Tell Us About Your Internship
The opportunity and ability to apply your classroom learning in the real
world, whether engineering a new mechanism, designing a website, or
meeting with a client, is what makes your education valuable. Here we
proudly feature the students who have done great work, learning that
success is when you turn knowledge into application. We hope you indeed
learn from them and step out to create your own Tech Success Story.
Testimonials
Some of our recent testimonials are posted below.
Aubree Reichel
Major:
Communications
Employer:
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Job Title:
Museum Services & Operations Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2013
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The internship showed me that even if you don't get concrete proof that
what you accomplish during the day, what you do still matters. Interns
performed various museum related tasks including orientation speeches,
introductions and conclusions to films, and small presentations of the
architecture of the building. At the end of the day, I was exhausted and
had no concrete proof of accomplishment from the day's work. But in the
end, there was the satisfaction that in my own small way, I reached out
to nearly 5,000 visitors per day coming into the museum.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Don't limit your options. Apply for anything you think even remotely
applicable to your major. The Holocaust Museum wasn't my first choice
and I almost dismissed it and took a regular paying job for the summer.
After putting in over 200 hours over the summer, I am so glad I didn't.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
The internship affected my perception of customer service type
positions. I am now more willing to approach and be more proactive,
rather than waiting to be approached. I am more open and know how to
admit it when I do not know something, but can point people in the right
direction or find out for them. I am, also, more comfortable speaking in
front of crowds in an informational setting.
Best Advice Received at Tech?
Don't take any opportunities for granted.
Who did you receive the advice from?
Combo of friends and faculty
David Vaught
Major:
Computer Security & Investigations
Employer:
Flex-N-Gate
Job Title:
Quality Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2015
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
I was able to get a lot of knowledge and first hand experience in the
field I want to go into.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Just look for one in your field. If you cant get one there look for
something close.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
No, it hasnt affected them at all. All it really did is made me want to
work it again!
Ashley Benvenuti
Major:
Business Administration, Human Resources and Marketing
Employer:
Epitec, Inc
Job Title:
Sales & Delivery Support Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2015
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial thing I learned during my internship was to work
collaboratively as a team. Teamwork is a huge part in an internship
because you are there to help and contribute to the team while at the
same time you are gaining valuable experience and receiving coaching on
how to most effectively perform in a job. Gaining this real world
experience working with a team will really help with your professional
development and provide a realistic view of what is needed to succeed in
the business world. An internship also provides the opportunity to
demonstrate your dedication and willingness to the company that you want
to be there and are willing to learn. Epitec provided me many wonderful
opportunities to learn new things as I was constantly moving to new
positions. These rotations allowed me to develop new skills while
encouraging me to reach beyond my current abilities to see what
positions I would be most interested in for the future.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
My advice would be to never give up. No matter how hard it gets, the
internship will take you a long way. My internship was the formation of
my professional experience and it really helped shape my path for the
future. I would tell them to think openly about all possible
opportunities that they may find since any internship can provide a
learning experience. Trying new things will only help you find what
you’re most interested in while at the same time helping you determine
what you won’t want to do. I believe everyone should get an internship
before you graduate, which is aligned with their degree of choice. It’s
always recommended to know ahead of time whether your pursued degree is
one you will enjoy. Having a job that will keep you motivated and love
will only make you move successful in the future.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My internship has positively affected my career goals because I have
realized that Human Resources is really a field I would like to go into.
It better prepared me for what the role of the Human Resources
organization is and the importance it has in helping a company meet its
goals. I also feel that in an HR position I can personally help people
meet their personal and professional goals. The internship also
demonstrated to me the rapid pace of the work environment and
opportunity for continuous learning. I now have a clearer view to what I
like and don’t like about a job. I hope to one day to pursue a master’s
degree in HR as well as achieve industry certification. I gained a lot
of experience working with Epitec, and I look forward to working with
them again in the future.
Best Advice Received at Tech?
The best advice that I received was guidance around the development of
my resume.
Who did you receive the advice from?
Dr. Jeff Walls
Thomas Jarrett
Major:
Business Administration
Employer:
GE Aviation
Job Title:
Summer Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2013
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial thing I learned during my internship is to bring a
positive energy to the team you are working on. Having a positive energy
and a "can-do" attitude will take you a long way. Employers want an
employee that is willing to take on new challenges, which is part of
having a positive attitude.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
The best advice I would give other students on finding the right
internship would be not limit yourself to one choice. Do not be afraid
to branch out and work in a field that you are not familiar with. An
example of this would be my internship this past summer. I interned in
Supply Chain (which I knew very little about in the beginning) but ended
up being a very positive experience. Try new things and experience new
things because you never know where you will find your passion.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
Interning at such a prestigious company like GE allowed me to experience
many different aspects of a business. I was fortunate to gain visibility
in a wide variety of areas while interning with GE Aviation, helping
shape my career goals. I am interested in returning to the business
world and would like to work for a Fortune 500 Company in the near
future.
