DA Internship Guide

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Internship Guide: Advice from the experts NEW & IMPROVED. REAL TASTE.

Welcome to the DA’s Internship Guide We hope the advice and tips offered here will help you navigate the internship and job placement process.

Here’s what’s inside: Advice from the experts:

Eric Minor, director of Student Careers and Opportunities for WVU’s Reed School of Media, shares some strategies on how to make the most of the resources on campus to help with your job search. And on page 5, he outlines what makes a great “elevator speech” and how you can craft your own.

Holly Metz, founder and owner of Key Staffing Solutions in Washington, D.C., reveals what recruiters want to see during an interview and how to parlay an internship into a post-graduate position. She believes that references are critical and encourages students to ask all employers for contact information and recommendations.

Alysia Burton Steele, a Pulitzer Prize winner for the Dallas Morning News has an impressive website and encourages students to be mindful of how social media and public profiles online can make or break a job offer. “Companies are not just hiring you for your skills, but they’re thinking about how you would represent their brand.”

Elly Zemetra is the director of Talent Acquisition and Human Resources for Brightview Landscaping in LA. She says employers look for people with passion for what they want to do. “We (recruiters) want to know why you are interested in the industry,” she says.

Katherine Kopp is the assistant director of the Center for Career Development in WVU’s College of Business and Economics. She tells students never to miss an opportunity to network. “It continues to be proven that networking is the best way to successfully land a job.”

Jackie Riggleman is the assistant general manager for the West Virginia Black Bears. She says the students who make the most of their internships are the one who are open to helping and gain knowledge about the organization. And her advice for turning a good internship into a job: “Truly work hard.”

It’s internship season It’s internship season. And if you don’t want to spend another summer waiting tables or walking dogs, you’ve got some work to do. Here’s some tips from WVU’s Career Services Center: 1. Use what you have Your tuition dollars fund two of the very best resources you have (at no extra cost!) First, stop in the Career Services Center in the MountainLair. It is chock full of resources and a friendly staff who can provide assistance every step of the process. From cover letters to career fairs, they are here to help you land the perfect summer gig or permanent job. And on MountaineerTRAK you can search for jobs, internships, research employers, sign-up for on-campus interviews and learn about all those career fairs. Last year more than 8,000 internships and full-time positions were posted on MountaineerTRAK. And to make it even easier, they have just rolled out a MountaineerTRAK app.

2. Write a killer cover letter The most important thing to remember about a cover letter is that employers want to know what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. DON’T write: “This position will help me in my efforts to secure a job in your industry in the future.” DO write: “My experience selling magazine subscriptions last summer and the classes I have taken this year have prepared me to be a valuable asset to your sales staff.” And don’t write an all-purpose cover letter. “Customize every resume to the specific job” advises Sarah Glenn associate director of the Career Center. “Recruiters want to know how your skills and experiences align with their particular needs.“ 3. Make your resume sing Don’t want to frighten you but recruiters spend 10 seconds – or less – with each resume. That means you have to have a well-crafted, error-free resume that screams “HIRE ME.” Glenn says the best thing resume writers can do is be specific about their accomplishments.

• Don’t write: “Managed social media.”

• Write: “Created and managed Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts that resulted in a 15% increase in traffic to the site over three months.”

• Don’t write: “Helped manage children at summer camp.”

• Write: “Responsible for the safety of and led activities for more than 250 children ages 5 to 14.” You get the picture, you want to quantify.

4. Get an online presence If potential employers search for you online and only see those questionable photos from the Halloween party, you need an image update. Create a Linkedin account, change your privacy settings on Facebook and if you have clips, art or projects you want employers to see showcase them on your own website. You will be Googled, be prepared.

5. Write your elevator speech You get around two minutes to make a great impression with a recruiter at a fair. Do you have a speech prepared?

Your speech (that would last as long as an elevator ride, hence elevator speech) is a commercial about you. According to Career Services (who can help you with this) your pitch should include: • Introduction: Smile, firm handshake, introduce yourself and hand over your resume • Objective: What type of employment you are seeking • Summary: Education, experiences and strengths that would aid the company • Closing: End with a question: What are the next steps to an interview? Would you like me to follow up with an email or phone call? (see more on page 5) 5. Attend upcoming hiring events College of Business and Economics Career Fair – Jan 30 Statler College Career Fair – Jan 31 WVU Career and Internship Fair – Feb. 14 And finally, some advice from that old Roman philosopher, and job-seeker, Seneca: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA

Eric Minor Expert

Eric Minor is the director of Student Careers and Opportunities for West Virginia University’s Reed College of Media. Eric oversees the college’s internship programs and seeks to integrate classroom experience with real-world learning at leading media companies.

Q. When should a student begin meeting with career services?

A. I truly believe that a college student should start preparing for his or her career on day one. That includes meeting with WVU Career Services and your college’s careers advisor.

The process takes time and the sooner you get yourself into a careers-oriented mindset, the better prepared you will be.

Q. When should a student begin seeking internships?

A. I generally tell students that the right time to start looking for an internship is the moment that you ask yourself that question. The people who hire interns (and post-graduate employees) are looking for diversity of skills and consistency of performance. It’s hard to showcase those things if you do only one internship your senior year. Additionally, internships early in your academic career can help you decide sooner if you’re in the right field. Internships are also a great way to discover new career paths you might have missed.

