Oakland University Internship - Creative
About the role
SSDM is a growth marketing agency in Troy, Michigan. Our purpose is to become our clients’ most valuable partner, growing ourselves so we can grow those around us. Interns work alongside experienced professionals and contribute to meaningful agency assignments.
How We Work
Fearless Failure: We explore, test, learn and try again. Team members are encouraged to share ideas, accept useful feedback and treat mistakes as information that improves the next attempt.
Radical Transparency: We communicate directly and put relevant information on the table, especially when conversations are difficult. Everyone has the opportunity and responsibility to speak honestly and respectfully.
Safety and Trust: Our environment supports candid participation, thoughtful experimentation and accountability. We value growth over comfort and expect team members to listen, contribute and follow through.
The Opportunity
The Creative Intern contributes to the production side of our agency. This internship is designed for someone who enjoys creating and wants practical experience with content, design, websites, social media and the tools used to deliver digital marketing work.
- Focus: Content, creative production and digital marketing execution
- Location: In person at SSDM in Troy, Michigan
- Commitment: Minimum of 12 weeks and 150 total hours, approximately 12.5 hours per week
- Compensation: Academic credit is available. The initial internship is unpaid. Strong performance may lead to paid hours or a paid extension based on business need, but paid work is not guaranteed.
- Internship Periods: Winter, January through early April, and summer, May through early August, based on business need
- Supervision: An experienced SSDM professional will be assigned as the intern’s site supervisor before the internship begins
What You Will Do
- Assist with copywriting for blogs, social media posts, emails, landing pages and downloadable resources
- Research keywords, topics, audiences, competitors and industry trends
- Help create and optimize content for search engines and target audiences
- Support social media calendar planning, writing, scheduling and implementation
- Assist with website content updates and basic quality assurance in WordPress or another content management system
- Support creative production based on skill level and project needs
- Review and QA website updates for accuracy and functionality
- Contribute to SSDM’s internal marketing and other agency priorities as assigned
What You Will Learn
- How strategy moves into briefs, production, review, revisions and launch
- How agency teams create content across multiple channels while maintaining brand consistency
- How SEO, analytics and audience insights influence creative decisions
- How to use professional feedback to strengthen writing, design and digital work
- How quality assurance, deadlines and documentation support reliable execution
Qualifications
- Junior or senior pursuing a degree in marketing, advertising, public relations, journalism, communications, graphic design, web development, media arts or a related field
- Strong writing, editing, design or digital production skills relevant to your area of interest
- Basic knowledge of social media and digital marketing
- Experience with WordPress, Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, video-editing software or email platforms is helpful but not required
- Portfolio or work samples are encouraged for candidates interested in design, video, web or writing assignments
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to review work carefully before submission
- Ability to work independently while asking for direction when needed
- Driven, curious, reliable, motivated and receptive to direct feedback
Internship Structure and Support
- Interns complete professional assignments related to communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or digital media while receiving training and mentorship from an experienced SSDM professional.
- Each internship has established beginning and ending dates aligned with the applicable academic semester and includes at least 150 hours over 12 weeks.
- Oakland University CJPR interns must maintain a time log. The SSDM site supervisor will review and sign the log for submission to the Internship Advisor at the midpoint and end of the semester.
- SSDM will complete Oakland University’s midpoint evaluation at six weeks and final evaluation at 12 weeks while providing constructive feedback throughout the internship.
- Assignments will help interns develop professional work samples for an online portfolio. SSDM will review and approve all client-related work before it is shared publicly.
- SSDM will provide the materials and tools required for assigned work. Interns will not be asked to incur out-of-pocket expenses.
- Work will be completed at SSDM’s office or during an approved off-site assignment.
What Success Looks Like
Successful interns arrive prepared, ask thoughtful questions, communicate early when they need help and complete their work with care. They accept direct feedback, demonstrate steady improvement and earn greater responsibility through reliability and initiative.
*All application questions must be completed to be considered for an interview.