Best Advice Received at Tech?
The help I received on my resume.
Who did you receive the advice from?
Dr. Jeff Walls
Allison Belcher
Major:
Accounting and Human Resources
Employer:
Franklin Electric
Job Title:
Corporate HR Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2013
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial thing I learned during my internship is that
dedication and commitment can go a long way. I am in the corporate world
where employees can climb the ladder and expand their horizons
personally and professionally. At Franklin Electric, there are employees
who have been here for over 40 years! That is dedication and loyalty to
Franklin for sure.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right internship?
My advice is to never give up. I lost the number of times I filled out
applications and talked to potential employers on the phone. I gave
myself a goal to have an internship the summer of 2012 no matter what.
You will find a time where you want to give up because no one is hiring.
My advice is to never give up and an internship will fall in place for
you. I can truly now say I never gave up and I found the best internship
for me.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My internship has made me want to continue learning. I want to continue
working for Franklin Electric and continue going to school. I know that
I want my master’s degree in Human Resources and then get certified as a
professional in human resources. I gained great experience working in
the corporate world and I can’t wait to see what the world has out there
for me.
Best Advice Received at Tech?
"Look your potential employer in the eye and tell them you wont let them
down." I guarantee you will get the job.
Who did you receive the advice from?
Dr. Walls
Sara Didandeh
Major:
Criminal Justice
Employer:
City of Lawrence Police Department
Job Title:
Intern
Date of Graduation:
December 2012
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial thing I learned during my internship is the fact
that police officers are very misunderstood by much of society. They do
not make the laws, only enforce them. I also learned that being a police
officer takes much dedication to ones own self and community.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
I would tell students to use their resources. To call companies or
agencies they are interested in interning for and inquiring. Don't stop
until they are satisfied.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
It confirmed the fact that I want to be a police officer, and I want to
eventually become a detective.
Best Advice Received at Tech?
Finish what I came to do.
Who did you receive the advice from?
My Coach
Jedidiah Bressman
Major:
Communication
Employer:
Federated Media
Job Title:
97.3 WMEE Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2014
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
I learned that hard work, dedication, always asking to do more, and
being early are big ways to get you on the fast track to where you want
to go. If you are willing to do the work and ask questions, you never
know what may come your way.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Ask everyone. Friends, family, co-workers, teachers, or whomever else
you can ask. Everyone knows different people and you can end up
somewhere that wasn't even on your radar.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
After my internship in May, I got hired at another radio station working
as a board operator. Hopefully, I will be taking the next step onto
radio from that point.
Best Advice Received at Tech?
There is always something new to learn, never stop progressing for the
fear that you will fall behind.
Who did you receive the advice from?
Steven Malloris
Joseph Cochran
Major:
Computer Security and Investigation
Employer:
Bluehost, Provo, UT
Job Title:
L1 Tech Support
Date of Graduation:
May 2013
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
My internship as a Level 1 Tech at Bluehost brought out much of the
technical knowledge I've learned at Indiana Tech. I had to deal with
configuring DNS and MySQL databases on a daily basis. Linux command
line was also essential for working at a fast pace. Most of my skills in
these areas were learned in the class rooms and done as homework. When
you need to do things efficiently in practical situations on a time
crunch it really hones your skills and brings out your best. I would say
the number one thing I learned was dealing with unhappy customers over
the phone and helping them resolve their issues and leave them with a
positive experience.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
I strongly suggest to not only apply for any sort of job or internship
that you are interested in, but also to follow up with the company by
calling in with additional questions or stopping by to talk to them in
person. You don't need to be the perfect fit for a job, but show you are
interested and go the extra mile. I would also suggest to research and
learn as much as you can about the company before interviewing. This has
helped me to ask good questions and bring up relevant topics at the end
of interviews.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
I would like to start a company of my own in the near future. During my
time in Utah I gained a lot of insight from my boss and founder of
Bluehost on how to go about with my business plans. Communicating with
people over the phone and through email was also a good learning
experience which I think will help me immensely in the future.