Q. What is the best job search strategy for Reed College students?

A. The best job-search strategy is to be known by the people who can hire you. This means networking. Be present at events where you can meet leaders in your industry. Go to conferences, join student organizations and talk to guest speakers. Even if you feel underqualified, meet with the recruiters I’m bringing to campus. It also means making the best possible impression on your instructors. They’ve taught people who went on to be successful. Your professors won’t recommend you to their contacts if they’re afraid you’ll embarrass them. Do well in class. Excel. Stand out. It’s incredibly competitive out there and you have to show an employer why you’re the best choice.

Q. What is the job outlook for those in the college of media?

A. Succeeding in today’s media workplace means being versatile and flexible. In some cases, traditional media employers are working with smaller staffs, but that’s not always true. Most companies are shifting their focus to digital audiences, but that doesn’t mean the written word has lost its value. Good writers who will work hard are always in demand. Traditional media outlets (television and news-

papers) are constantly asking me to connect them with our recent graduates. You just need to be willing to go where the jobs are, and that will almost certainly mean starting off in a smaller market or a city outside your hometown. The secret is being ready to pounce when a job opens up.

Q. Do you have any recommendations for networking?

A. Get on Linkedin. Find alumni who are doing the kind of work you want and connect with them either electronically or in person. Never miss an opportunity to meet with someone who is working in your industry. If there’s a guest speaker coming to campus, go! If there’s a recruiter coming to campus (either in the College of Media or through Career Services), go! If you meet a professional person at any event, even if they’re not working in your field, be ready to make a good impression. He or she could be a crucial referral.

Q. Should I be worried about my social media accounts?

A. What you should be worried about is your reputation, your personal “brand” and whether it lines up with the kind of work you want to do. The problem with social media is that it is both permanent and open to interpretation. A risqué photo or a controversial comment can be created in a second, but assume that it will be attached to you forever.

When someone hires you, they are attaching your reputation to their company’s reputation, so they’ll be checking you out. Think about it like this: Have you ever worked on a group project and found that a member of your team was lazy, unreliable, confrontational, or didn’t take the project seriously? Those people will drive you NUTS! Hiring managers have been in that situation too and they want to avoid it at all costs. If your social media reputation gives them any indication that you will be difficult to work with, they’ll look elsewhere.

This doesn’t mean that you should delete all of your social media accounts. In fact, there’s some evidence that being a “ghost” on social media is also very harmful to your reputation (what are you hiding?) But it does mean that you should be fully aware that anything you post on your social accounts (even under an alias) can and will be seen by lots and lots of people. And it doesn’t go away. Be memorable for the right reasons.

You often only have a minute to network with a potential employer. Are you prepared?

Eric Minor, Director of Career Services and Opportunities at the Reed School offers this on how to sell yourself quickly: Picture this: You’re standing in front of a pair of vending machines with a killer thirst, a crisp dollar bill, and a choice to make. Here are your options: Option #1: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, and Caffeine Option #2: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid, and Natural Flavors Based on that information alone, which product gets your limited refreshment dollar?

Choose now! Unsure? I don’t blame you a bit.

What if these were your options?

Option #1: Coke Option #2: Pepsi Suddenly, the choice is less difficult. Presumably, you’ve had both Coke and Pepsi and you have a history with both products that have led you to establish a preference. Coke and Pepsi have spent billions of dollars building their brands so that you know the difference. Both will give you a sugar/caffeine boost. Both will give you fizzy bubbles. Both will quench your thirst.

Even though their ingredients are virtually the same, nobody would ever argue that Coke and Pepsi are the same thing.

We all make buying choices based on rational factors (I’m thirsty) and emotional factors (No, Pepsi products are not OK! I’m a “Coke Person”).

Employers are making the same kind of buying choice when they hire you for a job or internship. They are investing a limited resource (a salary and/or a spot on their team) based on the product’s (your) unique ability to solve a problem for them.

It’s your responsibility to present yourself to an employer as a unique solution to their unique problem. Nobody is looking to hire you because they want to make your life easier. They’re looking to hire someone who can make their life easier.

By the way, Coca-Cola made almost $42 billion last year. Nobody buys a Coke because they feel it’s their duty to help the company crack the $50 billion mark.

A brand is a reason to make a choice. You are obviously not a can of soda. You are a person with a unique set of skills and experiences. But you are also one of 1.8 million people who will graduate college at the same time.

So how do you stand out in a very competitive and complex job market? The key is to focus on what kinds of problems you’re good at solving, the experiences you have to back that up, and being able to articulate that well.

This is why it is essential to have an elevator pitch, a professional summary, or a personal brand statement. You need to be able to concisely and persuasively communicate your unique offer of value to an employer. I hope this doesn’t come across as crass, but you have to be able to write a commercial about yourself. Don’t feel gross about it. You’re offering to solve a problem for someone in exchange for a salary. It’s a transaction.

More importantly, it’s providing a shortcut for the person who could hire you. Which do you think is more effective?

This: “Hi, my name is Joe. I see that your agency is hiring a copywriting intern. I just finished my junior year in an advertising major and won a regional award for a campaign I designed as part of a class project. We had to come up with a strategy to encourage more students to ride the public bus system. While I was the lead on the creative team, I also helped conduct audience research that helped us better connect with college students who didn’t have cars. I know from my research into your company that your clients include larger national brands. I learned how to work with major clients during an internship I did with the XYZ Agency in New York. It was my job to monitor the client’s mentions on social media and immediately report on both positive and negative trends. While my strong suit is in creative execution (could I give you a link to my portfolio?), your goal and my goal are the same: to make our clients glad they gave us their business. Here’s my card. Could I have one of yours and possibly schedule an informational interview?”

