We could write pages about the pluses of internship participation, but we feel that it will be more beneficial to allow students to present their questions directly to former interns.

     So, if you would like to find out about internships in a specific field, or about interning in general, please contact any of the students or alums listed below who have agreed to participate in our online internship mentoring program. 

     It is satisfying to be able to tell you that several of our past interns have gone on to secure careers wherein their employers have allowed them to establish internship programs which now provide a "second-generation" internship opportunity to our present student body.
 
 

FORMER INTERN	AREA OF INTERNSHIP
Jennifer Arbutina	Sports Information Marketing
Deanna Craver	Radio Production and Television Customer Relations
Kelly Gionti	Magazine writing, Editing, Teaching
Maria Houston	Juvenile Court Probation Officer
Elizabeth Modarelli	Publishing, DTP, Marketing, Sales
Julie Jelinek	Fund-raising
Lisa Starr Kotasek	Law, Research, Webpage design
Robert Krantz	Newsletter writing, DTP, Reporting, Feature writing
Rachel Louden	Magazine Editiorial Assistant,  Research
Diana Marthey	Archiving, Library Science
Dawn Mealey	DTP, Newsletter writing,  General Office Applications
Megan McGowan	Law, Education
Mary Nicodemus	Social Services
Amy Petersen	Research, Curatorial, Publishing, Interpretation
Travis Reynolds	Marketing, Newspaper/Magazine reporting, Public Relations
Jana Russ	Publishing, Editing, DTP,  Marketing and Sales
Andy Schunk	News reporting
Kelly Trenta-Daw	Development
Matt Zapp	Public Relations, Marketing

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

READ WHAT FORMER INTERNS HAVE TO SAY!

     The following information was provided by UA students who understand the benefits of internship experience.  Student sponsors included local corporations, non-profit organizations, and on-campus departments and programs.
 
 

Lisa Kotasek (1999), Law goal turned from courtroom to training:

"My internship was the beginning of my career.

I was an English major because I knew I wanted to go to law school; I was sure I wanted to be an attorney.  I began my internship with The University of Akron's Office of General Counsel, where I received a real look at lawyering in an institution of higher education.  The internship led to a law clerk position there during law school.  Though maybe someday I will practice law, my internship experience, and my practical experience thereafter within the legal office, exposed me to alternative uses of my law degree - training and development. 

After law school, I obtained a full-time position within UA's Human Resources Office as the Employee Training and Development Specialist, conducting . . . legal preventive trainings for the employees.  I enjoyed this fantastic first position for two years, where I also supervised our interns from the A&S Careers Program! 

 I am now employed by Columbia University in New York City, working as Manager for Training and Development Services, which further depicts that the internships, the education, and the experience at The University of Akron have truly paid off."

Kelly Trenta (1999), Recently earned her master's in development and now works in the UA Alumni Association: 

"The progression from college student to job-seeking graduate can be daunting.  Thanks to the A&S Careers Program, however, this doesn't have to be such a scary process.  I came to the program looking for direction in my future and found it in an internship.  Because of the knowledge and experience I gained as an intern, I found myself fully prepared to enter the job market with confidence in my abilities.  The internship opened up a new world of job choices and gave me the necessary skills to pursue my choice.  Now I'm employed full time in a position that is already opening up more opportunties for my professional future."

 
Shirley Snyder (1999), Completed MLS and is employed by the federal government in Washington, DC:

"Internships offer so much more than traditional classroom learning.  I had two internships during my stint at UA.  Each internship was vastly different from the other, but both were growing and learning experiences.  Interning is great because you are "practicing" your skills.  Your boss and co-workers are more patient, I think, because you aren't a graduate yet .  However, . . . bosses still expect quality work. . . .

If you are uncertain about your interest in a particular field, an internship provides you with a short (and temporary!) taste of that profession. . . . (I)f you don't like a field, you can find out before you get a full-time job that you end up hating.  Of course, an internship looks fabulous on your resume, too.  Prospective employers see that you took initiative during your time in school to develop a career path.

Internships offer great opportunities to network with others in the field.  This will also aid greatly later when looking for a full-time job or a reference for graduate school.

