Welcome to Colabratory
The internship
to end all
internships.
days left to apply
How it
works
You'll live and breathe the real agency lifestyle.
For six weeks, you'll live and breathe the real agency life. Colaboratory's 9 partner agencies will choose their favorite interns, leaving you to work at 2 agencies for 3 weeks each. You'll dig into all sorts of projects, from kickoffs to brainstorms and presentations.
Split into two intern teams, you'll compete on a real client project.
Over the six weeks you'll hone your strategy, creative and presentation to perfection, then pitch it to the client and see who's the best. If it sounds like a reality show, it's probably because it should be one.
Did we mention it's paid?
Yes, with real money. You'll be compensated 37.5 hours a week at the Oregon minimum wage (which is second highest in the US).
Save the Dates
Applications due: Friday, April 26
Selected interns notified: May 10
Confirm acceptance: Friday May 17
Program: June 28 - August 14
Who
you'll
work for
Nicole Herinckx
Account Executive
HMH
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
The Falcon. Why? Well, because the Falcon stands for visionary power and wisdom. Also, because Falcons are awesome.
Who is your perfect intern?
Curious, engaged, outgoing, professional.
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
Give up.
Heather Schwartz
Senior Account Executive
Anvil
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
Velociraptor. We may look small but we crush our client's competition and come out victorious. Like the Velociraptor, Anvil is smart, fast moving and quick to adapt to any situation.
Who is your perfect intern?
Analytical, tech savvy, excited to learn, ready to dip your toes in the water with client/internal projects and mad softball skills is always a plus!
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
Have a bad attitude, feel entitled. Anvil is a team and we are looking for team players!
Erik Olson
Marketing Account Manager
The New Group
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
A carp. That's right, the fish. We're all about recognizing our clients, and that's why we created CARP: "Client Appreciation and Recognition Program". CARP is focused on enriching our client relationships, and helps us be great at what we do!
Who is your perfect intern?
Our perfect intern is eager, humble and hungry to hit the ground running. We want a jack of all trades, who has an expertise, but is motivated to learn about other roles. Be a rockstar. Remain humble. Show enthusiasm.
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
Not take initiative to meet others, ask questions, use our agency as a resource, or show readiness to join the conversation.
Sarah Prince
Media Director
Grady Britton
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
GB's very real spirit animal is the Griffin. The Griffin is the perfect hybrid; two pretty intense/proud/badass animals acting seamlessly as one. The Griffin represents all we value in business: honor, integrity, valor, and fearlessness. Plus, they were know for protecting nests made of gold. #bling
Who is your perfect intern?
They are unusually unafraid — to learn, and to fail. They say yes to every opportunity, and can create opportunity when it doesn't come to them on a silver platter. Funny, intelligent, "on."
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
The bare minimum. Or less. Other bad things: leaving dishes in sink, taking too long in the bathroom, being smelly, being a racist, being a smelly racist.
David Huecker
Marketing Manager
Frank Creative
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
The eagle. Creates with courage. Has talons.
Who is your perfect intern?
The Wolf (from Pulp Fiction). He solves problems and cleans up messes.
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
Think conventionally.
Sarah James
UX Architect
ISITE Design
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
The unicorn. Why? Because we're made of magic and can DO IT ALL!
Who is your perfect intern?
One who is energetic and has a deep-rooted love of learning. And someone who doesn't mind a bit of crazy, quality over quantity, and sometimes just flying by the seat of your pants.
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
Not ask any questions. Act like they are too good for something that might seem like a trivial task.
Mason West
Creative Director
SMITH
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
The Honey Badger: We chase jackals, run backwards and are just crazy.
Who is your perfect intern?
Walks with swagger. Enthusiastic collaborator. Fearlessly optimistic. Scoffs at "good enough." Always learning. Has donned a cape on at least one occasion. Proclivity for fine spirits.
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
Be a dick — which includes (but is not limited to) shirking responsibilities, letting ego stray into the vacuum of bravado, not asking for help when needed
Cindy Wade
CFO
Mutt Industries
What is your agency's spirit animal and why?
That's easy, it's a Mutt. Of any combination. A Mutt is scrappy & humble & resourceful & hardy.
Who is your perfect intern?
Someone who embodies the essence of a Mutt and who strives for "Beauty. Truth. Simplicity." in their work. (that's Mutt's motto)
What is the worst thing an intern can do?
Be arrogant or uncaring about the work.
Looking For
- Writers
- Designers
- Project Managers
- Strategists
Looking For
COLAB interns don't fit well in boxes. To succeed in this program, you have to bring a lot of stuff to the table, and be humble enough to pool those talents in the pursuit of greatness. The roles below provide focus — not limitations. Show us what you've got.
Writer (2 spots)
You love playing with words and ideas. You can do everything from 3 word taglines to 3,000 word website copy. You craft multimedia messages that grab attention and build customer relationships.
You're expected to
- Write. A lot.
- Help create and define concepts
- Be social media savvy
- Sell your ideas to the client
You might also...
- Have skills in video, photography and information architecture
- Be a charismatic presenter
Designer (4 spots)
You make beautiful things that express ideas and move people. You can do this across different media — print, websites, and can wield a variety of styles. You understand that how to marry a sense of art with commercial design.
You're expected to
- Know Adobe Creative Suite
- Articulate the rationale behind designs
- Help build a compelling visual client presentation
You might also...
- Dabble in front end web development (HTML, CSS, Java — HUGE brownie points for this one)
- Indulge other creative hobbies like video, photography or making physical stuff
Strategist (2 spots)
You don't just love ideas — you love ideas that make sense based on your client's business; the audience; the market. You'll do the lion's share of research and planning for the group — and think about how to get the most bang for your client's buck.
You're expected to
- Do research on your client's business and audience
- Provide recommendations and rationale for campaign activities & channels
- Contribute to the creative process — not just be a pundit or bean counter
You might also...
- Be a skilled creative writer, designer or some other wonderful things.
- Have a sense for PR
Project Manager (2 spots)
Even great creatives need someone to shepherd them through the process — and that's you. You know how to keep people on task and keep the project moving forward. And you do so like a life coach, not like a prison warden.
You're expected to
- Help define the project plan for your 6 week timeline
- Be responsible for hitting key milestones
You might also...
- Aspire to client-facing account management roles
Brianna
Erika
Erika Rattray
Position in COLAB:
Account Manager
COLAB Class: 2011
Now: Earning a degree
Best part of COLAB...
Learning! I learned so much from the guest speakers and the agencies I interned for. It was a crash course in advertising.
Scott
Michael
Andrew
Karly
Carrie
Alanna
David
Alec
Ken
Greg
Erin
Lincoln
Tim
Jason
Katie
Jenny
Jenny Stalder
Position in COLAB:
Public Relations
COLAB Class: 2009
Now works at: The New Group
Best part of COLAB...
Having the opportunity to work at several Portland agencies and see how each differentiates. Oh, and working with Columbia Sportswear!
Whitney
Kim
Megan
Heather
Heather Schwartz
Position in COLAB:
Account Manager
COLAB Class: 2008
Now works at: Anvil Media
Best part of COLAB...
Getting a job! Networking with 10+ agencies and interacting with the Portland ad community.