Written by: Jenna Stowasser
Upon hearing the news of my acceptance into the Advertising and Public Relations program, I was excited to take on my new major. But I couldn’t help but feel nervous and anxious. Before, I was studying marketing, but I felt like I couldn’t connect with the content I was learning. My next step was to talk to my advisor to figure out the steps I needed to take. This is when she explained that an internship was required to graduate, and I was curious as to how I would ever find one.
I always hear of people finding internships so easily, or it has even been offered up by employers through connections; however, I had little to no connections in the Ad/PR community outside of UCF, let alone with other students in the major. I knew I would have to put myself out there and make those connections.
My advisor suggested joining Quotes on campus. She said the club offers an internship fair twice a year to help students get in contact with potential internship employers. This is known as Intern Pursuit, an event that offers students a wide range of internship opportunities, from AD/PR to film and even event management.
She also suggested applying to internships on Handshake, a website that students can use to find jobs and internships in the area that best fits their GPA, major, and school year. I was amazed to see these resources right at my fingertips. With this information, I knew I had to do two things: join Quotes and apply to internships on Handshake immediately.
I started applying on Handshake daily, yet I was struggling to get an interview, and when I did, I wouldn’t get a call back to say whether or not I got the job. At this point, I was feeling very discouraged.
This was when I was reminded of Intern Pursuit!
During my first Intern Pursuit, I was nervous and had no clue what to expect, but the one thing I did know was that many employers from the greater Orlando area were going to be there. I had to make a lasting first impression. I printed out my resume, dressed my very best, and walked into the Pegasus Ballroom with a sense of purpose and determination.
My first reaction upon entering the room was overwhelming and shocked to see so many employers all in one place. I walked around from booth to booth, talked about my goals and experiences, and handed out my resume left and right. I returned home with a folder full of informational papers on every employer. That night, I took time to apply to email companies I felt aligned with my passions.
The next week, I received an email back! My heart was racing, and I couldn’t believe that it had finally happened. The next week, after two phone interviews and four long email chains, I received a letter of acceptance at my now-current internship.
Going into finding an internship, you might feel in the dark, but I’m here to tell you, don’t lose faith. There are resources out there to help you strive. You are smart. Stay confident and determined! Good luck, I know you’ll find the one.
Quotes 