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Show LEARN TO Features Editor: Paul Garcia Phone: 626-7661 Internships offer a glimpse of the real, real world Internships give students taste of job market By Paul Garcia features editor I The Signpost Internships are helping many Weber State University students move out into the real world and begin looking for real jobs with real pay-Nearly 5,000 WSU students per year are finding that most internships offer three benefits: a great resume addition, credits for - school and a steady paycheck. The most basic role of internships is to prepare students for jobs in their career field by allowing them to work for an organization and relate that work experience to their major while possibly earning credit hours to help them graduate. "I am getting an incredible experience working for a large company that will look excellent on a resume," said WSU senior Shawn Cowder, an intern at Boeing. "Going into the computer -, field, if you do not have any experience most companies do not even want to talk to you." Finding an internship Pat Wheeler, the career and employment advisor at the John B Goddard School of Business and Economics, said that most students are typically not ready for an internship until they become juniors. "They have to get generals out of the way plus a few courses in their major," Wheeler said. "They need to be able to bring something to the table." So when the time is right, many students turn to the career center in search of an internship. Wheeler suggested that students interact with the career service liaisons for their major and register with the Cyber Cat System which posts internships for all Utah universities. Wheeler , said that interacting with their career liaison is necessary v because some majors require internships or other work experience programs for graduation. "The first thing to do in order to get an internship is check with Weber and see what they can find for you," Cowder said. He also suggested that networking is key to finding an internship. "The more I get into the job market the more 1 realize that it is all about who you know, then it is about what you know," Cowder added. Wheeler agreed. "You just don't know when you're visiting with someone an opportunity may come up," she said. Wheeler also suggested that students network with faculty. "Fmnloveps will rail fariiltv to find out how good the student is and what training they've had," she added. Securing the spot Once students have applied for an internship, professionalism is key. "Be sure to present yourself as a professional in dress, speech and how you carry yourself," said WSU senior and Boeing intern Tamra Hart. She added that a resume and interviewing skills are vital to securing the spot. Fellow WSU senior and Boeing intern, Trina Love, agreed and added that a positive attitude is another must have asset. "Personality goes a long way," she said. And benefits for all Most interns get paid. In fact, Wheeler said that most WSU career liaisons and students only deal with paid internships, although unpaid internships do exist. She claimed that most intern salaries range from $7 to $12.00 per hour. "Money offered will be anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 more because they have that experience," she said. Wheeler added that students deserve money because they are bringing a certain level of expertise, and that employers like to "grow their own" employees. And that expertise is exactly what has employers so eager for interns. "Employers want innovative ideas," said Love. "Also, if they find someone they are looking for, they would not want to lose that individual to a competitor," Love added. In addition to the cash, most interns value the opportunity to apply all that they have learned to their jobs, and add precious marketability to their resumes. "This internship gives me the real world experience I need to make myself marketable in the job field," Cowder said. WSU student and Boeing intern, Kenan LaFrance agreed "It helps the employer get a feel for the level of work they can expect from new grads and students get a great idea of the real work place," he said. Making your own internship opportunity Sometimes students can not find the right internship for them, and if that happens, there are two options available. "Liasons will help develop one if the student can't find one," Wheeler said. Liasions do this by looking for employers and checking with them for availability. Students can also check with their employers to sec if there are opportunities available. That is what Ryan Smith, a WSU senior did. His unique internship experience contrasts sharply with the experiences of other intern1; not iust : 1 1 7' r:'r: 1 1 1 1 WSU senior Trina Love (left) and Tamra Hart (right) are interns at aeronautics giant Boeing. Love is an information systems and technology major and her days consist of problem solving. Hart, is a computer science major specializing in software engineering. Her day is spent analyzing and correcting errors. "I am getting an incredible experience working for a large company that will look excellent on a resume. Going into the computer field, if you do not have any experience most companies do not even want to talk to you." Shawn Cowder WSU student on his internship at Boeing because it was a self-made internship, but because it was unpaid. Smith was a supervisor at Convergys when he became interested in the Information Systems and Technology department. After discussing the possibility of an internship with managers at Convergys, he made an internship proposal complete with an outline of what his duties would be. The proposal was given the green light, and he was an intern for four months. "One reason the position was nrnhahlv annrnvpH was hpransp if was voluntary; I worked for free," Smith said. Because he was working for free, Smith had to change his lifestyle a bit. He and his family had to move in with his in-laws, but he was glad he did it. "An internship may be a sacrifice, but it is worth it," he said. "My internship was the only thing that made me stand out as I have applied for jobs," Smith added. Many students tout internships as a way to gain real world experience for the unexperienced and Smith -Mtvv.w.-. .T. "I felt fortunate that I could get an internship without any experience," he said. "It sounds funny to say that, since the purpose of an internship is to get experience; but in reality that is not how it works. Good internships arc competitive and most require experience. Regardless of how one may feel about internships, there is little doubt that sacrifices made and lessons learned will translate into serious money that is earned later. You can reach reporter Paul |