Discovering the benefits that come with interning

Kaitlyn Cameron Social Media Manager

Iona students hear it all throughout their four years here – internships, internships, internships. It is bound to be brought up in each class you take and the emphasis placed on it never seems to diminish. The concept of having to get an internship, or multiple internships, before your four years at college are over is a stressful one, and it can be hard to try to find one while also balancing classes and other pressures that come with school.

I did not realize how important having an internship was until I actually had one this past summer. Considering I was going into my senior year and still had not had an internship yet, I knew I had to find something so I could build a foundation of experience before I graduated.

It was a nerve-racking process trying to find an internship. I did not know if I wanted to work in the city or my hometown or what kind of company I would want to work for. The application and hiring process are long, and when it comes to interviews, you want to have the right answers to all of your potential employer’s questions and want to make sure you are saying all the right things.

I knew there would be a lot of competition when it came to getting an internship, especially during the summer, and I was worried I may not have the experience some of these companies were looking for. I eventually landed a job at a small public relations firm about 15 minutes from my house, and I am so fortunate to have been able to learn from everyone there this summer. This internship taught me about the inner workings of the public relations field and how to use critical databases and systems to conduct research for our clients.

The education I got here at Iona really helped me get the best of my internship experience because I knew a lot of the terminology my bosses were using and how to apply it to the tasks I was being given. I was able to use information and knowledge from my Mass Communications classes in understanding and learning both how to conduct research for our clients and how to find the right media contacts that would benefit our clients. It was all-around a great experience and I know it has given me a good foundation of skills to go out and look for a job after I graduate. It also allowed me to network and make connections within the field I want to pursue a career in, which is one of the most valuable things I think I got out of this experience.

Iona provides many resources on how to look for and land an internship. The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development is a great place to start. There, they edit and look over your résumé with you. They also can give you advice on where to look for an internship and what opportunities are available.

The moral of the story here is that even if you think it is not necessary or if you think it does not matter to get an internship, you should try for one anyway. It is a great thing to put on your résumé and teaches you a lot about the field you’re going to enter after you graduate. Plus, it will prove whether or not you genuinely like that area and if it is actually something you would want to pursue a career in.