Interning Offers Great Benefits for Students and Employers

To keep our blog fresh and exciting for our readers, Envoy runs a post by a guest blogger each month. This month, we are excited to have Megan Finn as our guest blogger. Some of you may remember Megan as our recent summer intern. She is currently attending her last semester of college at Midland University in Fremont, Neb. On Dec. 17, Megan will graduate with double majors in business administration and Spanish.

It’s hard to believe it has been 106 days since the last time I took the morning walk up to the loft at Envoy. It seems like just yesterday Mo Borden was giving me a poem, some dill and a big hug to send me off into the world.

Before interning at Envoy, my resume consisted of six months serving as a sandwich artist at Subway and three summers of mowing and watering grass at Champions Club. I remember feeling pretty nervous (let’s be honest — I was shaking in my blazer) about interviewing with minimal related job experience.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2010 Student Survey, 42.3 percent of seniors who had internship experience and applied for a job after college received at least one job offer, versus only 30.7 percent of those without internship experience. The benefits of an internship are countless; however, I don’t want you to become bored. So, here are the top five things I benefited from my internship at Envoy:

1. Experience — With an internship like the one at Envoy, I have more than a grade point average on my resume. It shows that I have learned specific skills in a field that I would like to work in after graduation. Employers know that new graduates aren’t going to have much experience on their resumes, so an internship can put you one step ahead of the competition.
2. Responsibility — The most important thing about entering the work force is understanding the responsibility of your job. The great thing about Envoy is that the database system made it easy to remember deadlines, but it was still each individual’s responsibility to get his or her part done. In school, it may not matter if you do not turn in a homework assignment; at work if you miss a deadline you have the potential to delay the whole project. For everyone.
3. Decisions —Interning is like an audition. It gave me a chance to determine whether marketing and public relations are a good choice for my future. After interning, students should ask themselves questions: Did you enjoy yourself? Did you improve? What did you learn? Were you any good at the job? Decide now before you throw yourself into a career that is not right for you.
4. Relationships and Networking — At Envoy, I had the opportunity to meet a group of great people who know how to do their jobs exceptionally. Not only did I learn a great deal, but I also benefitted from developing relationships with the staff. For example, a couple of weeks back I needed some help with a paper for class. I simply e-mailed Sally Morrissey for a quick interview, and she was more than happy to help. Not only did I do wonderful on my assignment, but it also keeps me in touch with Sally for a possible future contact. You know the old saying: Sometimes it’s not what you know, but whom you know.
5. Confidence — I remember how scared I was during the first couple weeks of my stay at Envoy. I was way too nervous to ask questions or speak up about anything, but the Loft Ladies were always encouraging me to talk to them if I needed any sort of help. They never once made me feel uncomfortable about asking questions. The ladies were great about giving me compliments or being sympathetic about mistakes. The confidence I gained at Envoy has not only helped me in school, but also in my part time job. I speak up with ideas and do not shy away from asking questions.

I will carry the skills I learned as an intern with me for the rest of my career, and they make me more valuable to my future employers. For students, I highly recommend an internship to broaden the scope of your education. For employers, the pratical job skills you provide your interns are indispensable, so if you haven’t considered hosting interns, you might put it on your planner for next year.