Or this: “I’M GOING TO SCHOOL. I TOOK SOME CLASSES AND DID SOME THINGS. HIRE ME!” It is your responsibility to know your story and be able tell it in a way that offers value to your employer. Put yourself in the shoes of the person doing the hiring. Would you hire you? Why or why not?

Applying for a position with a general resume that just lists disparate jobs, classes, and projects is the same as asking someone to decide between two brands of soda based on their ingredient lists. Nobody has time to try to find your unique story in all of that data.

Help them understand why you’re a great choice. Know your unique assets and don’t be shy about talking them up.

Identify what’s making them thirsty and prove to them you know how to quench it.

Holly Metz Expert

Holly Metz a West Virginia University Business & Economics alumna, is the founder of Key Staffing Solutions. Key Staffing is a professional recruiting firm that matches entry-level talent to full-time career opportunities with large companies, professional service firms, government contractors, non-profit organizations and local businesses in the Washington, D.C. area. Here are her tips on how to make the most of an interview: Q. What are recruiters looking for in a resume?

A. Recruiters expect a clean resume (no misspellings and consistent formatting) including contact information, a profile, internship experience, part-time employment and involvement with organizations/clubs.

Q. What are recruiters looking for during interviews?

A. Appearance matters and candidates should dress professionally and be prepared by researching the company and the job description. Recruiters want someone who can share specific examples of customer service, working in a group setting and achieving a goal.

Q. How should you end an internship interview?

A. Ask for a business card to write a thank you email, thank them for the opportunity and tell them you are interested in the opportunity.

Q. How can students parlay an internship into a fulltime position?

A. Prove that you are the best person for the job by being there on time, by asking questions if you are uncertain, by

offering to take on more responsibilities, and by staying later if extra help is needed. Be sure to share ideas, have a positive attitude and do not get involved with office politics/gossip. And, most importantly, let them know that you have had a great experience and ideally would like to be hired!

Q. How important are references?

A. References are very important. Be sure to ask your supervisors if you can share their contact information for references or if they can provide a letter of recommendation.

Q. What are your best and worst internship experiences?

A. The best experiences were the interns who went above and beyond their job description and came up with new ideas that I implemented. Also the intern who asked her father to drive her an hour when public transportation was shut down. I did not expect her to come to work that day and told her to stay home, but she showed up! The worst were the interns who did not take the opportunity seriously and did not interact with anyone in the office.

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Alysia Burton Steele Expert

Alysia Burton Steele was part of a team at the Dallas Morning News awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. In 2014 Steele began a personal project that became a book: “Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom.” It was based on interviews with 54 African-American women church leaders about life in Mississippi during the Jim Crow era.

Steele is now an assistant professor at the University of Mississippi’s School of Journalism and New Media.

Her website is alysiaburton.com and she offers these tips on how to be mindful of the way you portray yourself using social media: Q. “If someone were to Google you and review your public profiles and social media, what would your posts say about you? Are you showing your best self?

A. “Companies are not just hiring you for your skills, but they’re thinking about how you would represent their brand.

“Be thoughtful in posts. Companies do not want to associate themselves with someone who will bring negative attention to their company.

“Perhaps think about tighter privacy settings, or create a private account, and then a professional one. Always be mindful of what you share at all times because it could make or break a job or internship offer.”

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Elly Zemetra Expert

Elly Zemetra is the director of Talent Acquisition and Human Resources for BrightView Landscaping in Los Angeles. She has worked as a recruiter for Warner Bros. Entertainment Groups and ValleyCrest in California. She conducts hundreds of interviews with student and potential full-time employees each year for BrightView which has locations across the country.

This is her advice on internships: Q. What are recruiters looking for in a resume?

A. Recruiters look for anything related to our business. If intern applicants have mowed lawns in high school as a side business or volunteered to clear brush, we love to see this reflected in a resume.

Q. What are recruiters looking for during interviews?

A. Direction. Applicants should have researched our company and should know what they might have an interest in doing for the summer Passion. Recruiters like to hear a true passion for our business and we like to hear why.

Long term goals. Knowing some sort of long term objective upon graduation is very helpful. If student’s do not know, our recruiters will help to drive the conversation so that we can land on the right opportunity for them.

People who like to work with their hands. Recruiters like to hear from students who do not want to be stuck behind a desk all day. We want to know why you are interested in the industry especially if the outdoors is where you want to be.

Q. How should you end an internship interview?

A. Ask for next steps and for contact information so that you can follow-up after the interview

A. The goal of BrightView’s internship program is to convert the student into a full time opportunity upon graduation.

Students should know that an internship is just a long interview.

Q. How important are references?

A. References are definitely nice to have because it shows that the student knows how to form and build relationships.

Q. Share what were your best and worst internship experiences: A. Best. Spoke with a student who was interested in one aspect of our business but was not entirely sure. This student also was completely open to any location. By the end of our conversation, we had landed on an internship in one of our service lines but also on a location. After the student completed the internship with us, we offered a fulltime position and that former intern still works with us today.

Worst. There is not an experience I can say that has been the “worst” because students are very open to having a discussion around their futures. I can say that I have interviewed students who were completely unprepared and knew nothing about the position they were applying for. For me, it makes me question if the student will be prepared for an internship with us and what they will be like long term.

Q. How can students parlay an internship into a full time position?

You can get jobs and internships.

The DA works with media around the state to place staffers in internships available only to DA staffers.

