Summer Intern Profile Series: A Conversation with Annie McDonald

Welcome back to our Summer Intern Profile Series, where we give you a sneak peek inside our internship program. During our last intern profile, we introduced Alexandra Dodge, J.Jill’s Finance intern. Today, we would like to introduce you to Annie McDonald, our Brand Marketing intern. Annie is a rising senior at Elon University majoring in Strategic Communications and minoring in Sociology.

J.Jill: Thank you so much for meeting with us today! To start things off, what drew you to J.Jill?

Annie: What initially attracted me to J.Jill is their strong core values, which center on appreciating the totality of women and empowering them through clothing. I come from a long line of strong and hardworking women, so as I began applying to internships, J.Jill stood out to me. Though I haven’t been here long, I love the work environment that J.Jill fosters. Every person I have met thus far has been nothing short of amazing, and I feel truly supported by everyone, whether they are on my team or not.  

J.Jill: Can you tell us a bit more about your day-to-day routine at J.Jill?

Annie: I would say every day looks a little bit different! I work closely with Bojura, our Senior Communications Specialist. Our tasks range from pulling the weekly or monthly social performance reports, conducting social audits of our competitors, to shooting content in-store. The Brand Marketing team has consistently ensured my inclusion in discussions and meetings. I have had the opportunity to partake in research involving organic or paid social strategies, PR, and influencer engagements.

Alongside my marketing team responsibilities, the cross functional intern project and presentation is something I work on throughout the week. I've been fortunate to join J.Jill during a very exciting time, with new initiatives and campaigns on the horizon. I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with such talented individuals thus far and I am looking forward to learning as much as I can from them in the coming weeks!  

J.Jill: We’re thrilled to have you on the team! In addition to the intern project, are there any other projects you are looking forward to working on during your time here?

Annie: A relevant project that I am particularly enthusiastic about being a part of is the influencer collective. J.Jill’s influencer program features five influencers who will work with us consistently over the next year, which is something J.Jill has never done before. I am eagerly anticipating witnessing its potential impact on J.Jill's brand awareness. Getting to peek behind the scenes of influencer collaborations is an opportunity I'm very grateful for!

J.Jill: We cannot wait to see what the marketing team and influencers come up with! Is there anyone who inspires you at J. Jill?  

Annie: While I haven’t been at J.Jill for very long, I am constantly inspired by the women I work with daily. I want to specifically recognize everyone on the marketing team. Being in an environment with incredibly smart women who are forward thinkers and passionate about what they do has impacted me tremendously.

It isn't often that you see a for-women, by-women business so I truly am grateful for this opportunity. I intend to make the most of my team members' knowledge and experience throughout this summer, and I hope that by the end of this program I can inspire them in some way too!

J.Jill: We’re delighted to hear that! At J.Jill, we are committed to empowering and supporting women for all of who they are. Can you describe how you’ve grown professionally since you started working here?

Annie: During my brand marketing internship thus far, I've experienced significant growth. Coming into this, I did not have much experience working in an office setting, nor being a part of real-world scenarios and hands-on projects. My team makes sure I’m not just doing idle busy work, and that each task that I've been given is important and has meaning - which is sometimes hard to find in a company as a brand-new intern.

Additionally, collaborating with cross-functional teams has not only enhanced my communication and teamwork abilities but also broadened my perspective on effective brand strategies across multiple departments. By the end of this summer, I hope to emerge more confident and capable of navigating the marketing world, as well as the corporate world in general. I can already tell this internship will be instrumental in shaping my career trajectory and will equip me with the tools and experience necessary to excel in the field of marketing in the future. 

J.Jill: To conclude our interview, what’s the best piece of career advice you have received and what advice would you offer someone who wants to get into your line of work?

Annie: The best career advice I have received would be to build relationships with those around you and to always stay curious. While it's no secret that connections are vital to getting into the job market, I also just find genuine friendships in the workplace create a positive work environment. They not only make you look forward to going to work but also strengthen those connections.  

My advice for those entering my field is to seek diverse experiences wherever possible! With the job market being so competitive, finding a job or internship where you can gain valuable marketing knowledge, especially with limited experience, can be challenging. Apply to as many places as you can, and don't be picky; any experience is beneficial, especially in your chosen field. Stay persistent, believe in your capabilities, and what you have to offer. Most of all, be yourself! People have a way of knowing if someone is authentic or not, so be sure to stay true to who you are as you move forward in the corporate world.  

Thank you, Annie, for the conversation! In our next intern profile, we will be meeting with Emma Evans, our Store Operations intern.