I heard about NEXT through the Business Institutions listserv and the University Career Services listserv. In addition, I believe there was an article in the Daily Northwestern advertising the program.

Last winter, I had been considering a career in marketing for a little over a year. I had an internship with a database marketing firm, but I felt it did not reflect the industry as a whole, and it certainly was not the field I wanted to enter. With graduation and my emersion into the real world approaching, I was anxious to see what else marketing had to offer to gauge if this was where I wanted to be. The NEXT program seemed like the perfect opportunity to get a small taste of the industry and give me insight into a potential career.

After being accepted to the program, I was matched with Mark Ledogar, Vice President of One Smooth Stone, an event marketing firm. We scheduled a date to meet and I traveled to his office in Downers Grove. I was impressed when I was greeted by first name at the reception desk. This set the tone for the rest of the day; everyone was just as friendly and accommodating. Throughout the course of the externship, the staff gave me extensive background on their projects and allowed me to watch over their shoulder. Talking with them gave me a sense of the different moving parts that needed to be coordinated to put together a successful event.

Mark also walked me through his day-to-day activities and some of his current projects. A tour of the office building exposed me to the different skills event marketing employed, from video editing to account management to copywriting. Mark said that working as a stage manager for the Northwestern Dolphin Show gave him ample training to prepare him for his current position. We also discussed the complexity of Dance Marathon, and how the steps involved in putting it together were very similar to his work. Having Northwestern as a common link and being able to discuss these events really enhanced the experience and helped me to connect with Mark on a deeper level.

I left feeling more comfortable with the marketing industry as a whole. Exposure to a whole other segment that I was unaware existed made me confident that I could find a niche in marketing that would fit my skills. Thanks to Mark's patience and accessibility, my externship was a great experience!

I really appreciated how open and honest Mark was. He allowed me to explore every aspect of an event and was very candid about his experiences. I felt comfortable approaching him with any questions and felt he answered them honestly. Again, my goal was to get a better sense of the marketing world, both the pluses and minuses, and Mark's frank answers gave me a balanced look at the industry.

Mark and I have kept in touch since the externship last May. In fact, Mark was nice enough to let me shadow him during a product launch this past October. Being on-site, seeing the effort One Smooth Stone put into the event, and watching it come to life brought a sense of closure to the externship.

I encourage all sophomores to take advantage of the NEXT program. My experience is not unique; other participants I have talked to were just as enthusiastic about their externship. The NEXT program was only a one-day commitment, but it will open many doors for students that are willing to take the plunge!