“How did you get an internship at Monster Energy?!”
Well, I was in my second-to-last semester at Cal State Fullerton, and I needed a summer internship to complete my bachelor's degree that fall. My mom had sent me a flyer for the Monster Energy internship program from a friend who worked there. I was hesitant about it because I had never had a Monster Energy drink in my life or even an energy drink in general.
But I took the chance and applied. At the time, all I had to do was send in my resume to the provided email on the flyer. I didn’t know what positions were open or the requirements. I honestly didn't think I was going to hear back, but I did without even interviewing. (I know, so crazy!)
I still remember to this day when I got the call that I got the internship. I was at a burger place in town with a friend, and I remember seeing a number that was from the Corona area (Monster Energy’s headquarters is in Corona, CA). I answered the call, and it was an HR lady confirming my internship as a Communication Specialist intern. I was SO HAPPY!!!
Spoiler alert! This actually wasn't the position I ended up having when I started my internship, and thank goodness they switched me because I definitely would have been in the wrong position. I could see why they had placed me with the communications team, because I was getting my BA in communications.
They ended up switching me a week before the internship started to a Video Production intern. I was so happy because this position sounded more like what I was going to school for. I still didn’t know what the job entailed, but I was excited to start.
Fun fact: I ended up having my first Monster the night before my internship started. Yes, I couldn't sleep that night. I thought it was the nerves, but it was definitely the drink.
The first day of my internship was June 3rd, 2019. The first half of my day was orientation with all the other interns who got hired. If I remember correctly, there were around 50-60 interns. It was presentation after presentation, but it was the most entertaining orientation because of all the cool videos that were shown to us, learning all the cool things Monster is a part of, how the company is structured, etc.
My parking pass given out at orientation.
After orientation, I finally got introduced to the team that I was going to be joining for the next 3 months. The team was called StudioM. The team sits under the sales umbrella. So they provided videos to the company about what new drinks were coming out, how to position and sell those drinks, etc. Anything the salespeople needed a video for, they did.
The StudioM Team: Paul, Kayla, Ryan, Chris, Matt, Devon, Liam and Alexis
The sign that hangs right outside of the studio.
I learned so much from my internship. I learned how to use Adobe Premiere Pro for the first time, how to set up three-point lighting, how to create a camera package to go out on shoots, and so much more.
Beyond the technical skills, I learned how to work in a fast-paced corporate environment, communicate with multiple teams within the company, meet deadlines, and adapt quickly when projects changed. (Yes, this happened very often, so I definitely learned this lesson quickly.)
My internship was from June to August, and by the end of it, I was hired onto the team as a Video Production Specialist. This opportunity became the beginning of my professional journey, and I’m excited to share more experience and lessons in future blog posts. Stay tuned!
Have you ever had a Monster Energy drink? If so, which one is your favorite flavor? (they have sooo many!)