Balancing off-campus jobs and school can be a challenge, but it's worth it.  Juggling work and classes is a skill most graduates should have, because later in life you will have to strike a balance between work and homelife.  (A) successful balancing act speaks volumes for your ability to manage time and to organize, both of which are excellent skills for job seekers to possess."
 

Doug Edwards (2000), former Managing Editor of UA's award winning newspaper, The Buchtelite:

 "Without the Careers Program I would have been an English major with the ability to write but without the skills to land employment after graduation.  And let's face it--many of us are going to school not just to learn about Shakespeare but also to guarantee ourselves a successful and happy career after graduation.  Thus, internships are our keys to success.  And one doesn't have to go poor while interning.  At one of my two internships I obtained through the Careers Program, I earned $1600 (gross) a month!

 Employers are always looking for interns to be valuable members of their staffs, not just to pour coffee and be "yes" men/women.  Apply to  places where you would like to work, but also check out the Program for any current openings.  Today's employers are not just looking for experience--they're demanding it.  Thus, secure internships now in order to guarantee yourself employment after graduation."
 

Travis Reynolds (2000, 2001), interned with InterLink New Media and Quaker City Raceway and now works in public relations:

"The opportunities afforded me through interning were without a doubt the reason I got a great job so quickly after graduation.  I can literally say that the first job I had was a direct result of an internship.  It's all about networking and building a solid resume with an impressive portfolio.  If you just graduated college, chances are you don't have many contacts or a resume with proven experience in your field.  An internship helps you gain both, while giving you the chance to 'test the waters' before removing the life-jacket."

Megan McGowan (2003), interned on campus with UA's Office of General Counsel:

"Acquiring an internship . . . provided me with meaningful hands-on experience in my chosen field of study, improved my resume, and allowed me to meet valuable contacts who ultimately pointed me in the direction of my dream job.

You CANNOT go wrong with adding an internship; you will either discover a hidden passion or find out that your potential career wasn't quite what you expected.  Either way, you win!"
 

Angela Conley (2004), also interned on campus in UA's Alumni Association:

"(Enrolling in the internship program) was one of the wisest decisions I have ever made.  For the first time, I worked in a professional environment much different from the food service jobs and other positions I had held in the past.  I learned so much about what I was capable of, . . . how the university hierarchy is set up, proper writing and conversational techniques for a professional setting, and the importance of networking.  I . . . had the opportunity to meet many well-known alumni and did it all in a capacity that challenged my writing skills and helped me feel better prepared for the business world.

I encourage everyone to enroll . . . .  The experiences are beneficial in ways you can never imagine . . . helping you discover your likes, dislikes, ideal work environment, etc.  Don't be afraid to take the first step toward a successful career."
 

Diana Marthey (Summer 2005), currently working on an MLS and an MBA:

"I decided to intern at an archives because I already had experience working in public libraries, . . . knew that I was going to pursue my graduate degree in Library and INformation Science, but didn't have any idea in which area to specialize.  Being an intern helped me to rule out being an archivist.  Now I have the knowledge of the similarities and differences between an archive and a library.  This experience helped me to decide on my future career plans, which will also include an MBA; and I will concentrate on the area of Library Management."

Deanna Craver (2006), production intern for local radio station and community relations intern for local television station:

"I enjoyed taking internships for many reasons. While I was able to get valuable experience with internships, I also "found myself" through doing such work; I originally wanted to be a copy writer, but after an internship in this area I realized I would rather work in marketing or public relations for a non-profit organization. I'm glad I discovered this while interning as opposed to working an actual job!

In addition, interning allowed me to network with many other companies and organizations, generating several potential job leads for me upon graduation.

Of course, by taking internships I was also able to compile a pretty impressive resume and portfolio. Interning has definitely prepared me for my future!"
 

Maria Houston (2007), probation officer at county juvenile court:

"Even though I was a senior psychology major, I was still unsure as to what I wanted to do.  I took the placement at the [juvenile court], hoping that it would give me the opportunity as an undergrduate to work with troubled individuals.  My expectations for this internship were definitely exceeded.  I did not engage only in my specific assignments, but the door to meeting people, observing reality, and skill enhancement was there.  I recommend this site to future students, regardless of major!"