More student testimonials
Tammi Broadus,
Psychology
Employer:
Girls Incorporated, Indianapolis, IN
Job Title:
Coordinator
Date of Graduation:
May 2012
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The experience of working in teams of people with different education
levels as well as personality traits. I had always preferred to work
alone in previous jobs, but when I was forced to work in groups inside
the classroom, it helped me get more comfortable working with others.
After several classes, I became comfortable being the leader in most of
the groups I was a part of. After getting several courses under my belt,
I also developed a love for public speaking, which has proven to be
helpful in my current position.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Take your time. It's not about how quickly you can complete your degree.
It is very much about the content you get out of each class. Enjoy
learning; it makes things so much easier when you're doing your homework!
What was the best advice you received at Indiana Tech?
Education alone doesn't prepare you for a career; education paired with
hard work is what one needs in order to have a successful career.
Indiana Tech provides opportunities for both. Trust the institution's
mission.
Morgan Delagrange,
Business Management and Human Resources
Employer:
Parkview Health
Job Title:
HR Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2014
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
I have learned that when a company starts a new process it takes a few
trys to find the right method to use to get the job done in the most
efficient way. It is important to not get frustrated and contribute
your own ideas because you may see things differently. I also learned
how to review applications and what employers look for. I reviewed
hundreds of applications and I got a pretty good idea of what to do
and not to do when filling out applications.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
You just have to get out there and meet people. I found my internship by
doing an informational interview for class. I met with the HR manager of
student services at Parkview to discuss the HR processes he uses and
when the interview was over I gave him my resume and told him I was
interested in interning if anything was available.. A week later he
called and offered me an internship. I showed interest in the company
which goes along way with employers.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
Before I took this internship I was only majoring in business management
however, I have really enjoyed my experience at Parkview that I have
decided to duel major in management and human resources. At Parkview I
have experienced and participated in the entire recruiting process and
this not only has helped me get a feel of what I would be doing if I
worked in HR but what employers look for in an application. I learned
what requirements gets your application directly to the manager and that
will help mer in whatever career path I choose to take.
What was the best advice you received at Indiana Tech?
The best advice I received was to bring my resume to an informational
interview and tell the manager I was interested in an internship if one
was available. That is how I got this internship at Parkview.
Who did you receive this advice from?
Dr. Jeffery Walls
Ben Swygart,
Information Systems
Employer:
Indiana Tech & Fort Wayne PD Hostage Crisis Team
Job Title:
N/A
Date of Graduation:
May 2012
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The ability to work with others on a team. We had a system which needed
to be improved on, a deadline to meet, and needed to collaborate with
one another to accomplish it.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
I was fortunate in finding my internship as it more or less found me.
But of course, as with anything in life, you must be persistent. Don't
give up when you become flustered from not hearing back from potential
internships.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
It has opened my eyes to a new possibility of careers and the need of
technology within all aspects of business.
Adrianna Michel,
Sports Management
Employer:
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Job Title:
Ticket Office Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2011
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
How to work in a professional environment with different departments all
working together for the benefit. It's very similar to being on an
athletic team, which I've been apart of for 10 years. You have to work
with different personalities and management styles. It also gave me a
lot of confidence in networking, too. CEOs and business owners are less
intimidating after you've talked to them in a casual setting.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Any experience is good experience, as long as it pertains to your degree
in some way. It doesn't have to be in the exact field you want. I never
did job shadowing, but we've had a lot of college students come to the
TinCaps to shadow and I think it's a great idea. It gives you a good
feel for what you'd be jumping into if you took a job in that field.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
It hasn't changed my career goals too much, I still know what I want to
do. But it has given me so much knowledge and experience that I feel is
relevant in any field. My internship is 9 months, which is pretty long.
But it gave me enough time to master a lot of the procedures and systems
that were used. I gained experience in sales and cold-calling which I
didn't think would happen.
Alyssa Priebe,
Business Management
Employer:
Fort Wayne Metals
Job Title:
Sales & Marketing Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2013
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
How to really love the work that I am doing and the people that I work
with everyday. I also learned a completley different side of sales and
marketing. You do not realize how different roles within a company are,
until you start at another company.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
You have to go through multiple internships, at least one a semester, to
gain experience. Experience is really the only way to finding the right
internship or job fit for yourself personally.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My current internship has basically created my future career. It has
painted the perfect picture for what I can see myself doing in the
future. I have learned so much information about the medical industry
and I am so thankful for the opportunities that I have been given at
Fort Wayne Metals.