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COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

Katherine Kopp Expert Katherine Kopp assists hundreds of WVU Business and Economics students looking for jobs each year. The assistant director of the Center for Career Development in the College of Business and Economics, Kopp has developed relationships with corporations so that she can connect WVU students to opportunities across the country. Kopp offers this advice: Q. When should a student begin meeting with career services?

A. Career services provides professional development activities and events which are appropriate as early as freshman year. Career services can be a great asset to students still determining their major by helping them to understand the career opportunities that will exist after graduation and the steps they will need to take to get to their “dream job.”

Q. When should a student begin seeking internships?

A. We’re seeing students obtain internships as early as the summer between their freshman and sophomore years.

These days, employers like to see experience on a resume just as much, if not more, than academic performance. It should be understood though that the rigor and responsibility of internships should grow over the course of a student’s academic journey.

Q. What is the best job search strategy for B&E majors?

A. It continues to be proven that networking is the best way to successfully land a job. It’s important for students to take advantage of any opportunity to speak with employers. For more formalized events like career fairs, we always suggest that students research organizations in advance and have an understanding of the company and the roles for which they’re hiring. They’re more likely to impress the organization’s representative and have future communication with them. LinkedIn, faculty and family friends can also be assets in the job search strategy.

Q. What is the job outlook for B&E majors?

A. Career opportunities differ from major to major within B&E; however, with unemployment nationwide at a low, we’re seeing great placement rates overall. Of course, experience through meaningful part-time work and internships improve the likelihood of obtaining employment by graduation. In fact, many formalized internship programs offer full-time employment pending graduation to the interns who perform well.

Q. Do you have any recommendations for networking?

A. Never miss an opportunity to engage face-to-face with alumni, recruiters and/or organization representatives.

Even if someone comes to speak to your class or student organization, take the time to personally thank them and introduce yourself after the presentation. Always ask for a business card afterwards and follow up via email or a LinkedIn connection within a timely manner. In your interactions, you want the conversation to be mutually beneficial.

Q. Should I be worried about my social media accounts?

A. Employers do screen social media accounts. While it’s understood that almost everyone has social media accounts these days, you want to make sure your accounts reflect favorably upon you and portrays the same type of person who interviewed with the organization. Understand, too, that they aren’t just able to access information you post about yourself but also what others may post about you.

Be sure also to review your social media account security settings on a regular basis.

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Jackie Riggleman Expert

Jackie Riggleman is the assistant general manager for the West Virginia Black Bears. In that role she oversees day-to-day operations, media and community relations and internships. She had several great internships while she was a journalism student at West Virginia University including working for WVU Athletics and planning corporate events for Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Here is her advice on how to snag a good internship.

Q. What are recruiters looking for in a resume?

A. For me it is organization of the resume. If your resume looks like you have taken careful consideration to how it is formatted, then you are starting off on a good foot because you put effort into your attempt from the beginning.

Q. What are recruiters looking for during interviews?

A. I look for someone who is confident in who they are and their abilities. Also, someone who is driven to the do the tasks presented in the potential job.

Q. How should you end an internship interview? What are some things to know before walking out of the door?

A. Thanking the employer and shaking their hand. I also like when students say I look forward to speaking with you soon. That means they are hoping to hear back on a good note.

Q. How can students parlay an internship into a fulltime position?

A. By truly working hard. I did it myself and it was through giving my internship my all and showing the company my strengths.

Q. How important are references?

A. I refer to references all the time. They help me understand the character of the person I am hiring.

Q. Share with me your best and worst internship experiences: A. My best overall experiences have been with students who utilize their experience with us to propel their career and get full-time jobs in the industry. These are the students who are open to helping out wherever they can just to gain more knowledge. My worst are those students who are just here for the credits. They don’t put forth as much effort and tend to cause issues because they are not keeping up with those who are putting forth 100% of their energy at all times.

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Science-based suggestions for self-confidence (BPT) - A recent study shows your perception of your own image has a profound effect on how you present yourself to the rest of the world.

Those findings could be empowering since even small changes to your self-care routine can significantly boost your self-confidence.

The study by researchers at the Stanford Graduate School of Business found those who believe in their own attractiveness view themselves as having higher social status. “The finding that your assessment of yourself shapes your view of yourself and others puts power into your hands,” the authors note.

Consider how these science-based suggestions may help you put your best foot forward when dealing with everything life throws your way.

• Get moving. Regardless of your fitness goals, the fact is you’re likely to feel better physically, emotionally and mentally after you exercise. Research also shows it can improve your self-esteem.

• Ramp up your smile. Scientists say our brains are zapped with an instant mood boost when we smile, and that boost is reinforced when others smile back. Further, whiter teeth can have a direct effect on our social and professional iterations, and they’re now easy to achieve through consumer brands like Rembrandt’s 1 Week Whitening Kit that can achieve professional-level results at home within a week.

• Let your body language communicate self-respect. Keeping your shoulders pulled back and your body straight and tall communicates confidence to your brain, studies show. Research found the most empowering stance is one in which your arms are held slightly away from your torso, your body is open and your head is up.

• Optimize color in your clothing. The right shade may light up your entire face and have a surprising impact on your mood. “Choosing the color of your office, your clothes or your desktop should not be taken lightly — colors do affect our moods and productivity,” states a recent article on Scienceofpeople.com. “When given the choice, picking a color that will work with you and not against you can only help.”

• Wear scent strategically. Because our brains link certain smells to positive experiences, research suggests we may be able to ramp up our confidence with scents that remind us of happy times. That’s why aromatherapy can help alleviate anxiety, depression and sleeplessness, and improve quality of life for those with chronic health issues, confirms the Mayo Clinic.

