Cindy Nguyen
Hometown: Southaven, MS
Major: History
Minor: Business
Classification: Senior
Internship: Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project at George Washington University
“I had a great experience with this program. It has helped me in so many ways to not only prepare me for this internship but for starting my career after I graduate. It was very stressful securing my internship but it was a good experience to have to learn how to be professional and successful.”
De’ Jour Fox
Hometown: Brookhaven, MS
Major: Business
Emphasis: Entrepreneurship
Classification: Senior
Internship: Shadowed entrepreneurs and FIT faculty
“The Internship Experience provided some helpful ways to make myself a more marketable candidate for future positions. The courses have helped me have a more professional portfolio and also given me the training needed for interview settings.”
Lillian Salem
Hometown: Belden, MS
Major: Business
Emphasis: Management
Classification: Senior
Internship: Wieloch Realty Group
“All the IE staff were such great help. My favorite part of internship preparation was the mock interview because now it is a lot easier to answer interview questions.”
Dyamon Brown
Hometown: Columbia, MS
Major: Psychology
Minor: Legal Studies
Classification: Junior
Internship: Synapse, LLC
“Having consistent meetings with IE staff was very helpful in learning how to search for internships, how to approach companies and owners, and how to live in your city.”
Morgan Cofield
Hometown: Madison, MS
Major: Accountancy
Minor: Marketing
Classification: Senior
Internship: Phillip Lim 31
“I feel like I got a lot done within meetings with IE staff, and I was always learning about something new whether it be tips and tricks to interviewing skills, new internship positions that had opened and life skills for when we make the transition.”
William Bartel
Hometown: Harvest, AL
Major: Public Policy & Leadership
Classification: Senior
Internship: International Association of Iron Workers
“This program helped me a lot because I was unsure of what a good resume or cover letter even looked like before I went through this program.”
ARE YOU INTERNSHIP READY?
The UM Internship Experience is a student-focused experience that supports upper-level students in finding, securing, preparing for, and getting the most out of internships.
Who We Are
The Internship Experience (IE) at the University of Mississippi integrates work and study by preparing and supporting a community of UM student interns. You can intern in any location (even remotely) with IE staff guiding you through the process. The IE program can provide additional support to students interning in Atlanta, New York, and Washington, D.C..
In the Internship Experience program, you earn academic credit while mastering critical skills for securing your internship, positioning yourself to be a good intern, and completing a successful internship experience.
As you work to secure an internship in your field of study, IE staff provides key academic, social, and professional support.
The Internship Experience can help you
Pre-Internship
- Develop effective internship search strategies
- Enhance resume and cover letter writing
- Improve interviewing techniques
- Budget for internship expenses
- Craft an effective LinkedIn profile
- Practice networking with Ole Miss alumni and past IE participants
- Explore internship finances and scholarship opportunities
During Internship
- Explore housing options at your internship location
- Attend on-site orientations for interns going to Atlanta, New York, and Washington, D.C.
- Meet Ole Miss alumni and industry professionals
- Explore intercultural topics
- Communicate regularly with IE staff
- Identify opportunities for professional development
Post-Internship
- Review and revise resume
- Articulate the value of your internship in cover letters to future employers
- Share your Internship Experience with peers and faculty
- Set goals for post-graduate opportunities
- IE staff referrals for future jobs
Why is an internship so important?
Click on each item to learn more.
Having an internship gives you experience in the career field you want to pursue. Not only does this give you an edge over other candidates when applying for jobs, it also prepares you for what to expect in your field and increases confidence in your work.
Having an internship benefits you in the working environment, and it also builds your professional network. There is a 1 in 16 chance of securing a job by connecting with people, so networking is critical. Internships provide a great environment to meet professionals in the career field you want to pursue, as well as other interns who have similar interests.
Internships can provide students with the soft skills needed in the workplace and in leadership positions. In a LinkedIn Skills Report (2018), 57% of people rated soft skills as being more important than technical skills. Skills, such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork can all be learned through an internship and utilized beyond that experience.
Depending on your major, you may read about how organizations thrive and function in textbooks, hear from guest speakers who talk about organizational structures, or dive into case studies about workplace culture, but nothing compares to living the actual experience. An internship helps you learn all about workplace culture, employee relations, and leadership structure, which should help you onboard in your first professional job with more ease than if you haven’t had professional experience.
Most organizations and jobs that you apply to following graduation want employees to have some sort of professional experience, even for entry-level jobs. In the event that you are a finalist for a position, lack of internship experience may make you less competitive. Having at least one internship on your resume before leaving college could give you a leg up on the competition.
Not only will you be helping out the organization you intern with, but they’ll help you out too. While professors and teachers will prepare you for the theoretical side of your field and hands-on projects, internships provide opportunities for receiving feedback from someone who works in your desired field on a daily basis. Act like a sponge and soak up all the information you can during your internship – it will benefit you in the long run.
While everyone probably wants to walk away from an internship feeling excited and passionate about the experience, there’s a silver-lining to be found if you didn’t enjoy the job: you’ll know what you don’t like. According to an article from monster.com, “figuring out what type of job you don’t want while you’re interning can help prevent you from accepting an ill-fitting job when you graduate.”
Interested in the Internship Experience but have some questions? Contact one of our advisors for more information.