Corey Schwartz,
Computer Security & Investigation
Employer:
Do it Best, Corp
Job Title:
Web Programmer
Date of Graduation:
December 2011
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial knowledge I have learned from becoming an intern is
how important it is to be professional at all times. I have been in
several meetings and on several projects that have required me to have
proficient communication skills as well as the professional demeanor to
coordinate with my co-workers in completing complex projects. To be able
to work with others in completing tasks and doing your part of a project
is a key element is success. So for me I believe one of the greatest
things I have learned at my internships was the importance of being able
to be a responsible, organized, reliable individual that can be looked
upon as someone that is desired to be worked with.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
My advice would be to give yourself plenty of options. Research
companies and the positions to find out all that you can know about the
specific responsibilities of the internship and what you will be
learning while you are there. You want to look at an internship as how
it will benefit you in the future. An internship is a great way to earn
gain an immeasurable amount of professional world experience as well as
being able to network with other individuals. The one thing I would be
sure of is to know how much the internship will be beneficial to you.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
The internships for me have changed me a great deal. I have become a lot
more focused and clear on what I want to do in life and what I will need
to do to reach my goals. My interships have affected my career goals a
great deal. One of my interships is working as a Web Development
Programmer for a private wholesale company, Do It Best Corp. My other
internship is working for the Lima PD in Ohio as Computer Forensic
Analyst intern. Both of these internships have taught me a great deal of
knowledge for both fields, but by working both I have realized what
field I want to go into. I can't get enough of computer forensics and it
fascinates me to always have something new to work with everyday
providing me with a new challenge. After finding that this was my main
area of interest I began to look for openings in the Private sector and
government agencies.
Daniel Freer,
Networking
Employer:
Symantic
Job Title:
Quality Assurance Tester
Date of Graduation:
May 2014
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
I think the most helpful thing I've learned during my internship is that
regardless of the type of job, communication and problem solving skills
are critical. Be willing to ask for help when you need it, and be able
to accurately describe the problem you are experiencing will save
everyone time. If you have a process to troubleshoot a problem and
develop a solution, you can be effective in fields you may not have been
trained in, increasing your value to your company.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Network with your professors, especially those in your field. Take time
to get to know them, show up to class everyday so they get to know you,
and also get to know your fellow classmates. Try to find an internship
that is actually challenging and slightly outside of your current skill
set, so that you will learn something.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My internship has taught me a lot about myself, in terms of what kind of
work I enjoy and how effective I am at managing my time. It has helped
me realize that I really like some aspects of my current career choice,
and also things that I do not feel like I would enjoy. Being exposed to
this early in my college learning allows me to fine tune my education
toward the job I really want to attain.
David Dalman,
Computer Science
Employer:
Do It Best, Corp.
Job Title:
Web Programmer
Date of Graduation:
May 2014
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial thing that I've learned is that communication plays
an important role in every aspect of the job. Whether you have a
question or just working within a group you must speak up and share your
ideas. Also communication plays an important role across the company.
Departments need to talk to each other to make sure things are getting
done and it's what the customer wants.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Don't be afraid to apply for a position if you don't think you meet the
requirements. Its all about getting your foot in the door and putting
yourself out there. Employers can help you catch up on the stuff you may
not know and the internship may turn into a permanent position if they
like you.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
This internship has given me the opportunity to work with some of the
new technologies and get experience in a professional environment. As
far as career goals this internship has exposed me to the different
pieces that go into web development. It is definitely something I'd be
interested in studying more.
Derek Desjardins,
Mechanical Engineering
Employer:
Navistar
Job Title:
Global Chassis Front Axle Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2014
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
Communication is so important and necessary in any career. If you are an
engineer and you think you will get to sit and design things and work
out equations all day, you are sadly mistaken. People skills are
required, especially if you want to move up the ladder. Meetings and
conference calls can help people get on the same page and be able to
make further progress on projects.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Apply for as many internships as you think you might have the smallest
interest in. If you get 5 offers, that's great! Don't worry about having
to turn an offer down; it's not a big deal, especially if you have found
something else that is better.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
It's given me a taste of the professional work world. I want to work on
narrowing down what I want to do more specifically in my career.
Engineers can do such a wide variety of things; I just need to figure
out how I can use my degree in an effective way that I will enjoy.
