Rachel Sabotta ’25
Major: Web Design and Development 
Minor: Strategic Communication 
Big Rock, Illinois

Where are you interning and what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I am the Social Media and Digital Content Intern at Paradigm Digital Group in Noblesville, IN. I run the social media accounts for nine of our clients. Most clients are in truck driver training, trades and vocational training, and career colleges. Other than social media content, my day-to-day tasks, such as website updates, remarketing emails, Facebook events, etc., will vary.

How does this internship relate to your major?
Other than the skills this internship has taught me, it has related a lot to the material taught in my communication classes. For starters, I am in Digital and Social Media Marketing right now, and some parts that have stuck out to me are the aspects of SEO, types of advertising, and key terms of web performance. Design & Production for Strategic Communications taught me design principles and Interaction Design taught me the importance of thinking from the user’s perspective and creating the perfect journey.

What do you like most about your internship?
First, it is the work culture and the team. Everyone is super friendly, and since it is a small agency, everyone is friends with each other. Even as an intern, everyone makes you feel like part of the team, which is how it should be anywhere you intern. Second, my work at Paradigm matters, and it is valuable. My social media work is to drive lead numbers, which are nurtured and eventually converted to students by the school.

Without truck drivers or trade workers, our world would look significantly different. It would only take three days for the world to descend into chaos if there were no truckers. Truck drivers transport much of our food, lumber, and pharmaceuticals. The social media content I create promotes not only the schools but also the value of truckers and how it is a great career option with high pay, benefits, and extraordinary job security.

What project are you particularly proud of?
The project I am the proudest of is creating landing pages for a career college’s training programs. I started with a template that our graphic designer provided. I reworked the design and created something new that was well-received. Now, that template is used for multiple programs and is viewed by people looking to enroll in a career college program.

What are your career goals, and how is this internship preparing you? 
My ultimate career goal is to be a Full-Stack Web Developer, which takes learning and training. Working at Paradigm has taught me about the agency life and balancing multiple clients simultaneously. Not only do I need to plan and create social content in advance, but I also have other small side tasks for each client.

This internship has taught me the importance of organization and time management in an agency, which differs from managing school work or duties at a retail job. It has taught me about social media, target audiences, email remarketing, blogs, and more. These are all critical aspects of a brand and someone’s website.

What advice would you give another student looking for an internship?
My first tip is not to give up when searching for an internship. It is challenging to stay determined when other people around you have already secured a position. I searched LinkedIn, Handshake, Indeed, and Google almost daily for open positions. Overall, stay motivated and believe in yourself, and you will find great success.