As the final weeks of spring semester draw to a close, students said they are beginning to apply and interview for summer internships. Internships allow students to get hands-on experience in the professional world before graduating and beginning their careers.
While some students said they choose to apply for internships within their career paths, other students said they apply for miscellaneous positions—broadening their overall skill sets.
“Although the internship didn’t have anything strictly to do with my major, the experience was still incredibly useful,” Sebastian Bellm, a junior finance and accounting major, said. “The most important skill I gained and developed was critical thinking. This internship forced me to think and work in a real world environment, which gave me a valuable experience.”
Bellm spent last summer interning for Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois. Working in the misdemeanor and felony trial division from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Bellm received an understanding of what the professional environment is like.
“I was in the courtroom and we would do 30 to 40 cases in one day—working on cases like DUIs, prostitution, assault and battery,” Bellm said. “The rest of the day we would plan for tomorrow’s trials and cases. In the felony trial division we would spend two weeks on one case, developing case theory and witness lineups. Both required an incredible attention to detail.”
While some students said they choose to focus solely on gaining professional experience, other students said they try to incorporate their personal interests into their desired internships.
For junior history major Jason Damon, an internship with The Knights of Columbus provided an opportunity for him to combine his career path and faith. Damon said he heard about this internship through his membership in the organization.
“For me, the process wasn’t intimidating at all,” Damon said. “I’m a member of the Knights, and they sent out a notice about this opening to all college members. I simply sent in my resume and a cover letter, and they responded fairly quickly asking for a phone interview. They awarded me the opportunity a few days after that.”
Many students said they recommend that those seeking internship opportunities consider organizations that they or their families may already be a part of—it is surprising how many companies have internship positions available.
“I had an internship for the Knights of Columbus Office of Public Policy in Washington, D.C.,” Damon said. “I assisted with research and advocacy efforts mostly, meeting occasionally with politicians to discuss various issues we saw as being of high importance.”
Damon said this internship was rewarding due to its ability to allow him to gain professional experience, while making a difference in the lives of others.
Similar to Damon, many students said that taking advantage of internship opportunities gave them a good understanding of life in the professional world.
“For my internship [at Owens Illinois], I did a lot of administrative duties such as file maintenance, scheduled interviews, coordinated on boarding activities and audited I9 documentation,” junior business management major Stephanie Jenkins said. “Getting an internship is important, because it puts you out in the real world, giving you an understanding of how a business is run and what employees have to do on a day to day basis.”
Students interested in finding out about potential internships can schedule an appointment at the Career and Professional Readiness Center (CPRC), located on the second floor of the Reilly Center. According to the SBU website, the CPRC assists students in their search for career and internship opportunities and works to development both students’ interview skills and résumés.
“I think it’s really important to experience the working world outside of Olean,” senior biology major Colleen Guilfoyle said. Guilfoyle interned for the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida. “There are so many opportunities to take advantage of here at Bonas, but there is so much more to see and do. Internships can really help students find what they’re passionate about.”
mcgurllt14@bonaventure.edu
