An internship is an excellent way to gain practical experience in the field. For Ohio University Journalism students, this experience is a requirement to graduate. Internships often occur in the summer, when most students are not taking classes. School-year internships do exist, but these options may be limited for a full-time student. Some may take place in a faraway city, or may require too many hours to balance on top of school work. Personally, I have found looking for summer internships to be my best bet.
However, this does not mean that useful experience cannot be obtained during the school year. Many campus jobs can provide meaningful skills that can prepare a student for both future internships and jobs. Additionally, a school-year job can help with saving money.
Different universities offer different opportunities for campus jobs, but many have some sort of opportunities for students. Ohio University has a variety of options. Ohio University Culinary Services, Housing and Outdoor Pursuits are just a few options available. There are also a variety of off-campus options as well.
During my freshman year, I applied for a job with Undergraduate Admissions. The process of job searching, creating a resume and interviewing were all still somewhat new concepts at that point. This process helped me to prepare for applying for my first internship that summer.
In addition to learning from applying and interviewing, my job also helped me develop valuable skills I could add to my resume. Even jobs that do not fall in the public relations category can create a relevant experience for future internships. These jobs can help develop communication skills, which are essential to public relations positions. My school tour guide job prepared me well for my current internship, which requires interaction with the public through tours.
Finally, jobs during the school year can provide meaningful interactions in the working world. Problem-solving can look different in a work environment than in a classroom. My school job has given me enough experience to have a good answer to interview questions such as “Describe a situation where you had to work as a team” or “How have you worked through a problem in the past?”
I love my campus job and attribute it to my success in my internships. Reflecting on the challenges, successes and interactions has helped me understand what skills I can use in my public relations career.
