Specialist Program

I had an incredible experience interning with Online Optimism this summer as their Design + Development Specialist. Working closely with Creative Director Claire Escobedo and the entire creative team gave me the opportunity to grow tremendously as a designer. From leading social media calendar designs to contributing directly to client projects and even building a page for a client’s website, this internship gave me meaningful hands-on experience from day one. Online Optimism truly lives up to its motto of being “exceptionally helpful,” and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to learn from and work alongside such talented, supportive people!

As a Design and Web Dev Specialist, I had the opportunity to sharpen my design skills and explore new tools like Figma for wireframing, WordPress for site development, and After Effects for animation. Thanks to the incredibly supportive design team, I was encouraged to step out of my comfort zone and grow through constructive, thoughtful feedback.

What really makes Online Optimism’s Specialist Program stand out is the team behind it. Everyone at the company is incredibly supportive and helpful, which makes it easy to ask questions and be curious. Plus, the team cares deeply about helping you reach your personal goals. For example, when I expressed interest in gaining WordPress experience, my supervisor assigned tasks that helped me grow more confident with publishing blogs (which I can now do all by myself!). Ultimately, even when I felt challenged, I was excited to get to work and learn more!

Working as a specialist allowed me to do something that no other job offered: really spread my wings and learn about things that I never thought I would get the opportunity to learn about. Where most internships focused on the clerical things or the little things that the administration didn’t want to deal with, I felt like I was part of a team that valued me and my contributions. As the AI specialist, I received certifications, classes, and learning modules in high-value marketing tools, I was able to do real work for real clients in analytics and SEO monitoring, and I had fun. My only complaint is that it’s over.

I had the opportunity to work across departments at Online Optimism. I gained hands-on experience crafting blog content, writing website copy, designing social media graphics, and more for real clients and our company. I left this program with a well-rounded portfolio and the confidence to thrive in digital marketing! I am extremely grateful for the experience I had at Online Optimism!

Reflecting on my journey at Online Optimism, I can say that one of the greatest work values I learned was to “be exceptionally helpful.” It’s this idea that “You didn’t need to, but thank you for doing it” that has impressed the people I now work with – and I learned it from my coworkers at Online Optimism. I learned this quality from my supervisor, Meara McNitt, and by the examples set by the people I worked with as they exude this value in the dedication they show their clients, their coworkers, and to Online Optimism itself. Before my time at Online Optimism, I experienced several environments that were certainly not conducive to being driven and wanting to step up in my work. Not so at Online Optimism, where I wanted to achieve, to learn, to grow as a digital marketer and to do the best job I could for our clients.

My time at Online Optimism as a Digital Ads Specialist was a great opportunity to learn skills that made me a competitive candidate in the paid search field. I got hands-on experience with Google Ads, Analytics, and Data Studio, giving me an eye-catching portfolio. I also received interview training, as well as resume and portfolio tips. This played a key role in helping me land a position once I had completed the program. The Specialist program was a great opportunity for me and allowed me to get a job quickly. One of the best internships in the business!

As a Digital Design Specialist, I was able to work on a wide range of projects for a diverse clientele while also expanding my skills in Adobe AfterEffects, Photoshop, InDesign and WordPress. The program helped me strengthen my portfolio, resume and cover letter as well as prepare me for future job interviews so that I could successfully score a position with a company down the line. I’ve never felt more ready and excited to take the next steps in my career.

As a Summer Specialist, I wrote content for clients that was published in The Washington Post, Bustle, Elite Daily, CMSWire, Business Insider, and more. Online Optimism provided me with opportunities to learn and work closely with full-time employees, building both my skillset and portfolio.