Pathlabs Accepting Applications for 2024 YourPath Internship Program
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Pathlabs recently opened applications for its 2024 cohort of YourPath interns.
As we eagerly watch applicants roll in, let’s discuss the internship further, catch up with our Director of Education, and hear from two past YourPath interns about their experience and road to becoming full-time media coordinators at Pathlabs.
What Is the YourPath Internship?
YourPath is Pathlabs’ proprietary training initiative, offering multiple layers of programming. These programs include our internal YourPath Academy and our YourPath course, hosted at the University of Montana College of Business, which recently celebrated its fourth consecutive year of instruction.
For the last program, the YourPath internship, we offer this three-month experience annually to a cohort of about five to six interns.
Applications for the internship open in March, and the finalized cohort begins in May, receiving initial training and then becoming active contributors to our agency partner campaigns.
This internship opportunity is not exclusive to those enrolled or graduates of the University of Montana; any aspiring digital media professionals can apply.
2023 YourPath Cohort's first day of internship.
Kyle Kienitz on YourPath: Internship Outlook
Throughout the experience, the YourPath interns will report to Kyle Kienitz, Pathlabs’ Director of Education. You may recognize Kyle from our other blogs, to which he is a common contributor!
Let’s hear Kyle’s take on the YourPath internship.
What does a YourPath internship entail?
This is an opportunity for those interested in digital media execution to better understand the nuts and bolts of our day-to-day operations at Pathlabs. This isn’t just some busy work internship; it is training that starts from day one and continues throughout.
Those who complete the internship have an excellent experience to add to their resume and LinkedIn. More importantly, newfound knowledge of campaign execution and account management, readying them for a launch into a fruitful career, wherever their next step is.
How will you manage the interns?
As the direct report for the YourPath interns, I will be with them every step of the way. I conduct their initial training, and after joining the service pods, I meet with them weekly to discuss challenges and lessons learned.
What will the day-to-day of this internship look like?
During their initial training, interns immediately begin drinking from the firehose of information as we onboard them and catch them up to speed with all things Pathlabs. The training prepares them for their subsequent integration into one of our service pods, where they perform tasks like trafficking, QA checks, performance monitoring, pulling data for analysis, research, and more for our campaigns.
What key attributes do you look for in quality interns?
Apart from an inherent desire to learn about digital media, I want proactive interns with solid communication. We look for candidates we can trust to get their work done and communicate every step of the way if they need support.
But the proactivity doesn’t stop there. If they finish their work early, we expect them to be ready to provide extra bandwidth, explore our enormous internal resource archive, and always look for new learning opportunities.
Insight from Past YourPath Interns
Now that you know more about the YourPath internship, let’s hear from two alums of the program, Kes Kewin and Sam Clevenger.
Both participated in the Summer 2023 YourPath cohort, and through their hard work, they eventually landed full-time positions as Media Coordinators at Pathlabs. If you should take notes, it is from them.
Kes Kerwin
2023 YourPath Intern
Spring 2023 University of Montana Graduate
Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing
What was your overall experience as a YourPath intern?
The experience was amazing! Everyone at Pathlabs was kind, helpful, and patient. Kyle is an incredible teacher, and the training courses we completed still help me to this day with my tasks as an MC. I also made new friends through the internship program, a huge bonus.
How did you land a YourPath internship?
I attribute earning this internship to getting face-to-face time with the company's executives and managers. I reached out through LinkedIn and invited them to grab a coffee. I felt this action broke a vital digital barrier, as I could show who I was in “real life” while learning from the best at Pathlabs, who are generous and easy to talk to despite their intimidating status.
Kes presenting her final project for the YourPath course at the University of Montana prior to her internship in May 2023.
What surprised you about the internship? What was most challenging?
What surprised me was the willingness of Pathlabs’ employees to take me under their wing as an intern. Everyone I met was more than happy to let me help out with tasks and jump on projects. The most challenging part was moving through the training; it was lengthy but absolutely worth it.
How did the internship serve as a stepping stone for your current position at Pathlabs?
The internship prepared me for the unknown! Most, if not all, of the questions and fears I had about joining a company like Pathlabs were answered by taking the internship. I greatly advocate for internships because you can prove yourself and test the waters to see if a company fits you.
What advice do you have for those pursuing a YourPath internship?
My advice for working and succeeding at Pathlabs is never to get too comfortable with where you’re at. The company offers incredible benefits and flexibility, but if taken for granted, you will fall behind. Digital marketing is fast-paced and requires extreme attention to detail and discipline. Pathlabs is successful because everyone here has a thirst for knowledge and self-improvement.
Samantha Clevenger
2023 YourPath Intern
Fall 2023 University of Montana Graduate
Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems
What was your overall experience as a YourPath intern?
My internship was very hands-on, which was perfect, as it’s the best way I learn! I gained so much knowledge within three short months, and the experience solidified what I wanted my future career to look like.
How did you land a YourPath internship?
Show your personality while interviewing. So many people have the exact same degree, so who you are as a person will stick out more than what’s on your resume. Don’t be afraid to reach out and introduce yourself before the interview, too!
Samantha (in yellow), facilitating Q&A with Pathlabs experts during final presentation for YourPath course.
How did the internship serve as a stepping stone for your current position at Pathlabs?
The internship let me show my abilities and work ethic; with the relationships/network I established during the internship, the next step consisted of conversations expressing my interest and desire to work with Pathlabs, and here I am!
What surprised you about the internship? What was most challenging?
The complexity of the digital media industry surprised me. It is so large and changes constantly. This made it difficult to remember all the acronyms - a cheat sheet was necessary.
What advice do you have for those pursuing a YourPath internship?
Be curious. If you want to land the internship, do the homework beforehand. Learn about our company and the industry we operate in. Prepare to jump into the pods and assist in work that impacts active campaigns. Ask questions to stretch your knowledge even further - it’s exciting and challenging all at once in the best possible ways!
In Conclusion…
If you are ready to apply for a YourPath internship, what are you waiting for? You can find the application here. For those wanting to learn more about the YourPath program and what else it offers, check out our YourPath webpage and connect with us on social media.