Reflecting on an internship

In college, there are various ways that students can become well-rounded and acquire new skills outside of the classroom to help prepare for a job after graduation. Student organizations give students a chance to attend meetings and work with other members in planning and executing events and conducting fundraisers. Greek organizations get involved in community service on and off campus and offer students a chance to network with past and present members of the chapter.

While those are great ways to learn new skills and network, when it comes to getting real work experience in your field of study before graduating, internships are the way to go. An internship is practical experience in a potential career field. They are designed to help students understand the "real world" applications of their studies. The purpose of an internship is to bridge the gap between what is learned in the classroom and the world of work.

As a student currently interning as the marketing intern for ARAMARK Higher Education, aka Campus Dining, I want to share my experiences trying to find an internship, my experience as an intern and other general information about internships.

I started looking for an internship last fall semester. One of my first chances to get a feel on the opportunities out there was the Career and Job Fair last September, which I figured would be a good bet since there were around 75 employers present. During my time there, I had a chance to express my interest in interning with approximately seven company representatives who were with companies I felt would offer me an opportunity to gain experience in the marketing field. After the event, I sent follow-up emails and phone calls to express interest.

After that, my internship search was on the backburner as I became victim to the stresses of trying to keep my scholarship. In January before the workload of another semester kicked in, I looked for internships with advertising agencies in Baton Rouge. I also searched for internships on www.internships.com and went to Southeastern's Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management website to find what internships students have done in the past. I revised my resume and sent it out with the help of a connected relative. After all that, I received no internship offers the whole semester.

Then, the week after finals, my luck changed as I had an interview with a company representative from the career fair who worked at ARAMARK and an interview with the East Baton Rouge Parish Recreation and Park Commission. After interviewing with both, I was offered a job with ARAMARK as a marketing intern.

As an intern for ARAMARK, I have had a chance to apply many of the concepts I have learned in the various marketing classes I have taken. Some of the main things I have done include: helping plan events, create and post signage, assist the marketing coordinator and managers and implement ARAMARK initiatives as directed. As an intern, I have done many things typical of intern work, which includes laminating papers, printing for the managers and cutting stacks of paper. In my opinion, that type of work isn't bad when I remind myself that the people at the top of the organization started off doing what I am doing.

For those who don't think an internship is important in the grand scheme of things, I would recommend considering finding one. With the economy still in a slow recovery mode, it can only help when you apply and the hiring manager sees you have an internship in the field you are applying for. If you play your cards right, you can intern for a company and possibly end up working with that company when you graduate. The individual who interviewed me for the ARAMARK job graduated in the fall of 2008, which if you recall, is when the economy first started to tank. However, she interned with ARAMARK her senior year and after graduation, she received a job with the company as the marketing coordinator here at Southeastern.

Of course, even if you don't get hired by the place where you intern, it is something significant that you can put on your resume. With the job market being tight, anything to set yourself apart from others is a step in the right direction.

To end, I want to add that there are various ways of landing an internship. The best on-campus option is visiting the Southeastern Office of Career Service located in Student Union room 241. A visit to your department's office is sure to produce a lead. Another great option is visiting a professor in your major and seeing what type of connections they have. Besides those options, just network in general to see what's out there. Most importantly, always be ready to sell your abilities to others.