I never knew what startups are until I became a volunteer in a student organisation in my university. From there on, I learnt more about the intriguing world of startups and their impact on economic growth. I just never thought I would be working at one until AdEasy came into the picture. I first heard of AdEasy back in 2019 when I came across an article about their latest funding round. As AdEasy is an adtech startup, I had a fleeting thought of how I’d like to explore working in the advertising industry one day. By chance, I connected with Therine, the COO, through LinkedIn and I felt very aligned with her values, and the AdEasy culture. So, I decided to approach her for my placement year.
Don’t Be Afraid To Share Your Ideas
Got an idea on how to make things more efficient? Don’t hesitate to voice it out, no matter how crazy it may be or how junior you are. One thing I quickly found out is that Team AdEasy consists of open-minded people, which made the idea-sharing process less daunting. It doesn’t have to be the most groundbreaking idea ever. When I initiate discussions with my teammates—coupled with research and data, of course—they are always receptive, and will often give suggestions on how I can improve on my initial idea and make it better.
Communication Is Key
When Google doesn’t give you the answers you need, your best bet is to approach your colleagues. Don’t be scared to seek help, because there is no such thing as silly questions. As AdEasy is a small team of 13 people, we work closely with each other on various projects and campaigns. We speak with each other numerous times a day, and I can easily reach out to my teammates whenever I encounter a roadblock, or if I’m unsure of something. Everyone is incredibly helpful (and sweet too). We’re encouraged to “over-communicate” to avoid misunderstandings later on.
Learn To Prioritise
Time is of the essence when working at a startup like AdEasy. I often find myself juggling multiple tasks at the same time. Another life lesson learnt at AdEasy: Prioritising. How do I tackle my workload? I usually jot down my tasks for the day in order of importance (deadlines are usually the main indicator for which tasks I need to work on first), and allocate the time needed to complete each task. For example, I need to schedule social media posts for tomorrow, and design a banner image for an in-house email due for next week. I’ll work on the copy for the social media posts first before starting on the banner design.
Learning Opportunities Are EVERYWHERE
When I first joined the Marketing team, every task I completed was a learning curve for me. I’ve never done copywriting before, but I had the opportunity to do so when I began handling AdEasy’s social media pages (also, look who’s blogging now). I got the chance to design digital visuals, which led me to learn how to create Corporate Identity and branding decks. No doubt these were beyond my comfort zone. However, I realised over time that by stepping out of it, I’m opening myself up to new learning possibilities.
The People Matter Too, Not Just The Job Itself
I’m halfway through my work placement (six more months to go!), and I have grown fond of the entire team. I believe that it’s important to surround yourself with positive and fun people at work to make your job more enjoyable. I owe my great experience to Therine, whom I report to directly. She guided me all the way through, and her constant encouragement motivated me to learn new skills and improve my existing ones further. I could go on forever about how much I admire her, but I’ll save it for another time. :) Thank you for everything, Therine!
I honestly can’t stop smiling as I write this post. This internship has been such an enjoyable experience so far. You can bet I’ll be composing another post (or two) before the end of my placement here, so stay tuned!