Bottom line: When you’re taking care of yourself and projecting your best self, you’re far more likely to project the confidence you need to deal effectively with life.

“Confidence can make or break a lot of things,” advises Lecia Bushak on Medicaldaily.com. “In our extrovert-centric society, confidence can get you a job, a girlfriend, and the courage to say no to people or situations that are toxic to you. Confidence is knowing yourself and taking care of yourself, too.”

Holly Nye Student

Holly Nye is a senior Marketing major from Cleveland, OH. During the 2017 fall semester, she was an intern in the Disney College Program in Orlando. Interns work in the park during the day and take courses from Disney professionals at night. Nye, 22, is the student advertising director of The Daily Athenaeum.

Q. What did you take away from this experience?

A. I worked at an attraction in Walt Disney World Resort, Florida while taking two seminar series classes in Event Operations and Marketing/Sales. I was given the opportunity to network with hundreds of professionals and provide guest services to thousands each day. This experience has truly helped me grow as a person and learn more effective communication skills.

Q. What did this internship teach you that you may not have otherwise learned?

A. This internship taught me so much it is hard to identify one thing. But I guess this internship was unique in that it helped me learn how to be “on stage” all the time. While that can be stressful, it really teaches the importance of professionalism and how large a difference it can make in the workplace.

Maintaining a professional look is of key importance to this company and I believe that this is a significant life lesson and one that has better prepared me for future employment.

This is something that I will always keep in the back of my mind when attending interviews or meetings of any sort.

Q. What was the most significant experience during your internship?

A. I was given the opportunity to escort Matthew McConaughey and his entire family through our building. It was so awesome. An absolute dream come true! I was around a number of different celebrities who visited the resort, which was one of the best perks of the position, but escorting the McConaughey family was my favorite experience.

Q. What would you have done differently?

A. I would not have done anything differently.

I had an incredible time and learned so much.

Q. What was your favorite part of the internship?

A. The best part of the internship was

meeting people and making life-long friendships. There were thousands of interns and thousands more part-time and full-time employees. It was such a privilege to work among so many successful people within the company and to be able to call so many some of my greatest friends. My favorite memories from this experience all involve these amazing people.

Maddie Hearn Student

Maddie Hearn, 22, is a marketing major with an emphasis in integrated digital marketing at WVU. She completed an internship with Target in Bridgeport, WV, the summer before her senior year. She discovered this internship by attending a career fair in the MountainLair. Here is how Maddie found her passion for retail management: Q. What did you take away from this experience?

A. Most of all, I’m proud of myself. This was my first summer away from home. My first time having a 40-minute commute. Some days I would have to close the store late at night and be there again early in the morning the next day.

Working in customer service can be really hard work. At the end of my internship I received a certificate for completing the internship and I’ve never been so proud of myself. My internship taught me that I’m a leader, something I never really considered myself to be before and I have to thank Target for that.

Q. What did this internship teach you that you may not have otherwise learned?

A. Through my internship I discovered a passion for working in retail management and that it is something I want to pursue after graduation. If I wouldn’t have done the Target internship I don’t know if I had not discovered that. Going into the internship I wasn’t sure what to expect and I was so pleasantly surprised. If I ever go back to school, I would love to study supply chain. I really liked that part of my internship. Something awesome about the Target internship is that I got to learn about marketing, but I also learned about management and supply chain as well. I highly recommend this internship for business majors, especially students who are interested in retail management.

Q. How did this internship prepare you for future employment?

A. Interning with Target helped improve my public speaking a lot. I would have to speak and direct people several times every day, so by the end of the summer it felt easy. The internship also made me feel more confident going into other interviews because of the experiences I had and I’m excited to talk about. I was offered a full-time job with Target as an Executive Team Leader Assistant Manager after I graduate in May. A lot of times internships can lead into full-time jobs which is very exciting!

Q. What was your most significant experience during your internship?

A. The most significant experience I had was building relationships with the teams I was leading. A lot of my team members were a lot older than I and I was worried that

maybe they wouldn’t respect me and follow my direction.

I found out that the key to leading any team is getting to know who you’re working with. Over the course of my internship I worked with 100+ team members and became close with a lot of them. Once we got to know each other, it made working together a lot easier and was hands down my favorite part of the internship. Along the way they helped make me into the leader I am today.

Q. What do you feel you would have done differently, if anything?

A. If I could do it all over again I would tell myself that it is okay to make mistakes. No matter what internship you have, it is okay to not be perfect. It is a learning experience and everyone working with you wants you to succeed. It is okay to ask questions! I don’t think anyone goes into an internship and knows exactly what to expect. If that was true then they wouldn’t be an intern. I would definitely have gone into my internship asking more questions and having more confidence.

Q. What advice do you have for students seeking internships now: A. It is good to start looking for internships as a freshman.

Some programs may only accept sophomores or juniors, but that is okay! It is great to network and get your name out there. Try again the next year and that will show how interested you are. Going to career fairs and handing out your resume is a great place to start. MountaineerTrak is a great website to look as well. It is also okay to be rejected from internships. It is competitive and interviewing takes practice. Mock interviews are a great way to prepare as well.

Jennifer Gardner Student

Jennifer Gardner, a 2017 graduate of the Reed School of Media, is a feature writer at the Charleston Gazette-Mail. In the summer before her senior year she had an internship there as a general assignment reporter. She covered everything from a feature on a mayor’s new radio show to the state’s historic flood.

Here’s more about her internship: Q. What did you take away from this experience?

