Students at the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business learn early in their college career the added value of having an internship before graduation.
This summer, Ivy students engaged in a wide range of internships to add real-world experience before they graduate. Meet Anika Smith, who shared why a summer internship added valuable experience during her college career.
Smith, a junior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, studying marketing and management information systems, spent her summer as a creative services intern with KETV NewsWatch 7 in Omaha, Nebraska.
As a creative services intern, Smith edited promotional videos that aired the same day and assisted with commercial shoots and small ‘spot’ shoots. Her favorite experience was attending the First News on the Field at the College World Series. She had the opportunity to witness the First News team shoot live in the morning at Charles Schwab Field and help capture behind-the-scenes video.
Smith found this internship through LinkedIn and applied since she wanted more experience with videography and editing with Adobe tools. It was her Ivy College of Business career coordinator, Bobbi Sullivan, assistant director of Business Career Services, who provided Smith with the valuable guidance she needed to land this internship. Sullivan informed Smith of the platforms necessary for internship and job searching and assisted Smith in refining her resume to align with the specific internships she was pursuing.
“I am proud of Anika’s persistence in landing a summer internship,” said Sullivan. “Anika put in the work necessary to identify, apply, and interview for internships. Commitment to the goal is key when conducting an internship search.”
Smith credits attending career fairs and other professional development events with increasing her comfort in communicating with employers. Her advice to others planning to pursue an internship is to stay proactive by consistently monitoring job boards, tailoring your resume for each application, embracing opportunities outside your comfort zone, and actively networking on LinkedIn.
“Finding the right internship requires time and patience. Everyone progresses at their own pace, so stay motivated and persistent,” said Smith.
To connect with Anika Smith or follow her collegiate and professional journey, visit her LinkedIn profile.
