{"id":3082,"date":"2025-08-01T15:17:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/?p=3082"},"modified":"2026-10-12T15:19:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T15:19:53","slug":"from-rejection-to-real-growth-my-unexpected-internship-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/blog\/from-rejection-to-real-growth-my-unexpected-internship-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"From Rejection to Real Growth: My Unexpected Internship Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first started searching for a second-year internship, I had no idea the process would test my resilience so deeply. Over 100 tailored applications later with most disappearing into the void I began to question whether I\u2019d find any opportunity at all. But sometimes, all it takes is one connection!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to a classmate who introduced me to XperienceSthlm, I landed an internship that not only fulfilled my academic requirement but ended up becoming one of the most formative experiences of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Entering the World of XperienceSthlm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

XperienceSthlm is a Stockholm-based startup that specializes in premium, culturally immersive tourism experiences. From private walking tours and curated events to a geography-inspired card game, the company aims to make local culture accessible and engaging particularly for internationals and expats. What sets them apart isn\u2019t just their product, it’s their multicultural, inclusive, and community-driven approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From day one, I was welcomed like a full team member. Whether it was casual chats with the founder, Francisca, or cross-functional brainstorming with colleagues from Sweden, Kenya, and Mexico, I found myself in a workplace that valued creativity, autonomy, and collaboration. I even had the surreal experience of seeing the King of Sweden and a Black Hawk helicopter near our office on my first week – talk about a memorable start!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learning a Platform: TikTok Strategy, Creation, and Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the company’s TikTok strategist, I managed everything from ideation and filming to editing and analytics. My challenge was to craft content that aligned with XperienceSthlm\u2019s brand while resonating with a younger, trend-sensitive audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the videos like the \u201cSwedish Girl Starter Pack\u201d and a spotlight on the Vasa Museum, contributing to a 207% growth in video views and a 380% increase in profile visits in just two months. It was incredibly rewarding to see how strategic creativity and a good understanding of platform culture could translate into real engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridging Product and Culture: Marketing a Card Game Product<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond TikTok, I played a role in shaping the launch strategy a travel-themed card game designed to educate and entertain. I collaborated with the design team on visual direction, target demographics, and teaser content. The project allowed me to apply theoretical frameworks like SWOT and segmentation in a real-world setting and it gave me a hands-on look at how startups build products from the ground up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lessons Beyond Marketing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What struck me most during this internship wasn\u2019t just the skillset I gained (though that list is long: content strategy, campaign planning, cross-cultural communication\u2026). It was the environment. Feedback was continuous, constructive, and growth-oriented. Whether it was advice on how to improve my presentation posture or encouragement to push creative boundaries, I always felt supported. The hybrid work model, flexible structure, and emphasis on trust showed me that productivity and humanity can and should coexist in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, adapting to this new environment wasn\u2019t without challenges. Coming from France, I wasn\u2019t used to having so much autonomy so early in my career. At XperienceSthlm, I had full ownership over projects from the start, which was both exciting and a little intimidating. Getting used to hybrid collaboration also took some adjusting, especially when it came to staying aligned and connected across different work styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of work, I expected to feel homesick but surprisingly, I mostly just missed the food. Having Gabriel around for part of the internship and building friendships along the way made a big difference. It was my first time living on my own in a foreign country, and while the Swedish weather was as grey as advertised, I adapted thanks to the support of my friends, the team, and Fran, who made sure I felt both included and empowered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this experience didn\u2019t solidify a career path for me, it gave me clarity about the kind of environments I thrive in: multicultural, agile, and human-centered. I\u2019m now curious to explore other fields like finance or consulting to compare and understand where my strengths and interests truly lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I do know is that this internship was more than a resume booster. It was an experience that helped me grow as a marketer, a team member, and a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a student struggling to find an internship, remember: it’s not always about the perfect plan. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from unexpected places and when they do, be ready to give it your all. You might just discover more than a job. You might discover what kind of professional and person you want to become.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I first started searching for a second-year internship, I had no idea the process would test my resilience so deeply. Over 100 tailored applications later with most disappearing into the void I began to question whether I\u2019d find any opportunity at all. But sometimes, all it takes is one connection! Thanks to a classmate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3082"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3086,"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3082\/revisions\/3086"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xperiencesthlm.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}