What the Storage Scholars Interns Are Up to Right Now

College Students have always been the core of Storage Scholars! Not only are they the ones who benefit from our Summer Storage and Ship to School Program, but they are also running the show on their campuses! While the HQ team keeps the company running throughout the year, our student interns make the magic happen during busy seasons and the weeks leading up to it. You might be thinking, "What could a student moving company possibly do besides move boxes?" The answer: a LOT! We spend months interviewing and training our interns for six to eight weeks of non-stop busy. There is so much more to what they do than just moving boxes (in fact, they hire other students for that part!). They run the operation for all the students on their campus, which starts by marketing to them and their parents. We will dive into what our college interns are doing on their campus at this very minute as we enter our busiest time of the year. When you're finished reading, you'll not only be exhausted hearing about all that they do, but you'll have a newfound respect for the students behind those signature black tees! You may even consider sending in your application for next year to join their team.  

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Onboarding - After successfully making it through the application and interview process, and once they receive their offer letter, interns are onboarded which means they are given access to the internal systems to get a start on their training. They will likely meet much of the HQ staff at this time, virtually, as well as the other interns on their campus. 

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Completing Lessons in the LMS - Most interns have about eight weeks of learning modules to complete before "go-time." They log in daily to the Learning Management System (LMS) and complete the assignments as they appear. They earn points and badges, which can equate to bonuses if completed successfully and timely. 

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Tabling - There's no better way to get your name out there than to meet other students face to face. Interns set up tables at busy events on and off campus when they know other students (and often their parents) will be in attendance. They set up unique and attractive tables to draw in customers, tell them what Storage Scholars can do for them, and often sign them up on the spot.

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Chalking - Who doesn't love some good, old-fashioned sidewalk chalk!? It's fun, but did you also know that our interns use chalk as a marketing technique? Their colorful and artistic designs are strategically placed. They can be seen throughout campus by students and prospective customers, giving them bits of information about Storage Scholars and all the contact information to learn more. It is the perfect (and free) way to attract attention, except on rainy days. 

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Whiteboarding - Similar to chalking, interns find well-attended classrooms with lots of student traffic and strategically place marketing designs where they know students will sit and pay attention. 

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Flyering - Passing out flyers is one thing; designing, creating, printing, and strategically placing them throughout campus is another. Interns know if they want to attract customers, they need to market themselves, even when they aren't present. Eye-catching flyers are essential. And getting those flyers into the right hands can make or break their business. 

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Pitching - As part of their modules, all interns must pitch their business to a student organization on campus. To do so, they must find an organization willing and able to give them the time and platform to do so. Then they must put their marketing, speaking, and professionalism to work. For many interns, it's a scary and nerve-wracking part of their internship, but one that pays off in leaps and bounds. Not only does it drive customers to their business, but it also sets them up with real-world skills for their future careers. 

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Studying/Packing - That's right–as busy as these interns are, they are still students too. And that means they still have finals to study for and are also moving out of their dorms at the same time as their customers. They have to plan all of this around their already busy schedule. Pulling off what these interns do takes excellent time management and dedication!

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Checking in - As they get in the groove of completing daily tasks, interns are asked to virtually check in daily to their team channel. This lets others know when they're available for meetings or task completion. It also keeps them accountable for staying up to speed on any changes, updates, or information they might need within the larger company. They also meet weekly with their Campus Team Manager to see how they are progressing, overcome obstacles, set goals, and make a plan for the following week. 

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Hiring - The HQ team isn't the only one doing the hiring! Interns are expected to hire their own team to get the hard work done during moving season. They hire and manage a team of student movers from their campus. They hire friends, roommates, or just about anyone willing to work hard and make some extra cash!

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Social Media - Each campus team runs its own Instagram page. They encourage their customers to follow their page and share it with friends. They learn the ins and outs of social media marketing and how valuable it can be. Some also market their business on TikTok and other platforms. Many go above and beyond what is required of them, creating unique reels and videos to share with customers. Some even use their budget to sponsor ads. 

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Thinking outside the box - Anyone who has ever worked in a company with a "busy season" knows that things don't always go as planned. Whether heavy wind during an outdoor tabling session, movers not showing up to their shift, or figuring out how to attract more customers, there are always scenarios to test our interns! Thankfully we've hired the best out-of-the-box problem solvers we could find who can think on their feet and find solutions in the toughest of situations. 

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There you have it! As you can see, our interns are incredibly busy learning all the skills necessary to run a business (and it looks like they're having fun doing it!). Each campus we serve is unique, and thus each intern must adapt to the various environments and the students who attend their campus. Students get to see the results of their hard work as they set goals each week and crush them as they get closer and closer to the busy season. We wish all of our intern teams a successful busy season at Storage Scholars.

If this sounds like an internship for you, please visit our website to learn more about the opportunities that we offer, and send us your application today.

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