The Truth About Internships

By: Adela Ghadimi, Assistant Director, Employer Development Washington, D.C.

Finding an internship can be a stressful experience for most students – you’ve done the research, (hopefully) visited the Toppel Career Center for guidance, and then you got down to work.  You sent the applications, perfected your personal statements, got your recommendation letters, learned the difference between an official and an unofficial transcript, and now you wait. You only need one email notification to come in to change the course of your summer.

                                                                                

After patiently waiting and wading through rejections and non-responsive organizations, the email you have been waiting for arrives: You get to join the ranks of the “interns”!

Often just landing the internship experience you have spent months worrying about feels like a huge victory at the finish line. What comes next? How do you maximize on your opportunity once you land your internship?

The value of interning often is in the opportunity the position provides to you, not necessarily the day-to-day.

Speaking to some of my past students who were Capitol Hill interns, they went through an entire spectrum of emotions through their first two weeks interning.

They started out on cloud 9, and were absolutely elated that during their time in DC they would be interning on the Hill, ready to wear their fancy new suits and take in the political process.

After spending a few days learning the in’s and out’s of their offices, speaking to constituent callers on the phone, memorizing their facts for the daily Capitol tours they would host, and grabbing coffee for the senior team, their excitement began to fade.

They would file in and out of my office, completely deflated that we had built up the idea of their internship as something glamorous and movie-worthy, and they were totally disengaged from the process. Speaking with them prompted me to reflect on my experiences interning as a student, and what really made the difference between going through the motions, and capitalizing on the opportunity in front of me.

Looking back, I initially remember only the good things – the time I got to speak on the Floor of the House of Representatives, spending 4^th of July with veterans who had just returned from Iraq, and introducing both Colin Powell and Howard Dean in the same week. Just those fancy experiences validated that my internship was “worth” something.

While those are cool anecdotes to share, they represent mere hours of an intense 12-week internship program, and did not really provide me with the lasting tools I would need to propel myself to graduate school and in my career – those opportunities were hidden in the mundane, day-to-day tasks of my internship, and this was the message I tried to deliver to my disgruntled interns.

Make the most of the opportunity: Internships are competitive, so you should take pride in every aspect of what you are doing, because whether you are rubbing shoulders with executives or making coffee, the opportunity to carry out these tasks was given to you over someone else, and we all have to pay our dues no matter the industry.

It has been my experience that if you have a positive attitude and apply your dedication to every task given to you, you will most certainly stand out in the eyes of your supervisors. This is key, because you want them to think of you the next time a high-profile project comes in that they will need help with, because this is only another opportunity to prove yourself.

Honestly, you get what you give, and if you want to make the most out of your internship, you will leave with lasting relationships that can continue to help you down the road. Make a connection with everyone you meet, and take advantage of LinkedIn; send people an email after you meet them and see if they would be willing to meet you for a quick coffee one day. Ask questions to those who are successful around you so that you can better understand what it is you need to do on your own path. Networking and relationship building are key to being able to maximize on your time as an intern. The simple act of taking the initiative during your internship can make the difference between being a summer intern, and utilizing your internship as a stepping stone to a full-time position.

You want to be able to leave your internship experience having left a positive impression in your office of who you are and what your contributions were, so that you can continue that relationship when you return to campus, and hopefully lean on that supervisor for a recommendation or reference down the road.

Making Her Mark: Combining Two Passions

Kristen Winte is a senior in the School of Business majoring in Marketing and Finance. Kristen is member of the Professional Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. She is also involved with the F.I.R.S.T. Step program where she was a Teaching Assistant and will go onto be a Team Leader in the fall. Kristen tutors in the Athletic Department and works in the School of Communication. Over this summer, she works at Coconut Grove Bank as a Marketing Intern where she is able to gain an overall experience of working at a community bank. 

Kristen was looking to stay in South Florida for the summer and knew this was an important summer for her to gain experience and explore whether she wanted to work in finance or marketing.  She found an internship on HireACane that seemed perfect; Marketing in Finance.  Shortly after she interviewed at the Toppel Career Center, had a second interview on site at their office in Coconut Grove, and received an offer upon completion of an assessment personality test.  In this interview Kristen showcases her internship experience and tips for landing this incredible opportunity. 

Question: What do you believe set you apart throughout the interview process?

Kristen: They mentioned to me that they liked the results of my personality assessment.  Also, the Marketing Director is a UM alumna.  I think they liked my leadership experience and involvement with the School of Business as well as my GPA.  My director that hired me was in the business fraternity that I am currently in which was nice to have that additional connection.   

