About two dozen college students and mid-career professionals spent Friday at KPS3, shadowing the agency’s mentors for a real day-in-the-life look at marketing and communications work. It was KPS3’s ninth externship session since the program launched in 2022.
The timing matters. Unemployment for recent grads ages 22-27 hit 5.2% in September 2026, compared to 4% for all workers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Externs kicked off at KPS3’s office then shadowed staff in account services, creative, PR, growth marketing and web development, with time for networking and lots of questions.
“Traditional internships are amazing, but there are so few opportunities and most are already spoken for,” said Rob Gaedtke, president and CEO of KPS3. “This one-day externship is open to anyone who applies. It gives students and professionals a crash course in agency life and a look at the many roles within it. Selfishly, it also gives KPS3 an early connection to emerging talent.”
A single externship day reaches far more people than one or two interns ever could. KPS3 sets expectations up front: no course credit, no guaranteed job offer and no promised portfolio piece. What the agency does promise is a team that shares knowledge and experience to help others get a leg up in the industry.
The model is working. More than 150 externs have taken part since 2022. Three have joined KPS3 as staff, and five “boomerang” externs have come back for another session.
In a competitive job market, professionals need more than classroom experience to help them stand out. The KPS3 staff are here to connect, talk shop and offer guidance as people navigate the job market.”
Anyone interested in a future externship can sign up at KPS3.com.
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