Jacob Harris,
Mechanical Engineering
Employer:
Fort Wayne Metals
Job Title:
Engineering Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2012
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial thing I learned at my internship is that you can
never be too organized. Throughout my internship, I was given a lot of
different projects from a lot of different people. Learning the
importance of organizing and prioritizing is a very helpful tool that
will help me in the future.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Try to find an internship that's at least close to being within your
career field. This will give you a great idea of whether or not you
actually want to pursue that field after all. Not only that, but it can
lead to a future job within that company, or at least give you
experience that will look good on a resume.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My internship has allowed me to become more familiar with the
engineering process within a growing company. This experience will go a
long way in helping me with my future career.
Joeb Woodring,
Mechanical Engineering
Employer:
Navistar
Job Title:
Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2015
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
Communication, comunication,communication. Sitting behind a computer
screen on my first day, I really could not imagine how important
communication could be to my job. Innumerable times I would need
information from my project coordinator to complete a project or start a
new project, clarify an indescrepency on a part drawing, or convey my
findings. More often than not, especially toward the conclusion of my
internship, I would need to track down an individual in person: not an
easy feat for a person whose description lacks "socialite." Repetition
of such occurrences drove home the fact that communication forms an
integral part of any engineer's job, regardless of their experience
level.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Go for whatever internship you can find, but stick somewhat close to
your major. I met interns that were electrical engineers by major but
industrial engineers by job description and undeclared engineers
designing software tools that were outside their comfort zones at first,
but ended up liking what they were doing. On the other extreme,
electrical engineers probably should not spring for criminal
justice-related internships, and vice versa. Who knows, maybe by
straying out of your discipline, you can find a career that suits you
better.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My internship gave me valuable experience in not only the workforce, but
also in my career choice. The past summer reinforced my interest in
mechanical engineer in an enjoyable manner, allowing me to network with
other engineers from multiple disciplines.
Justin Smith,
Software Engineering
Employer:
Applied Payment Network
Job Title:
Associate Developer
Date of Graduation:
May 2013
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
I have learned so many beneficial things, that it has changed me
entirely. Recently, I had a stark experience which caused me to reflect
upon what I learned while interning as a Software Engineer. Before
starting my internship, I had my own little project of making a video
game. I had some functions made, such as basic artificial intelligence
and the player could walk around. After starting my internship, this
project was placed on the backburner because I was so busy learning the
skills I needed. After about a month of working at the internship, I
wasn't struggling to complete my work, and therefore started to have
more free time. I decided to return and complete some more work on my
game. So after opening my game up, I paused and looked at the code,
thinking to myself: "What was I doing? Why did I it that way?". I had
learned so much from my internship that I now knew better ways to do the
things I needed. My experience with my internship had changed me to the
point where I now do things in a completely different and better way. My
old video game work was a reflection of my inexperience, and it feels
strange knowing that I developed an entirely new and professional
outlook in only a month. So this is why I can't say what was the most
beneficial thing I learned. Because what I learned changed everything I
do.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Take charge in pursuing internship opportunities that require your skill
set, or skills that are similar enough to yours that you can learn what
you need quickly. And don't be afraid to ask for help. When I was
looking for an internship, I asked my classmates and my professors about
any positions they may have heard of, and I wouldn't have gotten this
internship if I hadn't. Their willing to help you, they only need to be
asked. And in most cases, applying for positions you've heard of from
your classmates and professors gives you a better chance of getting the
position faster because you're introduced by someone the employer knows.
When I asked my professor about possible positions, he said he knew of a
couple and forwarded my resume to them. I got a call to meet for an
interview the exact same day and got hired on the spot afterwards. The
time between speaking to my professor and getting hired was less than 6
hours apart!
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My internship has made me a more confident person. I now feel more
ambitious than before, as it has shown me that I can perform well in the
real world. The people I work with have a lot of faith in me that I will
get my work done, and I often exceed their expectations with my results.
My career goals are the same, as I will always pursue work in Software
Engineering. It's what I know, it's what I like, and I find it
satisfying and fulfilling when I get it done. The experience with my
internship has only made me know it more, like it better, and get more
satisfaction from completing difficult assignments.
Travis Rolston,
Accounting
Employer:
Three Rivers Federal Credit Union
Job Title:
Accounting Intern
Date of Graduation:
May 2013
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
I learned that an internship is crucial to excelling in a job that is
obtained right after graduating college, because of the steep learning
curve that has to take place in a short amount of time. The internship
has provided me with knowledge to get through the first few months of a
new job.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Apply for every internship that is related to your major. Try to pick an
internship that will give you the most exposure to every type of work
that could be done by your major.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
The internship has shown me that my career goals are within reach and
helped me narrow down what I would like to do with in my career field.