A. Unlike most interns at the Gazette-Mail, I had never worked in a newspaper before. My only reporting experience came from a few assignments that I had covered in a journalism class. Throughout the summer, I met and built relationships with a variety of sources and learned the day-to-day operations of a daily newspaper and the basics of reporting.

I also learned the value of local reporting. Because many of its readers live in rural areas without basic internet, cable or cell service, they rely on the Gazette-Mail for the weather forecast, movie theater times and of course, to know what is going on in their community and state.

Q. What did you learn about yourself as part of the internship?

A. My biggest strength is my curiosity. I found I loved getting to report on the fun Saturday assignments, like festivals. Those stories helped me become more comfortable with approaching people I didn’t know. I often met influential community members and through them developed some pretty cool stories. My stories might not have been breaking news, but people enjoyed them and often sent in good feedback.

Q. How did this internship prepare you for future employment?

A. Like most of the reporters I worked with, I turned in a story nearly every day. Working at the Gazette-Mail taught me the importance of deadlines and communication. I was held to the same expectation as many of my colleagues.

This also meant seeking feedback at times, which could be intimidating.

Q. What was the most significant experience during your internship?

A. Near the end of my internship, West Virginia was hit with a major flood. It wiped out whole communities and killed 23 people. That is a number I will never forget. It happened on the evening of June 23. I spent June 24 calling hospitals, sheriffs, police stations, shelters, just learning about what kinds of struggles residents were facing. In many areas, it wasn’t safe to visit the flood zones for days. However,

reporters were constantly out in the field, traveling hours to these areas and at times, risking their lives to make sure we were aware of what was happening.

Most of my time in the field was focused around cleanup, which meant I worked with the National Guard and volunteers a lot. My stories were positive, but when I spoke to the victims themselves, I learned the human side of reporting. I learned the story of the elderly woman who couldn’t comprehend how she’d lost her home and all her possessions and had no family to go to. I learned about the woman and a stranger who spent hours stranded on a tin roof as the waters rose within inches from their perch. It was tough, and though I was tough in the field, I was emotional once I returned to my car. It gave my job purpose. I still learn about “flood stories” every day and when I reflect on that part of my internship, it gives me purpose. It probably always will.

Q. What is the most important thing you think students currently looking for internships should know?

A. Go into an internship interview with the intention of learning. I was the least qualified person I knew to apply for the Gazette-Mail internship, but I signed up for the open interview simply so that I could meet the executive editor and find out what he was looking for. I went into my 15-minute time slot with the intention of learning and it (mostly) helped ease the pressure. When you’re looking to learn, you ask a lot of questions and you sort of challenge the subject, which is what I did. This made me realize that you shouldn’t be afraid to go after an internship simply because you are “unqualified.” The requirements for my internship included “experience at student newspaper preferred” which I hadn’t done. (After the internship Gardner served as managing editor of The Daily Athenaeum.) Besides working two PR internships and a few clips from class, I had no related experience. Internships are all about learning and building connections. Make it clear to the person who is interviewing you what you are looking to get out of the internship.

They want to know that you will not only be an asset to them, but you are also looking to learn from the best.

Jess Reed Student

Jess Reed is a West Virginia University alumni who majored in agribusiness management and rural development. After the fall semester of his senior year, Jess began an internship with Silver Springs Stud outside Lexington, Ky. Here is how his internship shaped his career path.

Q. What did you take away from this experience?

A. This was really my first full-time job, so a lot of what I learned involved the typical things you need to know: interacting with coworkers, punctuality, etc. However, I’d say the most important thing for me was working on flexible and disciplined scheduling. Every day I make a list of things to get done, some fun and some not. It’s because of my time in Kentucky that I’m able to make that list longer and longer while still having time for the things I enjoy. If you make the time, you’ll have it.

Q. What did this internship teach you that you may not have otherwise learned?

A. For me, starting out after school I had a very vague idea of how I was going to go out and conquer whatever it was I intended to do. I wanted to prove to myself and everyone else that I could handle a lot of responsibility and hard work; I’m sure I’m not alone in this. I ended up doing that and learned that I could handle a lot, with much less sleep than I would’ve thought was necessary before I left West Virginia. What I realized afterward is that when you haven’t had to push yourself, whether it be mentally or physically, you tend to overestimate your abilities. I think an important part of starting out as an adult is finding that point where you fail. When your best right now isn’t cutting it. It can be very disappointing and incredibly frustrating but also necessary to have that dose of reality as a gauge to measure your future progress and growth.

Q. How did this internship prepare you for future employment?

A. My internship showed me the different aspects of a career that I enjoy and those that I don’t. I like working with my hands, but I also like the possibility of a higher pay scale in my future. I like working outdoors for the most part but I don’t like being on call 24/7. My internship didn’t so much set me up with a career path as steer me in a different direction than I thought I’d go.

Q. What was your most significant experience during your internship?

A. Going into the internship, I had a very basic understanding of horses and the industry. My only on-hands experience was a pony at my fifth birthday party. So it was cool to meet and work with so many other students whose whole life was horses. By the end of the internship, I had learned a lot including knowing each horse on the farm. They’re a lot more like people than you’d think.

Q. What is the most important thing you feel students seeking internships should know?

A. In my experience, references can outweigh experience.

Don’t be afraid to apply, even if you have no idea what you’re doing. Make time for friends and hobbies outside of work. I’m still close friends with my roommates. Prioritize your time, you’ll be glad you did.

