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Two Marketing Interns Engaged in a Discussion

Our Philosophy​

At NextLevel Thinking, our hiring philosophy is really quite simple. We have a deep desire to bless those that come to work with us, and a hope for them to bless us in unexpected ways. With that unique expectation, it’s amazing to see what happens to the individuals involved and for our team as a whole. This idea is really what drives us and our intern program.

Intern Program Guiding Principles​

A number of years ago, we decided to start a summer intern program at our firm. In order for this to be a meaningful endeavor for us and our interns, we established five guiding principles that have served us well over the years.

Marketing Interns Capturing Photos, Working on a Practical Project Outdoors

They are as follows:

Illustration of an onboarding session, with interns learning the company's values and purpose

Deliver An On-Boarding Meeting

This ensures that everyone starts on the same page and that our interns understand our organizational purpose of challenging organizations to discover who they are, understand what business they are actually in, and confidentially articulate their why. This effort really seems to pay off as the summer progresses.

graphic of interns engaging in real work assignments for practical job experience

Provide Real Work Assignments

Providing real work is the most important principle of our program because it gives interns a true sense of what a job is going to be like once they graduate from college. That’s why we call our intern program Your Thoughts Count.

graphic of interns in a meeting, highlighting the importance of client engagement

Encourage Client Interaction

The real work mentioned in point number one often entails client interaction. Our interns almost always have the opportunity to showcase their work in front of our clients. They are sometimes nervous prior to and during these presentations, but the confidence they gain during these exchanges is unbelievably valuable for them going forward.

graphic of interns collaborating and participating actively in a team meeting, indicating an inclusive work culture

Facilitate Team Interaction

Our interns hit the ground running from the very beginning. They are included, and encouraged, to participate in all internal team meetings, as well as those client meetings where their involvement is on-going.

Graphic showing a marketing intern receiving structured feedback

Deliver Feedback

Our official feedback process is called Hang Time. We aim to give our interns ongoing encouragement and feedback along the way, and we also conduct Hang Time with them at the end of the summer. We focus on two important questions: let’s discuss your areas of greatness, and let’s discuss areas, that if worked on, would make you even more spectacular.

Icon of a Magnifying Glass Denoting the Investigation Phase of Our Brand Building Methodology

Investigation

Icon of an Eye Denoting the Visualization Phase of Our Brand Building Methodology

Visualization

Icon of a Lightbulb Denoting the Realization Phase of Our Brand Building Methodology

Realization

Icon of a Handshake Denoting the Collaboration Phase of Our Brand Building Methodology

Collaboration

Quotes from Our Awesome Interns

How would you describe what it is like to intern at NextLevel Thinking?

It feels like a work family. I enjoy the size of our team, and it allows us to develop relationships with one another. The relational foundation of our firm facilitates open and effective communication. We engage with each other honestly, whether that be through constructive feedback or rejoicing in each other’s achievements. It always feels genuine.”

It’s like joining a family where everyone loves marketing just as much as you do! The NLT team constantly works to bring their clients to the “Next Level,” so it motivated me to think at the next level too.

I would describe working at NextLevel Thinking as a goal-oriented job. Client success is always their top priority. The amount of thought and hard work that goes into everything they do for their clients shows how they work intentionally and with 100% effort. I think that working with NLT has taught me how important it is to not only just get work done, but to really understand the client and listen to their needs.”

NLT provides unique experiences that aren’t typically offered in standard internships. This includes participating in leadership discussions with clients, handling significant tasks, and playing a role in crucial decision-making processes.

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Eric Poerschke

Eric Poerschke

In another life, I’m pretty sure I was a psychologist!

What’s the most inspiring part of your job?

My absolute best days are when we’re able to help a client see their business differently. It’s usually at this point when things begin to take off and the effectiveness of what we can do for them begins to be realized both internally and externally in a very powerful way.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is don’t get too high on the highs and too low on the lows. This advice was from my high school basketball coach.
If you could possess one super-human power, what would it be?

I think it would be so cool to be able to fly. The different vantage points would be amazing and the ability to get places quickly would be awesome.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

As a young fella, I probably wanted to be the usual things like a policeman, fireman, etc. But from high school on, I have always wanted to own my own business. In graduate school, my buddies were sure that I would make a living helping people/organizations see things from a different perspective. They were right!

What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team of superstars?

Be prepared to deliver absolute excellence, while being part of a very caring, results-oriented, drama-free work environment.

What one food do you wish had zero calories?

There are a whole bunch of food categories that I wish had zero calories. If I had to pick one, it would definitely be tortilla chips with guacamole, chili con queso and/or salsa.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

My favorite thing to do, by far, is to hang out with my family…Tracy, Erin, Trey and Kyle. My peeps!

Which of the three NextLevel Thinking core values resonates the most with you?

I think giving the client what they need, not just what they want really defines NextLevel Thinking. We have seen some extraordinary results from those clients that have really embraced this collaborative approach.