Charlene Belew
Student Life Editor
At 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 25, Cameron University’s CU Succeed series played host to Wendy Brown during their “Making Internships Work for You” workshop.
Brown, a CU Employee Relations Coordinator, took the time to explain to students the importance behind internships and how they can benefit students in the long run.
According to Brown, internships allow students to create personal goals, ask professionals questions, get valued experience, provide networking as well as exposing students to the work place.
She also told students that the key to having internships is to create a lasting impression. Students can create this impression by wearing professional attire, being punctual, having good attendance, respecting the work place and being accountable.
Students should also try to put a face to their name so that potential employers know who they are. Brown explained that the internship world is a way for students to get their feet in the door for a future career.
“The most important thing a student can learn from an internship is really just the professionalism and the dependability that encompasses an internship experience,” she said. “You have to be professional; you have to go out. It’s a real position even though it’s called an internship. You have to show up at work, you have to look the part, you have to answer to a supervisor and be willing to respond to feedback.”
Brown said that students might do an internship and realize that the field they have chosen is not for them.
“Some even will find that once they do an internship, its not the field they really want to do, so maybe it can actually help them prepare for their career and their future in exactly what field they want to be in,” she said. “It lets them know, ‘Hey, is this a field I really want to devote all my education towards or do I wan to gear another way?’ and I think it’s a really great opportunity for students to do that.”
Internships are a good way for students to get their names into the career place, but Brown said students also have to realize that an internship, as well as a career, is a serious, professional realm.
“I actually hope that what their taking from this workshop is that they want to do an internship,” Brown said. “It’s not just a job; it’s a learning experience. You have to grow up. It prepares you for the real world. It’s a great experience that I think everyone should go through.”
Students looking for more information on internships can contact Career Services in Ross Hall room 225.
Students can also refer to hirecameronaggies.com or the College Central Network provided by Cameron.