Kevin Cassarino Student

Kevin Cassarino, a senior in management information systems at WVU, participated in an internship with Cigna Healthcare his junior year. He continues to intern with Cigna and has been offered a job upon graduation. Here is his internship advice.

Q. What did you take away from this experience?

A. I took away a wealth of knowledge from Cigna’s Technology Early Career Development Program. My internship provided me a platform to solve real enterprise problems using the technology and business acumen that I learned in the classroom. I gained insight on how to implement various tools, technologies and processes across an organization.

Cigna created and supported interactions with executives, mentors and industry experts to help all of the interns gain insight into the company and essential do’s and don’ts to take into account throughout a professional career.

Q. What did this internship teach you that you may not have otherwise learned?

A. My internship helped me develop skills I needed to work through problems where there aren’t clear questions and answers. My time at Cigna has also helped me continue to learn how to properly operate and communicate in a professional setting, and how to deal with clients, vendors and internal stakeholders. Because of the nature of Cigna’s business, I have had an opportunity to gain a great deal of insight and understanding around the healthcare industry, specifically the pharmacy sector. I even had the opportunity to receive training and certifications specific to my career track.

Q. How did this internship prepare you for future employment?

A. My ongoing internship with Cigna is helping me becoming a well-rounded technology professional. Using a technical mindset, I am learning the critical skills that an IT professional must have to solve enterprise problems.

The internship is essentially a summer-long interview, and I received an offer to join to company full time upon graduation.

Q. What was your most significant experience during your internship?

A. I had the opportunity to interact with executives and key leaders within the company. We learned valuable lessons through a speaker series and worked collaboratively to build innovative applications as a part of an internship project. At the end of the summer internship, senior leadership reviewed each team’s project and provided valuable feedback.

Q. What do you feel you would have done differently, if anything?

A. If I could go back to the beginning of my internship, I would have made more of an effort to understand the various groups within the company, even outside of the IT department. With a company of Cigna’s size, it is remarkable how many moving parts there are. Understanding what everyone does makes you a more efficient worker, and having those interactions and relationships will help your professional network down the road.

What did you experienc that you feel students seeking internships should know?

While not always easy, I believe patience is key when pursuing an internship. We all like to bite at the first lead that comes our way, but I feel it is critical to join a company where you will be working on actual business problems and initiatives that are in line with your career goals. I also made sure that any internship program I was joining included a shot at a full-time position after graduation and was not a just dead end.

10 tips for entrepreneurial success from women, for women (BPT) - More women than ever are entrepreneurs. However, while women continue to make strides in business ownership, the path to success is still significantly more difficult for women than men. A recent study reports that female entrepreneurs receive only about 2 percent of all funding, despite owning 38 percent of the businesses in the country (Harvard Business Review).

“The culinary industry is dominated by men, but I have never let that get in the way of my success,” says Leticia Skai Young, owner of LoLo’s Seafood Shack in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. “Don’t worry about being a woman, worry about being a leader. Focus on being your best self.”

Photo by Arielle Figueredo for the International Culinary Center(R) To inspire the next generation of business owners, Young partnered with the Stacy’s Rise Project, an initiative from Stacy’s Snacks that helps women shatter the glass ceiling in the highest ranks of the culinary industry. Young hopes her tips will help other women who aspire to own their own business: 1. Don’t let your gender hold you back. “Being a woman is a business advantage,” says Young. “Many women are excellent multi-taskers and natural leaders, who are community-minded and want others to share in our success.” All are positive attributes of any successful business owner. “Ultimately, your attitude and work ethic matter far more than your gender.”

2. Identify your niche. Don’t be a “Jane of all trades, master of none. ” Find a niche for your skill set and make it your own. LoLo’s Seafood Shack serves a mixture of coastal comfort foods and Caribbean street food, drawing upon the heritage of Young and her husband, who is the executive chef. The unique combination helps set LoLo’s apart in the crowded New York restaurant scene.

3. Every day is an opportunity to learn. At the beginning of her culinary career, Young invested in specialized training at the International Culinary Center’s Culinary Entrepreneurship program. Today, she’s taking free business courses through a community education program. “I knew I had a lot to learn about the business side of things,” said Young. “So, I got the help that I needed to get ahead. No matter your time and budget, there are opportunities to learn, grow and improve.”

4. Find a mentor. Mentorship is critical to success, with women in mentorship programs garnering more promotions, higher salaries and more career satisfaction overall. But it can be challenging for women to find a female mentor. If needed, search beyond where you work, or look for someone who is where you aspire to be in 10 years.

5. Get practical experience. “A mentor once told me that before I opened my own restaurant, I should open three restaurants for someone else,” said Young. “Higher education helps immensely, because you understand the strategy and theory behind your work. But when you encounter a business challenge, nothing beats having past experiences to draw from.”

6. Ask for help. Many women try to do it all, often sacrificing their own health or happiness in order to complete the task at hand. “Asking for help does not mean you’re incapable. It’s an indication of strong leadership and self awareness, two excellent qualities in an entrepreneur,” says Young.

7. Be your own advocate. When you’ve proven you have the skills to do the job, stand up for yourself and say so. Confidence is a valuable business asset. When you believe in yourself, others will sense it and be more inclined to believe in you, too.

8. Find your own work/life balance. No one can tell you what type of balance is right for you. Find what works for you and focus on the mix of professional and personal time that allows you to be best satisfied at home and at work.

9. Don’t forget to have fun. You can work hard, produce a good product and still have fun. When you are a positive influence on the people around you, you elevate the entire team. People who feel encouraged and appreciated will take pride in what they’re doing and become not only employees, but also ambassadors.

