We had the privilege of sitting down for an interview with Agneta Plāciņa who recently completed her internship at Smartson and is currently studying at the International Business School in Jönköping, Sweden. Her journey from student life to the professional marketing realm has been a captivating one, and in this interview, she shares her experiences and insights from this exciting period.
Could you tell us a bit about your current studies at the International Business School in Jönköping? What is it you are studying?
- Following my high school graduation, I started a new chapter, enrolling in an international university located in Sweden. I am currently in my third year at Jönköping International Business School, where I am pursuing a degree in International Management.
Has your education contributed to or influenced your work and internship at the marketing department at Smartson in any way?
- My first interaction with Smartson occurred during my first year of university when I was enrolled in a marketing course that involved a group project. The university assigned each group to collaborate with an external company for a real-world project. In this case, my group and I were tasked with creating a marketing plan for Smartson to address a specific challenge they were facing—promoting crowdscore visibility in stores. At the time, I had limited knowledge of Smartson, but the opportunity seemed promising. I distinctly remember meeting Karl Händel at Smartson JKPG, who mentioned that the company enjoys collaborating with students and that it’s a chance for them to identify young and talented potential employees.
- Little did I know that a year and a half later, I would find myself working side by side with them doing my internship and gaining practical experience and learning. It's almost as if fate brought us together through that university group project because, without it, I might not have realised the opportunities that lay ahead.
- Secondly, I chose to focus on marketing because the marketing courses at my university consistently provides a balance between being intellectually stimulating, analytically challenging and creatively engaging. This harmony encouraged me to enter an internship in this field to gain a deeper understanding of whether this path is aligned with my future career ambitions.
Could you share your overall impression and experience during your internship at the company?
- I felt really welcomed and part of the team right from the start at Smartson. I'm thankful for the effort they put into making me feel that way. The fact that everyone switched to speaking in English, because Swedish is not my native language, shows how supportive they are. Whenever I had a question, they were quick to help, and I always sensed that they cared about me. I am 100% recommending Smartson as an internship place.
What were your primary responsibilities and projects during your internship for the marketing team at Smartson?
- During my internship, I was responsible for two primary projects. First I was tasked with creating the Smartson Consumer Report 2023 which involved analyzing, and comparing data from survey results, followed by collaborating with an external company to design the report's layout. Additionally, we developed a launch plan launch plan and actively distributed the Smartson Consumer Report to both existing and potential clients.
- In my second project, the focus was on developing a marketing plan for Smartson on the TikTok platform. This includes conducting competitor analysis, defining target audiences, and making a content strategy. While these were my main responsibilities, I actively tried to assist my colleagues with their tasks, as my aim was to gain as much diverse experience as possible during my internship.
How did you contribute to the marketing department's work and the campaigns or initiatives you were involved in? Can you provide examples of specific achievements?
How did you contribute to the marketing department's work and the campaigns or initiatives you were involved in? Can you provide examples of specific achievements?
- My proudest accomplishment is the successful completion of the Smartson Consumer Report. The team and I dedicated significant effort to this project, paying meticulous attention to every detail. While it took longer than expected, I'm delighted to announce that it's now available to the public on the Smartson website for everyone, including all of you reading this.
- In addition to this major achievement, there are several smaller projects with the potential for significant future impacts for the company, such as our TikTok content strategy plan to develop in the future. I conducted research to enhance our marketing efforts across various social platforms and recommended the use of more hashtags to increase visibility via search engines. But I also consider my personal growth and the valuable experience gained in the workplace as important achievements during my internship.
What challenges did you encounter during your internship, and how did you handle them? What skills or insights have you gained during the internship period?
What challenges did you encounter during your internship, and how did you handle them? What skills or insights have you gained during the internship period?
- Similar to my most significant achievement, my greatest challenges during the internship were related to the Smartson Consumer Report 2023. When I first received the survey results in the beginning of my internship, the task seemed to be close to impossible, especially since the survey was conducted in four different languages. However, with patience and huge help from the team, I was able to overcome this. We translated everything in one language and analysed each country separately rather than everything together.
- In terms of skills development, my internship offered valuable insights into the workings of a marketing agency. I gained significant experience in analyzing consumer behavior while writing Smartson Consumer Report 2023 and learned the intricacies involved in planning a marketing strategy. Above all, the internship served as my initiation into the real-world business environment. This transition from university life to a professional career was a significant and fascinating shift.
Now that you have practical experience in marketing at Smartson, has your internship influenced your future career goals or your interest in marketing in any way?
- This experience has shown me that marketing involves many aspects. It's not just about TV or social media ads. It includes research, analysis, targeting, planning, creativity, production and much more. Also learned more about the values of ratings and reviews for brands and e-com. My interest in marketing has grown stronger during my time at Smartson, and I'd be happy to have a future connected to marketing in some way.