Post Classifieds
Summer internships are valuable tools for a career
Students share experience
By Caitlin Waters
On August 17, 2012
Internships are usually seen as fetching coffee for the boss, running errands and
returning dry cleaning.
College students have thrown around the term "internship" since they were in high
school, which is when they likely first learned what one was.
Not many students realize how important an internship can be to their future,
especially summer internships, which benefit students on break with invaluable
experience learning the ropes of their field.
Margot Harris, a junior double major in journalism and media productions at Buffalo
State College, is interning this summer with N.Y. Sportimes of World Team Tennis,
which is affiliated with the U.S. Open.
Stephanie Zuckerman-Aviles, the director of the Career Development Center
at Buffalo State College, said the No. 1 thing students get out of an internship is
experience.
"You are exposed to professional experience and it's a wonderful opportunity to get
experience in your field of study," Zuckerman-Aviles said.
Being exposed to the working environment gives students a real-life understanding
of what it's like to hold a job in their field of study. Showing up on time, dressing
professionally, and carrying yourself in such a manner provide a glimpse into what's
expected of you as a professional after college and are important to practice.
Internships also provide students with opportunities to network, which is an
essential tool for college students in a world where the job market isn't too
forgiving. More often than not, it's more about who you know than what you know.
After interning, a student may meet a lot of people in the career field they're
interested in entering. And if the employer likes their work ethic, it could lead to
employment.
Julia Squilla, a junior television and film arts major at Buffalo State, is currently
involved in her second internship. She interned at NBC Universal in Los Angeles last
summer and is now interning at Squeaky Wheel Media Resources in Buffalo.
"I intern at Squeaky Wheel twice a week, looking for submissions to Artgrease and
setting up the show and sending it to legal," Squilla said. "I'm mostly looking for
connections that can help me get a job in the future."
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 66.8 percent of
interns are offered paid jobs, and 58.6 percent of interns take the offer and turn into
full-time hires, as of 2011. According to Zuckerman-Aviles, that is the highest rate
since 2001.
Students at Buffalo State College can help their search for internships by stopping
by the Career Development Center office in Grover Cleveland room 306, or by
visiting their page from the Buffalo State College website. The page posts potential
internship opportunities every time they hear of a new venue looking for interns,
Zuckerman-Aviles said.
She said 985 students took part in internships last year throughout the summer, fall
and spring semesters and that the CDC is a useful tool that all students should take
advantage of.
Speaking with your advisor to narrow down your desired internship fields will help
with the process, as well.
"My advice is to apply to anything you find," Harris said. "The more you apply, the
more opportunities you'll have."
Caitlin Waters can be reached by email at waters1.record@live.com.
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