“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr
How do we as students learn how to run? Students are constantly looking for an opportunity to hone their skills. They want to set a foundation for their career aspirations. This can be done through internships.
However, what about those who hire students for internships? Companies provide new and engaging opportunities for eager and ambitious students who want to perfect their craft.
Charles Cinnamon, a community relations manager for the Chicago Wolves, shares some ways in which he feels interns help carry his team. Interns who work for him are afforded the ability to work on projects like attending home games to assist any on-site activities like raffle tickets and chuck-a-puck sales that are going on. Execution from beginning to end is crucial while working and must maintain a high-level of fan engagement throughout the games.
This is Kinsley Reliford’s view from her internship experience with the Chicago Wolves, under the guidance of Charles Cinnamon.
From the beginning, Cinnamon looks for that “above-and-beyond worker” who is passionate, has great organizational skills and is “not afraid to try new things, fail, and learn from their mistakes.”
This is how he weeds out potential candidates. It is important for interns to be able to adjust to a fast-paced working environment and work as a team in the organization. This is what Cinnamon considers a “desirable hire.”
Looking for an opportunity in sports broadcasting? This job provides experience in making sales calls, following up with proposals if accepted, doing game preparation for broadcasts, and learning how to set up and produce a broadcast. By the end of the process, students are now equipped to have an event on the air and meet with personalities like coaches or administrators to get the needed information. After interviewing with Michael Knezevich, Vice President of regional radio sports network, and he shared his own take on internships.
Knezevich thinks a good intern can be consistent, show up on time (which is a little early), and is eager to listen and learn. They need to show steady growth and improvement during the internship period. It is also important to show that they are willing to take on the behind-the-scenes roles with an eagerness to help the team, just as much as the roles that are more front stage and center for the broadcast or production.
Monty Lobb takes a self with his internship supervisor, Mike Knezevich.
An intern’s job may not always be glamorous, but it is about taking on the jobs with a positive attitude and a willingness to succeed which can lead to further success within the company.
Knezevich feels the more experience a student is willing to seek out the better.
“Always be willing to travel, get out of your comfort zone, ask questions, and improve each time at the event or behind the mic,” he said. “Also, have fun! The more you enjoy what you do, the more that will come across to your listeners and viewers.”
The importance of internships
Internships provide a sense of knowledge and leadership to any student willing to take on the task. See how communication student does this in Kinsley Reliford’ds article Ashley Owen’s Time on Tour
