Good Preparation Can Help Students Get Good Internships

By Dorian Walker, Junior, Public Relations

"Mr. Miller, my marketing professor for Business Foundations, is quick to remind us that we need to get a J-O-B and that everyone is a brand," says Comacho, as she goes through her to-do list before moving to Houston for her internship.

Many students like Comacho are constantly reminded of how an internship is essential for being competitive in the current job market. It"s enough to give even the most disciplined, career-minded student a nagging sense of unease. And for public relations majors, there"s the added pressure of knowing that you can"t graduate without one.

Despite the pressure and competition, those in the know say that you have nothing to fear if you"re willing to prepare and determined to succeed, qualities that will also help you land a good job later. Getting involved on campus, networking with peers and professionals in your field of interest, cleaning up your personal Web pages on social networking sites and making the best of your internship experience are some specific things they recommend.

"It is more important now than ever that students get internships," says Noe Gonzalez, an academic advisor in the College of Communication. "As the world gets smaller and more people graduate from college and get advanced degrees, good internships will help star applicants stand out from the rest."

Gonzalez says that students need internships for one of two reasons: to find out what they can do with their degree or to develop the skills necessary to succeed in their desired field.

He says that a good way for students to start their path to an internship is to get involved on campus. Participation in pre-professional organizations like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers or Public Relations Student Society of America, allow students to learn more about their industries outside the classroom and show commitment to their field of study.

"Employers look at more than just your employment history," says Tammy Nguyen, a public relations senior interning with advertising firm Venables Bell & Partners this summer. "They are just as interested in your extracurricular activities so that they may have a more comprehensive understanding of who you are and what you have to offer the company."

Getting involved in organizations is also recommended because of the networking opportunities it affords.

"People always say the key to a good internship or job rests on who you know, but that simply isn"t the case," says Adam Schaffer an account supervisor at GCI-Read Poland, a global communications firm. "What really matters is who knows you."

Meeting fellow students in your field is the first layer of networking, he says. For highly competitive fields, these relationships can be useful well after college.

But, the next layer to networking requires meeting professionals and industry leaders.

"Many students find that these relationships are particularly important when looking for an internship," says Christopher Villalobos, an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts.

Pre-professional organizations like the Public Relations Student Society of America have events with their parent organizations as a way to facilitate interaction between students and professionals.

Kristie Loescher, a management professor in the McCombs School of Business says cleaning up your Facebook and Myspace pages is also important because you want to create the impression that your personal activities are inline with your professional goals.

She says students should be wary of pictures and messages related to drinking, illegal activity or sexual conduct.

"You need to clean up your digital dirt before you put yourself out there to be evaluated by potential employers," she says. Recruiters won"t hire people who will reflect poorly on the company."

Once students have gotten involved on campus, networked with professionals and critiqued their internet presence, they should start applying for the internships they want. But Villalobos cautions that students should not get discouraged if their first internship is less than satisfying.

"Even if students aren"t happy with their internship responsibilities, they should use the opportunity as a chance for learning and development," he says.

If students are disappointed in their internship, they should try and learn about the company and its clientele, he advises. Asking questions and looking for other ways to contribute are ways to learn more about the field.

Comacho, who is returning to ExxonMobil for her second internship with the company, encourages persistence for those seeking a quality internship experience.

"You can never start too early, and if a company tells you "no," look elsewhere to find the internship that matches your skill level and interests - it"s out there, you just have to look for it."