The thought of an internship is daunting for many students nearing graduation. To help with this endeavor, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication provides students with updated internship opportunities through multiple mediums.
WordPress blogs and Facebook are becoming a part of the JMC faculty’s routine by frequently posting internship opportunities for the benefit of their students. JMC students are required to have an internship before graduation to equip them with as much experience in their fields as possible.
Dave Hogan, instructor of journalism and mass communication, helps network for the JMC students as director of the JMC department’s internship program.
“We try to cultivate relationships,” Hogan said. “When we have alumni on campus we are conscious — or intentional — about trying to make opportunities for our students.”
The faculty pass on the internship opportunities they find to Hogan, who then posts them to the blog. Facebook posts normally link directly back to the full story on the blog.
Hogan said keeping up with the blog or Facebook on a weekly basis is a good idea when looking for an internship.
The university also offers students an exclusive look at job and internship opportunities through www.acu.edu/careerlink. Students can set up an account and brows local opportunities as well as jobs submitted by alumni. The site also allows students to post their resumes for potential employers to view.
Several websites are available to help a student looking for a job or internship, including www.indeed.com and www.hotjobs.com. These sites gather information from trade groups, industry organizations and company websites and provide a variety of jobs.
The sites help students narrow down their searches by specifying the work the student is interested in and limiting results to the student’s geographic location. A student can also set up email system to notify her when a job or internship in her field and area becomes available.
Although faculty members are involved in connecting students with internships, they remind students that doing their own networking is important. Following up internships and interviews with thank-you notes is also suggested.
JMC faculty made the decision required an internship several years ago and still stand firmly behind their decision.
“We think our internship program helps to distinguish our students from JMC students from other universities because they all leave here with practical experience,” Hogan said.
Including internship and job opportunities and tips on resumes, the JMC internship blog can be found at blogs.acu.edu/jmcinternships/.
