Internships are a game-changer
Internships have a range of positive long-term implications, like higher salaries and more career satisfaction. Internships are an opportunity to gain resume-building work experience, explore different career paths, grow your network – and your confidence!
Unfortunately, we know there are an array of obstacles in the way of reaching internship opportunities and Hispanic students from 2- and 4-year programs and Black students from 2-year programs are most likely to miss out on internships primarily because they did not apply. This panel breaks down some of those barriers and provides tips for navigating internship and career paths.
Insider tips for finding, obtaining, and succeeding in internships
This panel brings together talent and HR professionals, hiring managers, and former and current interns from across career fields to share insider tips for finding, obtaining, and succeeding in internships.
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Finding the right fit for internships
Leverage career fairs and panels
“We leverage a lot of career fairs,” shared Andrea Rodriguez (she/her), human resources program manager – university relations at Bloom Energy, about where companies recruit employees.
“So if your university has a career fair, you want to be able to engage with career services and also the employers there. That is a place where you’ll meet professionals who can make some connections,” shared Andrea.
🌟 Related resource: Your internship and job search roadmap
Andrea added another tip: “coming to panels and webinars where you can connect with the panelists after. We’re all here to help you find and land something that’s going to help propel you forward.”
Take advantage of LinkedIn and social media
“Take advantage of social media. I found my internship on LinkedIn,” shared Garvey (she/her), a Run Perception Researcher at Brooks Running. “If there are certain companies or topics of interest, make sure you’re following them on social media.”
Garvey added: “Seek companies that align with your values. Be very intentional about seeking internships that fit with your areas of interest and your current studies.”
Getting hired: tips for internship and job interviews
Be prepared
“Be prepared,” shared Giovanna Barragan (she/her), a student at USC and marketing and storytelling intern at Making Waves.
“Do your research on the company,” shared Giovanna. “And update your resume depending on the actual role and job.”
🌟 Related resource: Seven types of job and internship interviews: what to expect and how to prepare
Be specific about your skills and contributions
“A common pitfall to avoid is focusing too much on praising the company without tying it back to your own contributions,” shared Garvey.
“They want to hear how you contribute to the specific role that you’re applying for. Be very intentional and specific. Speak directly to job requirements and highlight the skills you bring. Share specific examples of how you’ve successfully applied those skills in similar situations.”
🌟 Related resource: What is the STAR Method and how can it help with your job and internship interviews?
“In addition, believe in yourself and have the confidence that you can do the job. Having that confidence will show through in the interview process. This is your opportunity to also interview the company to see if your values align,” shared Andrea.
How to maximize the internship opportunity
Get involved
“We can see the students who stand out,” shared Andrea. “What you put in is what you’re going to get out.”
“Leverage all the events that companies put out, any learning and development events, connect with your manage, and take advantage of all the things you can get out of your internship.”
Find a mentor
“Your manager is there to be used as a resource,” shared Andrea. “They can help you land something within the company.”
🌟 Related resource: Five tips to stand out in your internship and land the full-time offer
“Networking is not just about making connections for the future. It’s about building meaningful relationships now. Set up 1-1 chats with people cross functionally because that can go a long way,” shared Garvey.
Be curious and ask questions
“Be curious and ask questions,” shared Garvey. “Seek advice from colleagues and mentors. It shows you’re taking initiative and it helps you gain valuable insights beyond the job description. Be proactive and take initiative. This helps you stand out.”
“You don’t know the projects until you start the role,” shared Giovanna.
“Accept new challenges. You can always ask for help and always ask questions. If you’re able to ask questions and be close with your manager, that’s super helpful,” shared Giovanna.
How to build skills and show transferable skills
Leverage projects and extracurriculars
“From a recruiter perspective, definitely build on some of your class projects,” shared Andrea who said students can leverage class projects, extracurricular projects, or mentorship programs. “Those can help enhance your resume.”
“If there are mock interview opportunities, you definitely want to take advantage of those,” shared Andrea, who added recruiters might also be open to providing a mock or informational interview.
Practice your pitch
“We always seem to undermine ourselves. In reality we have the experience, we just need to figure out a way to pitch it. Show an interest and joy,” shared Giovanna, who explained how she leveraged college communication course projects and video editing projects from high school as examples during the interview process for her marketing and storytelling internship role.
“Don’t undermine yourself,” shared Giovanna. “You have the experience. There is a way to pitch it. You just have to practice.”
Show your ability to learn
“Showcase your ability to learn,” shared Garvey. “A lot of skills can be learned on the job. You can learn software and company practices. Demonstrate your ability to learn.”
“During your interview process, be as personal and genuine as possible. They are people too,” shared Garvey.
🌟 Related resource: Free career resources every college student should know about
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Meet the panelists
Moderator
Dr. Kristina Wright, VP of Student Success at Making Waves Education Foundation
Dr. Kristina Wright is the Vice President of Student Success at Making Waves Education Foundation. A West Contra Costa County native with a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC, Dr. Wright leads innovations across coaching, financial, and early career services to improve college and career outcomes for Wave-Makers. Known for her equity-centered approach and data-driven results, she brings a deep commitment to student success.
Panelists
Giovanna Barragan, Student at USC; Marketing and Storytelling Intern at Making Waves Education Foundation
Giovanna Barragan (she/her) is a sophomore at the University of Southern California majoring in NGOs and Social Change. She started interning at Making Waves Education Foundation this past August as a Marketing and Storytelling Intern. This internship has been an awesome opportunity to work on projects that directly impact a community Giovanna deeply cares about. She has been able to learn about marketing strategies, website design, and social media branding. In addition, Giovanna is able to work on many skills such as video editing, graphic design, and writing for storytelling articles. Giovanna says this experience has been super fulfilling to not just learn about her strengths and understand what she would like to do in her future career, but to also continue her interest in creating social change through social media platforms and strategies.
Garvey Buchongo, Run Perception Researcher at Brooks Running; Nonprofit Founder; and Fitness Model
Originally from Hercules, CA, Garvey Buchongo (she/her) is a Run Perception Researcher at Brooks Running and Founder of The Freedom to Run Project, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting health equity in underserved communities through shoe donation, education, and community organization. A Sonoma State University graduate and former collegiate track and field athlete, Garvey combines academic expertise with personal experience to drive meaningful change in the running community. At Brooks, Garvey plays a pivotal role in diversity initiatives as a founding member of Brooks Soul, the Black/African American Employee Resource Group, and helped establish the DEI working group within the Run Research Team. In her research role, she leads efforts to collect and analyze perceptual data from product testers across the nation, providing critical insights that influence product design, fit, and performance to ensure that Brooks’ products meet the needs of all runners. Alongside her career pursuits, Garvey also does fitness modeling and brings a holistic approach to her work, inspired by a family legacy in natural health.
Andrea Rodriguez, Human Resources Program Manager – University Relations at Bloom Energy
Andrea Rodriguez (she/her) supports global university hiring by developing sourcing strategies, and building external relationships with career centers across the globe to find top talent. She brings 5+ years of recruiting and human resources experience to the team, having previously worked in global organizations and high volume global recruiting. Prior to joining Bloom, Andrea recruited entry level roles across multiple universities and organizations including research & development, data science, and software engineering. Andrea now still supports Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical and Chemical Engineering roles within the Renewable Energy industry. Andrea works creatively, and has a desire and ambition to become a future business leader, and has a drive for new opportunities and professional development with a passion for DEI.
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