This past summer, four University students from the School of Science took the opportunity to gain real world experience through internships outside of NJ.
The internship locations ranged from NJ to OR and were completed by students Peter Chace, Justin Schlemm, Patrick Fedick, and Jessica Kozma. Each student explained that during their experience they discovered the value of an internships while in college.
“The experience really opened my eyes to what graduate school will be like, it gave me a lot of connections and it also gave me an edge by being able to experience research outside of what I was used to,” said Patrick Fedick, chemistry major who participated in a 10 week summer research program through MassNanoTech at the University of Massachusetts.
A Forbes article, Internships May Be the Easiest Way to Jobs in 2013 stated, “Sixty-percent of companies with 100 or more employees offered full-time jobs to their interns in 2012.”
Jessica Kozma, computer science and mathematics major said, “The relationships that I formed at Hershey are some of the strongest ones I have formed. I still currently talk to my manager about potential job opportunities.” Kozma interned at The Hershey Company in PA.
“We worked over the summer using skills developed in our classes and many that we had to develop on our own to complete the task,” stated Justin Schlemm, software engineering major.
Elena Mazza, assistant social work professor, believes students gain experience with internship opportunities.
Mazza said, “I started my first job as an intern at Monmouth Medical Center working on the inpatient psychiatric unit. When I left Monmouth Medical Center 10 years later, I was the Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services for the entire hospital.”
Michael Phillips Anderson, assistant communication professor, thinks that students are able to test out their options through an internship. More importantly, Phillips Anderson said students can figure out which direction in their field is best for them.
Anderson said, “Although the work was challenging, it really showed me that I didn’t want a job in the business world.”
As stated in Forbes, students are given the chance to gain a full understanding of the requirements for a particular full-time job position through an internship.
Eleanor Novek, assistant communication professor, said, “Sometimes students have a mistaken idea about what a job involves, but when they get a chance to try it, they decide they don’t actually want it.”
The Career Services Department provides all students and alumni with numerous opportunities for internships. Career Services delivers bi-weekly job newsletter emails with full-time and part-time positions. The free newsletter subscription contains local and regional internship and job opportunities for students.
William Hill, Assistant Dean for Career Services, said, “There are many benefits to interning such as, leading to a full-time job, networking with professionals in your field, and an excellent addition to your resume.”
The Career Services Department also presents four career days throughout the academic year. These events include the Humanities and Social Sciences Career Day and Internship Day in October, a Fall Career Day in November; the Educators’ Career Day in March and a Spring Career Day in April.
“Students have been able to more accurately set goals for themselves, enhance their resumes, and utilize the experiences and networking opportunities they’ve had in the work place,” said Linda Flaming, Chair of the Accounting and Business Law Department.
Students that apply for an internships are given a head start upon graduation and will be able to attain experience for their future, Hill explained. “I do occasionally get emails from students after their internships, 99 percent of the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Most say the experience helped them learn a great deal about their career choice,” he said.
Nora Smith, Assistant Social Work Professor, said, “As a graduate, having this resume documented experience, in addition to a diploma, allows potential employers to know that their academic experience included this professional practice better preparing them for employment.”
PHOTO COURTESY of Jim Reme