10. Share your success. Stories of women who have succeeded help encourage those who are still striving to accomplish similar success. “Don’t be afraid to speak proudly about yourself and what you have accomplished, you never know who is listening, and who your story will inspire,” says Young.

To learn more about Stacy’s Rise Project and opportunities to advance your entrepreneurial dreams, visit stacyssnacks.com/riseproject.

Networking in the Social Sphere Builds Strong Career Connections (NewsUSA) – A strong network is a key building block for career success. Whether you’re looking for a new job or connecting with peers in your industry, building a strong set of connections to help advance your career is vital.

While older generations used to build their networks one handshake at a time, today’s networkers foster and maintain connections online through the use of social media tools.

Whether you’re a social media novice or aficionado, it is important to remember that unlike connections made through face-to-face contact, when building an online network, credibility is assessed via digital profiles.

“It’s essential for professionals to understand that digital tools like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter allow our professional and personal worlds to blend,” says Jason Seiden, co-founder of Ajax Social Media and a member of the Career Advisory Board, presented by DeVry University. “You must learn to bring the edges in and ensure your online profile exudes both elements effectively, without misrepresenting either.”

Building or revising your digital profile may seem daunting, but there are simple ways to bolster it to showcase what you have to offer, helping you connect to the right people more quickly.

For those feeling unsure where to begin, Seiden offers actionable advice for building a strong digital profile to position oneself for online networking success.

Build a profile that stands out.

Distinguish yourself by telling your story. Have your profile reflect more about who you are and what you have learned rather than what you have done. Think of your profile as a mirror: instead of trying to sound professional, give yourself permission to reflect who you are.

If your reflection shows gaps relative to the demands of positions you are applying for, consider acquiring the skills or enrolling in degree programs needed to qualify. “DeVry University is a great choice for professionals interested in increasing their marketability because it offers flexible scheduling options, allowing students to take online courses, classes on campus or a combination of both,” says Seiden. “Having the ability to complete your education while balancing job and family commitments can ease stress as you create a blueprint for advancing your career.”

Build the well before you’re thirsty.

Even online, building a strong network takes time, effort and continual maintenance.

As you begin reaching out to industry contacts, don’t be too eager to connect. Be cognizant of whom you are contacting and how they can help you as you advance your career.

While it’s easy to get caught up in your online networks, traditional relationships are still important. Seiden advises, “Take your relationships offline. Pick up the phone or meet face-to-face.” Simple tactics like these are the key to lasting, mutually beneficial connections. By fostering strong relationships ahead of time, you will have the confidence to reach out in the future to take your career to the next level.

For career development insight, visit DeVry’s Career Services, and for additional social networking tips, visit jasonseiden.com.

Resume help One of the first, and sometimes most intimidating parts, of the job search is creating a resume that showcases your experience, skill and is targeted to the job you are seeking. Relax, the Career Services Center in the Mountainlair can help. The center has a “build a resume” section on its website and loads of examples. And after you have created a draft, counselors are available to offer feedback in person or by email.

Here’s are some of the center’s guidelines (for a full list check the career center website at careerservices.wvu.edu): General guidelines: • A resume is a marketing tool, not a complete job history. Include only the items that will help you get the job you want.

Target your resume to a specific position or industry.

• Your resume should be no more than two pages. One is better.

• Your resume should have consistent formatting. The body text should be between 10 and 12 points.

• RUN spellcheck and carefully proofread. Then have a couple other people look at your resume.

Contact information: • Your name should be in the largest font in the resume. Your contact information should be in smaller font.

• Different scenarios dictate which address you should include. If your address is close to the job location, include it. If not and you want to include it, add that you will be willing to relocate.

• List the phone number at which you can most easily be reached. Make sure your voicemail is professional.

• Use a professional email. If you don’t have one, create a new one.

• Include the URL of your website or LinkedIn profile only if the content is relevant, up-to-date and appropriate for employer viewing.

Objective: (Some recruiters encourage including an objective, others don’t. The Career Services Center says to consider one if you are applying for position for which you have little experience or if you want a recruiter to know why you want a job that may not obviously align with your experience.)

• Keep it short.

• Avoid phrases that give the impression you are only interested in the role because it would benefit your career.

For example, DON’T write: “To find a job that will help me grow as a professional.”

• Don’t use “I” or “my’ in your resume or objective.

Education • Include your GPA if it is 3.0 or above or if specified in the job posting.

• If you studied abroad, include it in the education section • If you financed your education, say so! Here’s how: “Maintained a 3.5 GPA while working part-time to finance 75% of college expenses.”

Experience • Include full-time and part-time jobs whether paid or unpaid.

• Be sure to give descriptions of the work you accomplished. Use strong verbs: “coordinated, managed and cultivated.”

Avoid phrases such as “was responsible for” or “duties included.”

• Watch verb tense. If the internship is over, verbs should be in the past tense (led, ran, oversaw) but if ongoing, use present tense (lead, run, oversee).

• Quantify your responsibilities whenever possible using numbers. For example, give the number of employees supervised or the size of the budget managed.

• Emphasize your accomplishments and how they helped your employer instead of simply stating responsibilities.

For example: Don’t write: “Responsibilities included implementation of policies and procedures, training new staff and working with subordinates and vendors.

Write: “Worked with staff and vendors to increase product turnover by 15 percent and sales by 24 percent. Trained 14 new employees, five of whom were quickly promoted.”

Remember the Career Services Center should be your first stop when preparing for your job and internship search.

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