Question: What is the culture like at Coconut Grove Bank?

Kristen: Everyone is so nice, everyone knows my name from the CEO to the cafeteria lady and even the security people know me.  I love to go to work every day.  I believe this bank truly has the community feel, like UM. 

Question: What do you do on a daily basis?

Kristen: Because it is the summer I work an 8am-4:30pm daily.  What I like most about it is the flexibility and diverse set of projects I have.  I get to collaborate with other departments outside of marketing and build connections and relationships with people at the company.  My director gives me the autonomy to come up with ideas and projects to help brand and market the bank.

Question: Talk to me about some projects you have done.

Kristen: One of the first projects I got to do was find a presenter and administer on the topic of Emotional Intelligence for a staff retreat this summer.  My biggest project is planning the branch events.  Each branch has a marketing event where I was able to meet with each branch manager and work on the logistics for each event.  I also work a lot on the website and with different vendors to determine how to generate more traffic onto the Coconut Grove Bank website. I am learning how to write press releases and assist with social media.  I have gotten so much exposure that I never thought I would prior to interning or going through the job description online. 

Question: What do you like most about your internship?

Kristen: The encouragement and opportunities my director gives me.  If I see an opportunity I want to pursue, she has me run with it and gives me the confidence to do so.  She is so helpful and recognizes my work and sends me emails and tells me that my work doesn’t go unnoticed.  It is really a great environment and the culture is a true community feel. I have never been at a company where everyone is smiling and always willing to help me.  

Question: How has this experienced shaped your vision and next steps for post-graduation?

Kristen: I feel as though I have learned so much from this experience.  Prior to working at Coconut Grove Bank I thought that because I was a finance major that I had to work at a big bank. This has given me a much better perspective on the advantages of a small bank and their community feel and flexibility. This has made me realize that it is important to be happy at a job, rather than focus on security or the name.  I work a lot, but enjoy going in every day.

Question: What advice do you have to your classmates and underclassmen?

Kristen: Keep your options open and stay positive.  Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t hearing back right away. Start early and utilize HireACane and On-Campus Recruiting. 

What can Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson teach you about your summer internship?

Written by Carly Smith, Assistant Director, Campus Outreach

If you haven’t seen “The Internship” yet this summer, I highly recommend you go. Not only is it hilarious (obviously with cast members like Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, and Will Ferrell) but it’s a perfect example of why internships are so important. Not all summer internships are like Google’s, and this movie is definitely not based on a true story. However, there are quite a few lessons to take with you that can help you make the most of your current summer internship.

"We're looking at some sort of mental Hunger Games against a bunch of genius kids for just like a handful of jobs."

Billy (Vince Vaughn) is right. One of the reasons it is important to take a summer internship seriously is because it can lead to a future internship or even a full-time job after graduation. Many companies utilize internship programs to find students who would make great candidates for their open positions. So, in a way, your summer internship is almost like a really long interview. You will want to be sure you are always making the best impression to your supervisors as well as the employees around you. Anyone at your company who has interacted with you, even in some small way, might be a part of a future hiring decision. At the same time, make sure to reflect on if this is the type of place you’d like to work at once you graduate. Ask lots of questions, get involved, and build connections.  There is no better way to test out career fields and companies than by getting this type of direct experience. 

 “Hey ‘Gossip Girls’, CW called, show’s canceled, get back to work!”

Sometimes when you’re in summer-mode or working with a group of fellow students, it’s easy to forget that you still have a job to do. Of course, have a good time; your internship should be an enjoyable experience. However, like I mentioned earlier, you want to make the most out of your internship and make a great impression on the people around you. This means that you should be focused on your work and timely in completing assignments. Keep yourself organized so you don't miss anything. You should also challenge yourself by taking on difficult tasks that can help you to grow. Finally, ask for feedback. Not all supervisors may remember to provide you with feedback during and at the end of your internship experience. Still, this information is crucial. By knowing what you have done well, you can further enhance these strengths, and by knowing your areas of improvement, you can find ways to better your skills and make adjustments for future internships.

Stuart: "Our team's a joke!"
Billy: "This reminds me of a little girl from a steel town who had the dream to dance. She had to sit in that chair and arch her back and she reached up and pulled the chain to nowhere and doused herself with water!"
Stuart: "Flashdance? You're talking about the movie from the 80s?"
Billy: "Yeah, you're damn right I am."

