Victoria Vlisides
Josh Clark
Cara O'Brien
Inside:
Internship Overview (A)
Internship qualities: What businesses want (B)
Student and alumnae stories of internship experience (C)
Internship Etiquette Tips (D)
C. Real Life Experience with Internships: The good and the bad
Cara O‘Brien
Any job can have its positive and negative aspects; the same applies for an internship. Although internships provide students with valuable hands-on experience, important contacts and a greater potential for hire, the overall experience isn’t always rewarding.
Advertising major Jameson Jones* had his first internship experience the summer after graduation. Jones joined a large Madison marketing/ad firm as an integrated marketing intern. It was a summer internship where he thought he would be working with graphic artists to integrate merchandising/marketing ideas.
“It seemed promising in the beginning,” he said. “I was given a long-term assignment within the first few weeks of working there. I felt good, like I was doing something important.” In the end, Jones was excused from the internship after only 3 months and was not offered a job. The assignment Jones was given seemed to be “brushed aside” he said, and was as if it was only given to keep him busy. Overall, Jones concluded it was a disappointment. He later said he could have improved upon a few things that would have made his experience a better one. The first aspect he could have improved upon was his attitude. He came into the internship really excited, but then began to get “a little cocky.” He said he should have treated the internship less like a class and more like a job. Secondly, he said he had always felt underdressed at the job, but didn’t really have the money to get new clothes. He said not always looking his best may have affected his chances of getting the job after the internship.
But not all internships are like this. Some people are blessed with such rewarding internships that they open up opportunity for employment to not only that particular company, but with several others.
Katie Annes,* who graduated in interpersonal communications, was hired as a student researcher for a market research company during her senior year. Her experience was so invaluable, she left with three job offers from major companies like Walgreens and Target. “I knew I was doing important work,” she said. “Although I never worked with clients like I always wanted to, I was providing important information for their potential businesses.”
She worked as an intern for about a year and became lead student researcher, which helped her land the several job offers after graduation last spring.
Senior multimedia major Sebastian James* found his opportunity from a Communication department professor. “[Professor] Jim Mead announced in class that there was an internship for video editing,” James. “I showed him my portfolio and he helped me get in contact with the company.” James began the internship in the summer of 2008 and is expected to graduate in May 2009. His company offered him a full-time job upon graduation as a videographer.
*Name has been changed upon request of students in the section, “Real Life Experience with Internships: The good and the bad”
