Throughout the spring semester, many University of Georgia students begin their summer internship searches, competing for positions in various fields to gain real-world work experience. For many students, this is a daunting task, but with the help of Career Centers and school-specific programs, this experience can become more customized and approachable.
I too found myself struggling to find summer opportunities while scrolling through LinkedIn and hoping someone would read my application. As a journalism student in the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, I had many programs at my disposal at the university and was encouraged to apply to specific media outlets and many professors for help. My inbox is filled with internship and job announcements every week.
With my own internship search in the back of my mind, I wondered how other students’ experiences compared to mine, and whether they were perfecting the process to get that coveted acceptance email. I did.
Many students turn to the Career Center for help finding summer positions. The Career Center, located in Clark Howell Hall, offers resume writing assistance and the opportunity to schedule her one-on-one meeting with a consultant.
Creating a Handshake account is a good place to start searching for open positions. This online platform allows companies to post job and internship vacancies for students, and the site can be accessed through the Career Center’s website. The Career Center also has a professional photo booth where you can take headshots for your online professional profile.
Jack Reil, a junior accounting major, is working this summer as a tax intern at the Duluth accounting firm Moore Stevens Tiller. He attributes his success to the assistance and preparation Terry provided through his JM Tull School of Accounting, which offers his college’s accounting program.
“I can definitely say I was pretty prepared. [UGA]”Most companies rate the Tull School here very highly,” Reil said. “So I felt like I went into all the companies in a good mood. They all knew how tough the schools were here, so they all felt like I was a great fit.”
Reil praised Tull for not only preparing students academically, but also providing opportunities for students to interact with recruiters and company representatives. Their events and email communications provide students with the opportunity to discover and meet face-to-face companies with the potential to succeed.
“I think Tal is doing a really good job because I think Tal is a host.” [events] I come here about once a month. So if you go to school in Tal, it’s very difficult not to find a job,” said Lail. “All my friends signed for this summer or this summer.”
Sadie Townsend, a sophomore accounting major, also praised Terry and found it easy to find an internship. Last summer, she worked as a bank teller.
“In Terry’s case, I didn’t find it difficult because you have so many accounting resources and people basically just come to you for an internship,” Townsend said. “I didn’t know how the process would work and was really overwhelmed…But actually getting the internship and getting the interview was probably easier than doing any other type of job.”
From these two students, I learned the importance of school-specific opportunities found in many majors. These programs appear to be the key to success. Taking advantage of your university’s resources and seeking advice from experienced professors can go a long way in increasing your confidence in your abilities and finding places where your skills are sought after.
If your university doesn’t offer the same amount of resources, don’t forget to look into general career center services as they are not program specific. Talk to others in your class and connect with upperclassmen on LinkedIn to get ideas about what others are doing. Look at the companies your colleagues post on social media or mention in conversations. The most important thing is not to let it get to you. Having an internship does not define your career or who you are as a person.