A summer internship can definitely be challenging at times. Maybe you are working for the first time. You are probably meeting lots of new people who have been in the field for a while, and you want to prove yourself. You could even be living in a city you are not familiar with. That’s why it’s so important to rely on those around you for support. Befriend your coworkers, utilize them as resources when you are unsure of something, and take advantage of opportunities to engage with them both inside and outside the workplace. You might not have realized, but you are now part of the workplace team. Enjoy it, and remember… you too are responsible for helping the team to be as successful as possible.

Advice from a Graduate

Written by Thien Van Tran

There are certain encounters in our lives that we know will never be repeated as long as we live. The exhilaration we felt when we had our first kiss, the awe we experienced when we saw the Grand Canyon, the nausea that overcame us after seeing the first Saw movie. Then there are other encounters that we just let slip by unnoticed.

The times that I regret the most are missed opportunities to say farewell to good friends, to wish them long, abundant lives. Like many others, I loathe goodbyes and do all I can to avoid experiencing them. I’d rather cover myself in honey and go on a bear watch. Usually a “later dude” will escape my lips accompanied by thoughts and intentions of reuniting at a later time filling my head. But that time may never come.

While out celebrating and causing mischief a few nights ago with friends, this possibility of permanent separation still had not hit me. Not until a friend whispered to me, “This cannot be the last time I see you.”

Her words were a swift kick to the crotch. While everyone around me continued to dance and sing and make bad decisions, I stood there dumbfounded. Tears grew out of nowhere and my mood changed from stupidly happy to sad. I realized that I was about to leave my dearest of friends with nothing more than a sincere “later dude.”

Don’t let your friends disappear into memories. Take time off from studying and enjoy a bacon latte with your best friend. Put homework on pause to catch up with someone in the midst of a busy semester. Talk to that pretty girl you’ve been wanting to. Ask that guy to formal with you. How much time should you devote to school and life and work? I have no clue. It’s not black and white, and will be different for each person. It’s quite grey, at least 50 shades of grey (if you know what I mean).

So my advice to you is this: stop once in a while and appreciate what you have here. All these people who have come from all over the country, all over the world, to be part of your life should not be taken for granted. We are all here to go to school and get a degree and find a job, but take some time to truly experience it. Living life is like cooking. In order to do well, you must pay attention to the process, the little details.

After all, the journey is more important than the end or the start. And to my friends, I thank you all, and farewell. I await our next encounter.

What is the GRE?

Written by Thien Van Tran

What is the GRE and Why Should I Take it?

If you are thinking about going to graduate school, you need to get familiar with the GRE. What is the GRE? It's the SAT's bigger brother. And by bigger I mean more difficult. And it costs more. Like a buttload ton. So don't just think that you can retake it as many times as you wish. It is the standardized test that colleges across the United States use as an admissions requirement. However, instead of going into college as an undergrad, you'll be applying as a graduate student. In order to be competitive, your scores will need to be among the highest of those who apply. Also, the job market is a fight for survival right now, so having a Master's degree will definitely boost your chances of surviving the apocalypse.

Having your Master's is like these guys having light sabers. Problem solved

The test itself is made up of three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Basically, it's math, reading, and writing. It is a timed test, so working quickly is just as important as knowing the material.

How Do I Study?

Take practice exams. The GRE can be easy, believe me. But it doesn't test how good you are at the material. It tests how good you are at taking tests. The questions are written by people who must be as crazed as road lizards. Therefore the only way you can actually be prepared for the questions they ask is to see them beforehand. The company who writes the exams, ETS, has a program available to simulate the actual test, and contains two complete exams. These are very accurate, and in my own experience, I took the practice tests the day before the real thing and scored within two points of my practice score for my Verbal and Quantitative sections.

So what if you do badly on the practice tests? Well you need to assess which sections are your weakest. If math is your weak spot, brush up on your skills with a practice book by AP. Rather than trying to relearn Geometry, I would recommend that you study all the little tricks that allow you to see shortcuts to problems. The main issue that people have on the Math section is time. Doing problems the long way is time consuming, and there is almost always a shorter, "clever" way. If your verbal skills aren't so sharp, study vocab. How much vocab? ALL OF IT. The GRE literally picks the most obscure words in the English language and manages to use 15 of them in a single sentence. If you don't know what a few of them mean, you're probably not going to do well.

When Should I Take It?

Wheneva you want brotha. The scores are good for five years, so if you want to take the exam sooner so that your math is fresh in your head or whatever, go ahead and do so! When it comes time to graduate, you won't have to worry about studying for your GRE in your senior year. However, the prices do fluctuate so if you want to save some money, try to monitor when prices go up and down throughout the year. But, you can only take a test every 30 days. So good luck studying!!