before coming to HAD, I had some awareness of what marketing was but didn’t really have a solid understanding and idea of what it meant in practice. Understanding marketing’s pivotal role, and gaining a more in-depth awareness of the marketing department’s role at HAD, has, therefore, been exciting. I have been able to develop my knowledge of the importance of robust and disruptive marketing strategies while gaining a clear insight into the humanitarian and development sector as a whole.

What have I done?

From the start, I was actively involved in the marketing department. As opposed to some internships where you are merely making coffee for people, HAD gets you ‘stuck’ into the placement straight away. I was given great responsibility and have benefited from having some independence and leeway while also having support and feedback. As opposed to being ‘micro-managed’, this style of management has allowed me to develop and learn along the way. 

Some of my key roles:

•  I have developed my copywriting skills by writing blogs, proofreading website contents and making edits to the website. 
• I have created a storyboard that will be transformed into a critical piece of marketing material.
• I have conducted competitor analysis which has enabled me to understand the wider sector more. 
• I was also fortunate enough to be able to attend one of Mental Health First Aid England’s course. This course was incredibly insightful. I will be able to use the information and guidance I was given on this course to help myself and others with mental health.

What do I take away from this?

Over the last couple of months, I have gained confidence in my abilities and have seen my written skills develop tremendously. I have enhanced and improved my copywriting and proofreading skills.

Moreover, I have also developed an appreciation of where HAD’s work lies within the sector. This appreciation has enabled me to gain strategic awareness and an understanding of key marketing strategies. I have developed vital transferable skills that I will be able to take with me wherever I go! 

What does this mean for the future?

Ultimately, I have developed my passion for international development. I have written on relevant topics such as mental health, climate change and the refugee crises’ around the world. In doing this, I have challenged myself and have learned a great deal about these pressing issues. 

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at HAD! Thank you for giving me this great opportunity! 

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a marketing intern at HAD and would definitely recommend HAD to anyone who is interested in gaining further insight into the humanitarian and development sector. HAD has internship opportunities within the Marketing team, within Learning and Development and within Research and Development.

Find out more about HAD’s internship opportunities

Written by Charlotte Davies

Marketing and Communications Intern