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Internships

 

1- INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The job market. If you are like most college students, this is one of your primary concerns. To better prepare you for the job market, the Department of Communication provides you the opportunity to gain valuable practical knowledge and skills. An internship allows you to apply the theoretical information and skills you have gained in your interpersonal, small group, organizational, rhetoric and mass communication classes to an actual work situation. Making the connection from the classroom to "real-life" work settings adds an important dimension to your intellectual development. Internships allow you to develop new skills, build work experience for your resume, gain insight into a particular career, and develop contacts for future employment opportunities. Indeed, a well-chosen internship can be one of the most valuable experiences of your university career.

Paid and non-paid intern positions are available at local, regional, and national industries and organizations. Many internships provide on-the-job training. You gain up to three hours of college credit by enrolling COMM 4913 (undergraduate) or COMM 5913 (graduate).

Your Responsibilities

Get a member of your selected organization to serve as your field supervisor.

• Complete the learning contract (see attached) with the help of the Internship Coordinator and your field supervisor.
• Be reliable and dependable, keep a log of your daily activities, and attend on-campus meetings with the Internship Coordinator.

Internship Coordinator Responsibilities

• Help you identify, seek out, and develop possible internship opportunities.
• Supervise your progress regarding the agreed upon learning objectives.
• Provide you with a final course grade. Students successfully completing the internship requirements and receiving satisfactory supervisory reports receive a grade of "CR." You are graded on the basis of two criteria. First, you complete a three-part log evaluating your learning experiences while on the job (see attached handout). Secondly, your field supervisor evaluates you (see attached handout).

Employer Responsibilities

• Provide you initially with an oral/written job description.
• Provide you continuing guidance for professional development and skills training.
• Ultimately provide the Internship Coordinator with an oral and written evaluation of your performance.
• Provide written letters of recommendation for your file.

2 – INTERNSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the internship designed to do?

Students receive guidance in professional development and skills training. Employers receive intelligent, highly motivated, goal-oriented students eager to learn and skilled in time management.

How long does an internship last?

One semester. You spend 160 contact hours in the organization. This contact averages out to 10 hours a week.

When should I do an internship and what are the requirements?

Intern after you have completed 18 hours of communication coursework. A GPA of 2.5 or better is required before you can apply.

What skills do interns bring to their employer?

Skill areas include (but are not limited to): public relations, sales & marketing, leadership, Internet, photojournalism, media production, teamwork, word processing, motivation, public speaking, customer service, persuasion, interpersonal communication, cross-cultural communication, conflict management, small group dynamics, graphic arts, promotional campaigns, surveys, brochures, information search.

Why intern?

EDUCATIONAL REWARDS: Internships provide actual application of classroom learning. You can begin to put the pieces of the college/career puzzle together.

PROFESSIONAL REWARDS: Many employers in communication fields only hire people with direct experience. You gain opportunities for networking and may receive offers for paid position which can lead to full-time positions after graduation.

PERSONAL REWARDS: Students often make career decisions based on what they learned during internships. Internships allow you to experiment with your chosen filed to identify what areas best suit your abilities and interests.
What are the steps in applying for an internship?

• Submit a completed Internship Application to Dr. Rob Wicks, 417 Kimpel, the semester prior to the internship.
• Research Internship Opportunities the semester prior to the internship.
• Meet with Dr. Wicks to discuss your chosen position at least 1 month prior to registration.
• Fill out the Internship Contract immediately before the semester begins when you are doing your internship.

How do I go about finding a good intern position?

• Determine your area of interest such as public relations, media, customer relations, etc. (For a more comprehensive list of areas of interest see the Internship Application).
• Ask current interns, other students, and faculty about position openings.
• Tell friends and family what type of position you are seeking.
• Contact potential employers you are interested in working with to see if they are receptive to participating in the internship program.
• Check with Dr. Wicks or watch the internship opportunity notices on the board.

How do I know if the internship I want to do will be given credit for my Communication major?

• The position must be directly related to the field of communication.
• Clerical work may not constitute more than 15% of the job and must be relevant to your other responsibilities.
• You must work a minimum of 160 hours over the semester.
• An on-site supervisor must be willing and able to mentor you and evaluate your professional communication skills and abilities.

3 – INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS--LOG

In order to earn academic credit for your internship, you must keep a log of your internship activities. The log consists of three parts: a summary of jobs done, a discussion of your host organization's communication, and the raw data record.

I.    JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY -- This part, WHICH MUST BE TYPED, consists of a summary (3-6 pages typically) of your job activities. Each aspect of your job must be covered in a separate section of the report. For example, an intern at one of the Fayetteville television stations would write a summary with five sections that looks something like this (in outline form):

I.   Introduction
II.   Editing
III.   Taping
IV.   Camera Work
V.   Other duties

Certainly the sections depend on the job; this outline is only an example. The important thing is to give each duty an individual heading. Mere listing is not enough. Show not only what you did, but also how it works and relates to other aspects of the job. One final word about this section – be concise. If you can concisely cover the aspects of your internship in three pages, that is acceptable. Others might take six or seven pages. Do not ramble for 15 pages.

II. INTERNAL COMMUNICATION SUMMARY -- This part, WHICH MUST BE TYPED, is a discussion of the communication at the place you interned. Again, adequacy and conciseness are important. The length of this section may vary, but be sure to give more than a superficial view (i.e., "It was nice; everyone got along fine. Nobody lost their temper and everyone understood things perfectly the first time"). In this section, discuss the way conflicts are caused and handled; the way information is processed through the organization, what type of feedback, if any, is present, and other things you have learned in your communication courses. Indeed, this section is designed to have you illustrate your job experiences using ideas, concepts, theories, and solutions from your communication classes.

III. RAW DATA--WEEKLY OBSERVATIONS -- This part does not have to be typed. It is composed from your notes of your activity. This can be broken down either day-to-day or on a weekly basis. The diary should be a series of paragraphs that describe internship activities.

The log is not difficult. It is the same as any project you undertake while in college. The amount of work put into it influences what you gain from the internship experience.  A word of advice: DO A GOOD JOB ON THIS. BE NEAT IN THE TYPING (PROOF READ IT) AND BE GRAMATICALLY CORRECT IN YOUR WRITING (CONSULT A DICTIONARY) BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT. Portions of this may be shown to future employers. A neat, well-done log will make a very favorable first impression with many employers. In these days of increased job competition, every little edge helps.

4 – INTERNSHIP CONTRACT Internship Contract   5 – INTERNSHIP EVALUATION: Field Supervisor Form Internship Evaluation Form

6 - PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS