All of us at Frause were so excited about starting a blog; we spent hours fighting over who would be responsible for the content. We drew straws, played rock paper scissors, even thumb wrestled for the honor. It turns out our interns have some strong thumbs (not to mention opinions). They also have the best opportunity to provide a “fly on the wall” look into the workings of Frause. Without further ado, we present Frause – through the eyes of our interns!

Monday, April 26, 2010

An Intern's Perspective: Big vs. Small Agencies

It has been one month now, and I have truly come to appreciate my internship and Frause for everything it has to offer. As I make the final moves before graduation, I have been doing my best to research different agencies and what I would enjoy most. After having several informational interviews over the last few months in the Portland area, and now having worked in an agency, I’ve noticed some of the differences that were discussed in my interviews with regard to big versus smaller agencies. Here is what I have noticed:

1. Smaller agencies can allow you to connect personally with more of the staff

A smaller agency allows you more opportunities to get to know the entire firm. You learn their strengths and weaknesses, and they learn yours. Just this week I had Bob Frause, the CEO, compliment me on my first blog post. With any intern experience you will become familiar and comfortable with the people around you, but at a bigger agency you may never spend time with the senior-level staff, which can be frustrating for some.

2. Smaller agencies can give you the chance to watch the development of a project or campaign

One complaint I have heard from others, is how working at a bigger agency sometimes won’t allow you to see the direct results of your work. At Frause, I will have the chance to watch a public relations campaign unfold from beginning to end. By the time I finish my internship, I will see the final result of our work, which is rewarding and looks great for my portfolio and a résumé.

3. A smaller agency can allow for more face time with a client

With bigger agencies, many interns may never have the opportunity to meet a client face-to-face. Since interning, I have met two different clients and sat in on two different client meetings. It’s been a great experience and I feel lucky to have the trust and respect of the Frause employees to give me this great opportunity.

That being said, no two internships or agencies are the same, and each person will have a unique experience, but hopefully this can help give a better understanding of how agencies can differ from each other.

More to come next week!

- Casey Colesworthy

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