When I started my internship with NISM, I wasn’t looking for a job. I was already running my own coloring book company (which, as anyone who has started a small business will know, was no small task). Time? I had none of it. Spare energy? Not exactly overflowing.
But I knew I wanted to get better at social media. Specifically, running accounts that actually worked for my brand. I thought this internship – which coincided with taking the course for the Social Media Strategist certification – would be a fantastic opportunity for growth. The more I learned, and the further along I got in the application process, the more confident I felt that I would be a great fit.
Thankfully, the team at NISM thought so too!
Here are the biggest lessons I’m taking with me from this experience:
Never be Afraid to Ask Questions
At the start of the internship, we (the interns) were given a lot of information. We were learning the inner workings of a brand while also trying to understand what would be expected of us. From day one, we were encouraged to reach out with any questions we had.
In full transparency, at first, I was very nervous to do so. There’s often this misconception that asking questions shows that you’re not qualified – when really, the whole point of an internship is to learn.
Over time, however, I found questions to be empowering. I learned to reframe them as a strength, not a weakness. Asking for clarification helped me stay on track, and it gave Celeste and Jen better insight into what we needed to dig into more deeply. A win-win.
Making Mistakes is Normal
I’ve worked with marketing clients before, but feedback in those settings can be… vague. “Can we make it pop?” is not exactly a helpful critique.
What stood out most in this internship was the quality of the feedback. Every piece of content I created was thoughtfully reviewed, with clear explanations about what worked, what could be improved, and – most importantly – why. It wasn’t about being right or wrong; it was about learning how to make content better with every round.
Lean Into Your Strengths
One of the reasons I applied to this internship was to get experience creating content for a variety of platforms (and I did). But what surprised me most was how quickly I found my groove with video content.
I have many years of acting experience, enjoy storytelling through script writing, and was very into video production my last year of college. So, once I was back in front of the camera, things just… clicked. It turns out, you don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. While my intent coming into the internship was to push myself in as many new areas as possible, I realized sometimes the best growth happens when you lean into what you already love and push yourself to elevate those skills.
Community is Key
One thing I didn’t expect when I started this internship was the strong sense of community. The NISM team goes out of their way to connect interns with the broader Social Media Strategist network, and I was genuinely blown away by how kind, welcoming, and encouraging everyone was.
I think if everyone took this approach to networking, the world would be a much better place. People show up for each other, celebrate each other’s wins, and share resources freely. Within the NISM community, it feels like people genuinely want to connect. That kind of support is rare, and I’m grateful I get to be part of it.
Outside of the online community, I was also very thankful for my fellow interns. Whenever I had any questions about coursework, they were quick to jump in with recommendations. While we were all remote, it was fun to get to know them outside of Zoom meetings through FaceTime coffee breaks. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
Thank You, NISM
This internship helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect — both creatively and professionally. I walked in hoping to become a better social media marketer, and I’m leaving with more confidence, stronger skills, and an incredible network of people who genuinely care about making the digital world a better place.
To Jen, Celeste, and the NISM community: thank you for the opportunity, the mentorship, and the steady stream of encouragement. It’s been an honor to learn from you.
If you’re thinking about applying to NISM’s internship program or pursuing the Social Media Strategist certification, do it! You’ll leave with far more than a resume line. You’ll leave with real skills, real relationships, and a renewed sense of what social media can do when it’s rooted in strategy and heart.
Author Bio:
Cassandra Hultgren was an intern at the National Institute for Social Media and is currently working toward her Social Media Strategist certification. She graduated from Luther College in 2024 with a degree in Communications and French, which means she can explain a branding campaign and order croissants correctly. Now based in sunny Arizona, when she’s not crafting content or juggling hashtags, she runs a coloring book business and explores her love for all things visual communication—markers and metrics included.
We were thrilled to have you with us Cassandra, and it was amazing to see your growth and confidence soar. I wish you success of which I have no doubt will be huge.