Gaining job experience for young adults could be crucial when securing a full-time career.
By Megan Malone
The Office of Career Services at The University of Tampa hosted an internship fair for all UT students on Feb. 7. Hiring managers and recruiters from various industries who have internship openings available within their organizations were on campus at the Vaughn Center. Interested students looking to work while in school and gain valuable job experience had the opportunity to network with over 50 companies.
“An internship is going to enhance industry knowledge of what you may be studying in the classroom, but then give you exposure to the different types of job opportunities that you may want to go into,” said Matthew Battista, 39, manager of employer development at UT.
Often, college students cross the stage with a diploma in hand yet need involvement in their desired field to have the qualifications to apply for an entry-level position. Nowadays, many companies require prior job experience to be eligible.
Jeffrey Mann, 53, a senior talent recruiter at Aflac, said as a hiring manager, internships show that you’ve had some exposure and real-world experience in that industry while getting a sense of whether or not that’s a business they want to be in and be motivated to work hard at.
Internship programs help better understand a specific field through professional experience, skill development, and networking opportunities through hands-on exposure. They have become an effective way for students to build the necessary competencies to show industries they have what it takes to secure a full-time position.
Michael Squillante, 20, a junior at UT, said he believes internships are essential for kids his age to gain leadership and experience while also getting a “foot in the door” early on.
Getting an internship can be difficult, but knowing what to look for in a program and choosing the right one may be even more difficult. Although looking in your desired field is essential, consider the location, learning opportunities, personal development, and career growth potential.
“I look for a lot of different things in an internship program,” said Kaitlyn DeBie, 21, a senior at UT. “I’m not someone who just wants to file paperwork. Any hands-on experience that I can take with me when I leave really stands out to me.”
Stephen Rhodes, 26, a talent acquisition specialist at Airlines Reporting Corporation, said internships should show your personality and how hard you will be willing to work to gain the experience for an entry-level position no matter what the industry may be. He said it’s also about having a solid resume to give hiring managers a glimpse at your previous experience, which is crucial in today’s workforce.
The internship fair had an excellent attendance full of hungry new faces with their resume in hand. There were also returners to the fair, some of whom had secured previous internships.
Keegan Bedford, 19, a sophomore at UT, returned to this year’s spring internship fair. He said he got an internship last year working with a wealth enhancement group.
“I got good job experience with a big national and international company that really helped pad my resume, meet people, and build good connections,” said Bedford.
The Office of Career Services at UT also hosts a resume day, allowing students to drop in and meet with employers to critique their resume, discuss job search strategies, and prepare an ‘elevator’ pitch. UT students can attend the free upcoming Resume Day on Feb. 27 from
1-4 p.m. at the Office of Career Services before Career Day on Feb. 28.
To learn more about the upcoming events, click here.