Welcome to the world of media sales, where every day is a new adventure! Creating an effective internship program is crucial for nurturing the next generation of sales professionals. With sales being a competitive market, your internship program at your station must have the tools in place to not only attract them but also keep them after the internship is over. To help, we have put together these 7 steps to get you started on the path to creating an effective program for your station.

Step One: Set Clear Objectives

Before an intern steps foot in your station, it is important to define what you want to achieve with your sales internship program. Are you aiming to provide hands-on sales experience? Do you want to create relationships with colleges and universities? Having clear objectives will guide your program’s development and ensure its success.

Step Two: Design Engaging Training

Learning should be fun, right? Create training sessions that are not only informative but also engaging. Use online training tools such as the Ten-Minute Trainer Network and real-life scenarios to make the learning experience exciting and memorable.

Step Three: Provide Real-World Experience

Interns want to be as hands-on as possible. Plan to have them shadow different members of your sales team and allow them to go to client meetings and participate in creating and delivering sales pitches. The more they get involved, the more they’ll learn to love being a media seller.

Step Four: Encourage Mentorship and Support

Internships can be daunting, especially in the fast-paced world of media sales. Pair each intern with a mentor who can provide guidance, support, and feedback throughout the program. Providing a mentor gives them someone to rely on and helps them feel like they belong in your organization.

Step Five: Evaluate and Improve

After each internship cycle, take the time to evaluate what worked well and what could be improved. Ask for feedback from your interns to identify areas for growth and enhancement. Doing this will ensure your station’s program will stay relevant and impactful.

Step Six: Make Sure the Experience is Fun

Plan team-building activities, organize social events, and create a positive work environment that encourages creativity and collaboration. A fun internship experience is a memorable one!

Step Seven: Celebrate Success

Finally, don’t forget to celebrate the achievements of your interns! Whether it’s a certificate of completion, a recognition ceremony, or a simple thank you note, acknowledging their hard work and dedication goes a long way in building a positive experience.

Developing an effective media sales internship program requires a blend of creativity, dedication, and a sprinkle of fun. By setting clear objectives, designing engaging training, providing real-world experience, fostering mentorship, evaluating, and improving, infusing fun into the experience, and celebrating success, you’ll create a program that not only educates but also inspires the next generation of media sales superstars.