When I came to UIC, I knew that I couldn’t possibly learn everything about my future career in the classroom. I had to extend a foot outside class and learn how to apply my theories from class into practice.
As a communication major and managerial skills minor, my goal is to be involved in the field of public relations after graduation. In fact, my dream job is to be a public relations manager for a record label or recording artist. In order to fully grasp what it takes to make it in the business, I understood that I needed to learn all I could about the field.
I landed my first internship sophomore year. I was fortunate enough to be hired as a social media intern for the Office of Sustainability here on campus. In that role, I contributed to the office blog, added content to the website, ran the Facebook page and Twitter account for the office and helped spread awareness about the office’s initiatives through a couple of videos I made for the organization. It was a great way to learn how to represent a brand and communicate with others through social media and online tools. I am truly happy I was able to start my career-oriented work at the Office of Sustainability.
A video I made at the Office of Sustainability internship
After about a year of interning for the office, I decided to pursue other interests for my junior year of college. Last semester, I started remotely interning for a independent record label. I learned some valuable stuff about the business and what happens behind the scenes of the music industry. I also learned a thing or two about online promotions and event planning through webinars with industry professionals. However, I felt the need to be in a physical workspace. The internship at the label was a good sneak preview of the public relations and communications field in the music industry; however, I wanted a full preview.
Before break last semester I began looking for a new internship. Around that time, I had a chance to meet the promotions manager for a major radio network in Chicago during a class presentation. It was then I learned of a promotions internship opportunity. After applying, I was able to snag an interview. After a great interview this past Wednesday, I was happy to find out that I got it! In the coming weeks, I will begin a new experience as a promotions intern for a major radio network. I am more than excited to start, as this internship will show me hands-on how to conduct great promotions and public relations.
Interning is essential if you want to get a great job when you graduate. I really encourage all of you to intern if you haven’t yet! Not only are you able to receive academic credit for it, but more importantly, you will learn a great deal about what you want to do later in life. You will also have some experience to show your employers when you begin job hunting. To be quite honest, the benefits of an internship are endless.
Are internships hard to find? Not at all! Is it hard to get into one? Maybe. Luckily, UIC has a variety of resources for internships and prepping. Go to the UIC Office of Career Services website to look at a list of places that are currently look for interns. Also, if you search the careers section of the website for a company where you’d like to intern, I’m sure you will find some great opportunities for internships. Furthermore, I know if you get in contact with the LAS Internship Program they will be more than willing to help you find some organizations you can intern at.
The point is — there are many places you can intern. You just have to take the first step and start looking! Interning benefits you in a number of ways…so get to it!
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