The Ecolink internship gave me valuable life and career experience and ended up exceeding all of my expectations. Not only did I learn new skills, but had the opportunity to nurture preexisting ones. My two points of contact during the Ecolink internship were easily accessible and always responded to my questions in a timely manner. Even though I didn’t have much interest in the chemical industry, I found myself proud to be working for a company whose sustainable beliefs aligned with my own. It made every blog post I wrote feel purposeful and enjoyable when I knew that I was helping the company achieve its dream of a greener future. 

I participated in Ecolink’s summer 2021 internship, which was fully remote. It gave me the flexibility to work when I wanted, where I wanted, and how much I wanted. I chose to work between thirty to forty hours a week and ended up writing over one hundred blog posts. I appreciated how flexible and consistent the workload was, which was especially nice during the summer when my course load isn’t as heavy. 

What I Learned 

As an English technical communication major, I was excited to have the opportunity to write blog posts and help create other creative content for Ecolink. With the assistance of the internship directors, I learned how to utilize SEO to make what I was writing stand out on Google and other search engines. I also learned how to…  

• Conduct keyword research 
• Use meta tags and descriptions 
• Optimize my writing for Google 
• Use Google analytics 

• Find chemical suppliers and manufacturers 
• Create engaging product names 
• Structure blog posts 

My favorite part about the internship was how much free rein I had to write creative and intriguing content that otherwise may not have seemed as such. I wrote about everything from gutter cleaning to cannabis extraction. It was a challenge at times, but it made me look at these topics from a unique perspective in order to create blog posts with engaging content. This not only made me a better technical writer but gave me more knowledge on relevant scientific topics I might not have learned without this internship.  

Recommendations 

Since the Ecolink internship was remote, all of our communication was done virtually. Whether it was messages or video meetings, I always felt like I could reach out at any time and receive an answer back quickly. The only area of the “remoteness” that I would’ve changed was consistently meeting on video chat more often to go over our submitted blog posts and receive extra feedback on our keywords and SEO. Regardless, the sessions that we did have were informative and constructive.  

Main Take Away 

During my time with Ecolink, I felt like a valued employee. Carolyn and Hannah were supportive and appreciative of all the work we interns did for the company. It made me feel like what I wrote had a purpose. Since learning more about SEO, I’ve found myself gravitating towards digital marketing and content creation, and hope to utilize the skills I’ve picked up here with me in any future jobs I have.  

If anyone is looking to get paid to write quality content, have a great support system, a flexible schedule, and learn something new, then apply to this internship.  

For more information about Ecolink’s internships and how to apply click here!

Did the Internship Meet My Expectations? 

The Ecolink internship did meet my expectations! I was a little nervous at first because it was my first internship and I wanted to do well, and it was incredibly helpful that everyone was very nice, understanding, and supportive. I also found that I learned many things about myself and also about the skills I needed to succeed in the workplace in the future.  

Learning Experience 

I would definitely say that the internship was a big learning experience for me. I learned about Search Engine Optimization and also about Google Analytics. Both of those are important to understand regardless of what writing field you go into. I also learned how to set goals for myself and how to keep a timesheet that didn’t involve punching in and punching out every day for a scheduled amount of time. I learned more about how to research keywords and how to properly format a blog post!  

Changes 

The Ecolink internship was fun and a learning experience and there is very little I would change. The Teams meetings were helpful and the messaging on Teams also helped me contact someone quickly and reply quickly about any questions.  

If I were to make a change, I would probably make a general sheet that was separate from the rolling agenda to put general information on. It would include things like assignment days and due-days for blogs, directions on how to read an assignment spreadsheet, and various Q and A material. This would help people who forgot things that were gone over verbally or who absorbed information better in a written format. It would also be a handy thing to check back on so fewer questions would have to be sent and answered. 

Favorite Parts 

My favorite part of the internship was probably researching eco-friendly topics. I am an ecologically conscious person and so finding solutions to problems or highlighting safer alternatives to traditional practices made me feel like I was making a difference in informing others. I also liked learning about plant extraction. I have long loved plants and I grow my own herbs and teas so learning more about how oils are made and plant extracts come about was exciting to me!  

I had a lot of fun learning about the uses of chemicals and growing professionally during this internship. I feel better equipped for the job market and I also feel like I know myself better regarding how I function best and what my needs are, and I can apply that knowledge to improving both my writing and myself!  

For more information about Ecolink’s internships and how to apply click here!