Summer internships help students prepare for future careers
For many college students, an internship can be the key that unlocks the door of success in their upcoming careers.
Shauna Karren, supervisor of the cooperative education department in the College of Business, said co-op services helped place 225 students from the College of Business alone in internships this summer.
Sharielle Pay, a senior majoring in apparel and textiles, was hired for a three-month internship working for Ann Kline clothing design company.
She mainly worked in the design department working with head designers. Pay was able to see how the design world works and what goes into designing and producing garments.
Pay was also able to gain experience in many departments of the company.
“I worked in the merchandising department, the fabric room, and on the runway shows but I was mainly based out of the design department,” Pay said.
Her input was used and valued in creating ideas for clothing lines when working with head designers. A large factor in the success of her internship was that she was able go outside of Utah.
“It’s especially important for design and fashion majors to see what else is out there and be able to experience the real deal,” Pay said.
“You need the experience [of an internship] if you want to be successful in your future,” Pay said.
Karren said, “Statistics show that 60 to 70 percent of students that participate in an internship are later offered full-time positions by the company they served their internship with.”
Amber Dawn Zane, a junior majoring in theater performance and stage management, participated in the Old Lyric Repertory Theatre internship as the properties assistant and designer.
Zane said she pulled props for shows, built sets, designed props for “Forever Plaid” and helped with the remainder of the season’s shows.
“I had to read the script and talk with the director and know the concept and time period of the shows then design props that complimented and worked with that concept,” Zane said.
After the properties design was finished, Zane had to find or make what was needed for the show.
“Go out and do internships,” Zane said. “Get to know as many people as you can and remember it is a learning experience no matter what happens.”
She also said she gained stronger communication skills with people and an importance of hard work and teamwork.
“Overall, internships provide opportunities to know professionals in your field and see how the job really works,” Zane said.
Trent Porter, a senior triple majoring in finance, economics and accounting, applied and was hired for an internship in ESPN’s controllers department in Bristol, Conn.
Porter worked as a show cost analyst who works with producers and legal departments for such associations as the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball in budgeting out payment and contracts.
Porter also worked with Comcast, AT&T and Cable One doing reconciliation and remittances with subscribers and cable households that carry ESPN.
In addition, he did reconciliation of the accounts of subsidiary companies, ESPN Star in Singapore and ESPN Sur in Latin America.
Porter, along with roughly 80 fellow interns, attended seminars with vice presidents and producers throughout the company.
“ESPN treated me so well,” Porter said. “The interns were able to speak with the CEO of the company. It was amazing.”
Porter advised students to start young, have self-discipline, be proactive and aggressive toward their field of choice.
“I feel that BIS 2500 taught me how to communicate and become close to my managers instead of ending up at the copy machine all summer,” Porter said.
The business co-op is able to aide students in finding internship programs around the United States. It is located in 310 A of the Eccles Business Building. The ofice mainly work with business majors but students with other majors are welcome.
-kassrobison@cc.usu.edu