For the past three months, I completed a remote internship in the digital marketing field. I was not looking for a remote position initially, but I am so glad that it was. I quickly realized that doing a job from home comes with its own major perks — like flexibility, freedom in where I worked from, and work-life balance. My role varied as I was introduced to many different marketing tools and projects, giving me a full range of how the marketing world works. One project worth noting is a social media audit that allowed me to showcase potential ideas for OTC as a company. From there, I worked on creating social media stories for our Instagram. It was a rewarding job being able to scroll through our social media and see that I was able to contribute as an intern.
I was given the chance to fly to our headquarters in June to attend a Lean training course that lasted a week. I was excited to be independent and stay at a hotel for a week, something I had never done alone before. At the training, I was able to meet and make connections with all the interns at OTC from all different fields. This was the first time I had been able to see everyone in person and even got to spend time with the marketing team I had been working online with. I learned about efficiency and workflow in business, and how to work to your full potential.
Another positive outcome of the training was that I connected well with another intern, Kit Coffin, and we became good friends. Her role at OTC was with the Continuous Improvement team. We were able to collaborate and talk about our experiences at OTC and learn about each other’s roles.
“I really enjoyed my remote internship in Continuous Improvement at OTC Industrial,” Kit shared with me. “This role has allowed me the ability to be a part of meaningful projects and develop professionally in a flexible environment.”
Over the course of the summer, I achieved several of my intern learning objectives and gained skills that will stay with me long after this internship ends. These include:
Additionally, I had the opportunity to observe what a day in the life of a marketing manager actually involves. This gave me a perspective of just how much organization plays into the corporate world. I credit much of my experience here at OTC to the amazing digital marketing team I was able to work with, as well as my manager who guided me the entire way.
This internship opened my eyes to so many career opportunities in marketing I hadn't considered before. It made me excited to dive deeper into content strategy, brand development, and campaign planning. If you do not know what those mean, don’t worry — I didn’t either, until three months ago. Now, I have a well-rounded understanding. As someone still in college, it also helped me understand what kind of skills for my resume will truly matter after graduation.
As someone from a suburb of Chicago, I also got a small taste of what living in downtown Chicago post-graduation might be like, which is an added excitement to the idea of launching a career in this field.
All interns also received immense support from HR, making it a comfortable environment to ask questions and have open communication. Leslie McGowen, the Talent Acquisition Lead, made sure to meet with each intern and check in with us whenever we needed.
"Our internships at OTC aren't just about gaining experience—they're about making an impact. Our program allows our interns to tackle real-world projects that support our business goals and give them a chance to bring fresh ideas and new strategies to the table. We’re committed to supporting their growth, and it's incredibly rewarding to see their success as they develop their skills with us.”
Fall recruitment for positions at OTC starts very soon with internship positions opening in Marketing, IT, HR, Finance, Engineering, and Operations. They typically have 15-18 interns each summer across multiple segments in various states, with many in Columbus at the Corporate Headquarters. These internships can be onsite, hybrid work remote depending on the role.
So, if you are a college student looking for a chance to grow their knowledge and get real-world experience, then OTC is the company to apply to. Check out their LinkedIn and apply at careers.otcindustrial.com!