NEW BRIGHTON, MINN. – While classroom learning provides necessary tools for careers, college courses are often missing one major component in preparing students for the working world – real-life experience.

To help fill the gap and in addition to kicking off a student agency that includes 16 student employees working within the agency, Risdall Marketing Group (RMG) recently hosted its 3rd annual Intern-for-a-Day event.

On Friday, Feb. 9, RMG opened its New Brighton-based doors to over 30 area college students as paid interns for one day, allowing them to job shadow employees, break into mentor sessions, participate in client brainstorms and earn a paycheck for their time.

“By bringing students on board as interns for a day, they’re getting hands-on, agency experience,” said John Risdall, CEO and COO, RMG. “And we’re able to tap into their youthful brilliance while generating innovative ideas for our clients. It’s as win-win situation.”

Students from Bethel, Concordia-St. Paul, Northwestern, St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota spent the day job shadowing RMG employees and attending mentoring sessions where they were able to gain insight on the profession and ask questions about entering the advertising industry.

They were also able to put their classroom knowledge to use in brainstorming sessions for RMG clients like Twin Cities Originals (TCO) and Taymark.

“The students offered a fresh perspective and cultivated a wide variety of creative ideas,” said John Schiltz, TCO president and RMG client, who attended intern day. “It was a learning experience for both the students and our organization, as TCO is in the process of revamping its Web site.”

Just like any full day of client work, the interns were given a paycheck for their time, hard work and enthusiasm.

“We all left last Friday with a really good idea of how Risdall runs, which doesn’t normally happen on the typical ‘agency tour’,” said Hannah Meium, a senior at St. Thomas. “Being immersed in the agency for the entire day let us see the integration at Risdall. It seems like this is, or at least should be, a growing trend in this business.”

About Risdall Marketing Group
Founded in 1972 as Risdall Advertising Agency, Risdall Marketing Group has annual capitalized billings of $153 million and over 60 employees. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minn., Risdall is heralded as one of the oldest and most successful agencies in the Twin Cities market and is recognized nationally for its leading-edge interactive marketing capabilities. The full-service agency embraces an integrated approach offering marketing, advertising, public relations, promotion and collateral development, traditional and interactive media, research and fundraising capabilities.

###

* Editor’s Note: More details to follow regarding the Student Agency at RMG. Please contact Anne Cloeter at anne@risdall.com, 651.286.6746, for more information in the meantime.