You have been reading for the past few minutes about internships that students here at Olivet have done. We discussed the importance of internships, the benefits of both paid and unpaid, and a student’s experience. Now you are probably asking questions within your mind, like what you can do now? Where can you find current available internships for your specific major, practice, or interests? How do I get them approved? You are in luck! Continue reading and find the answers to all your questions!
The Comm Department’s Requirements
There is a lot to do to get a certain internship approved and ready to go before you just take it. For an internship to count towards your major you must first have it approved by the internship coordinator, Dr. Heather McLaughlin. Bring her the job description and explain how it can better equip you for your major and career choice. You would receive a internship packet of forms and information (found on the internal portal page, or in hard copies from the administrative assistant) that you and your internship supervisor would need to fill out and turn in to Dr. McLaughlin.
Then you would register for the internship class, this can range from 0-3 credit hours. You would work at your internship and keep a log of hours to turn in quarterly to the professor of your internship course class. Once you started you are free to work at your internship!
(Video by Kathryn West)
The Job Board
Wondering where to find internships? We have a job board posting in the Communication Department now. It is located at the main entrance of the building on the left wall next to the doors.
(Photo Taken By Kathryn West)
Here the department posts multiple different internships or job offers that would count as your internship credit. Some arer remote internships while others are in-office internships. You can get creative! Not everything that is posted on the job board may be your interest.
An example of university students getting creative is from an article called Independent School, where they highlighted Revolution School and their innovative internship program called REVternships. They made sure that their students could work in the community with their personal interest, provide meaningful work for 60 hours, and they made sure students were paid through a Vela Foundation grant.
Start Applying Now
You have about four years to find an internship and complete the necessary hours required to graduate. You may think that you have all the time in those four years to get it done, but it comes faster than you know it. Experience is everything in the workforce, the more internships that help you gain experience the more competent you appear to employers.
According to a research article conducted by Madrid University in 2018, they found that students that had internship experience had almost two and a half times greater chances of receiving a new job, compared to those who had never taken an internship.
Here at Olivet, we want you to succeed to the best of your abilities. Often times we see students start to stress when graduation approaches and they struggle to find a job or internship to do after finishing college, especially as the job world forever changed after COVID-19.
So do not wait. Go out there and see what opportunities await for you to take! Expand you skill sets, knowledge, and experience!