Kate Whitacre,
Biomedical Engineering
Employer:
Fort Wayne Metals
Job Title:
NiTiNOL Product Manager
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial lesson I learned from my internship was to expand my
talent out of my department and help others across the company.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Apply for any internship that looks remotely interesting to you, even if
you do not think you will be hired or meet the minimum qualifications.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
By graduation, I will have two years of continuous experience in the
medical industry. I will be able to relate my experience as an intern to
any other interview for a job or graduate school.
Ashli Follrod,
Criminal Justice
Employer:
Columbia City Police Department
Job Title:
Intern
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The most beneficial thing that I learned in my internship was that
police officers are not just people that show up to crimes, they show up
to every sort of problem there may be. Police officers take on many
roles whether it be crime preventers, crime stoppers, or the person who
jumps your car. Police officers are looked down upon by many people, but
they put up with a lot of stress, dangerous or deadly situations, and
work to save people's lives or help others. Their jobs consist of random
events, and they never know what to expect or what they may come across.
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
I would tell other students to go to an advisor or other employee of
Indiana Tech that has had the experience of a career that they may be
interested in pursuing. I believe that one who has had experience can
give the best advice, and the right resources to find an internship
beneficial for any student. I also believe that a student's internship
should be related to the career they plan to pursue as much as possible
to get the experience in, and to decide if this career is the right
choice for them later on.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
My internship at the police department has brought many things to my
attention. I highly enjoyed my experience with the officers, and they
did teach me a lot that I needed to know about police work. I realized
that a larger police department would fit me the best. I enjoy working
with a lot of people, and I plan on pursuing a position as a detective
focusing on homicide and sexual assault.
Katherine Bergfeld,
Mechanical Engineering
Employer:
Press-Seal Gasket Corporation
Job Title:
Intern
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
The biggest thing that I've learned is that communication is everything.
There is likely someone at the company that knows the answer to your
question or can point you in the right direction if you just ask. I'm
normally a shy person, but I forced myself to ask questions right from
the beginning. Your coworkers (generally) don't want to see you fail, so
don't be afraid to brainstorm with them. Also, remember the golden rule
and you'll earn respect much faster!
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
In the current economic climate, it isn't so much about finding the
right internship; rather it's about getting your foot in the door. I
searched for the first 3 years of my college career before I found this
internship. I was extremely fortunate to find an internship where I was
treated less as the stereotypical lowly intern and more as the new
engineer who was handed the responsibility of developing a new product
within the first month. I did not know much about the pipe gasket
industry before I applied for this internship, but I quickly learned how
critical these components are to everyday life. The best advice is that
you need to have an open mind. If you put the effort into making it
right for you, almost anything can be the "right" internship.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
It has opened my eyes to careers that are available to mechanical
engineers. I initially believed that I wanted a job in the automotive
industry, but now I realize that nearly any industry will allow someone
with a strong work ethic to succeed. I was fortunate to find an
internship at a company that cares deeply for it's employees. This has
shown me not necessarily the specific field that I want to go into, but
rather defined the type of company that I want to work for.
Ben Baker
Employer:
Press-Seal Gasket Corporation
Job Title:
Director of Sales
What was the most beneficial thing you learned in your internship?
I have learned that building relationships with your clients is one of
the greatest things you can do during your experience. Making lifelong
connections will take you a long ways. I have made so many connections
through clients and co-workers that will surely benefit me throughout my
life. I've also learned to never accept a "no" from someone who is not
qualified to give you a "yes".
What advice would you give other students on finding the right
internship?
Never get discouraged during your internship search. Always remain
positive and write down names of individuals you have talked to. Call
back and follow up after you submit your cover letter and resume.
Calling back lets the employer know that you are really interested in
the internship and will increase your chances of a phone or face to face
interview. Always remember to send a thank you letter 24 hours after you
speak to a representative of the business. If you are looking for an
internship within the sports industry like I was searching for, I suggest
www.teamworkonline.com.
You will hear a lot about
www.jobsinsports.com;
however, TeamWork has the same jobs and it's free.
How has your internship affected you and your career goals?
I am currently the director of group sales for the San Angelo Colts.
This internship has combined my love of both sports and business. After
being involved in sports as a business, it has created a passion for me
to continue to rise up in the ranks within the sports industry. It is
essential in this industry that you complete an internship; while a
degree is phenomenal, the internship and experience will count more than
the degree.
