As the spring semester began, senior mass communications major Jessica Ferguson was faced with a difficult decision. Holding a position as News Editor at The Panther Newspaper, Ferguson’s tenure was being threatened by pressure to satisfy internship requirements for her degree program at Prairie View A&M University.She said, “I was really confused about what to do at first because I enjoyed working for the newspaper, writing, managing, and creating content. I had to satisfy my degree requirements, so the decision to leave the newspaper was bittersweet.”
As internship season has officially begun, Ferguson encourages students to get involved and apply for internship positions early to avoid making last-minute decisions. She also noted that students should be patient and selective of internships instead of just taking whatever is available.
The Office of Career and Outreach Services has been assisting students trying to secure internships by sending e-mails and even working with instructors to get into classrooms and make internship announcements.
In a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers consisting of 31,000 students from more than 400 colleges and universities in 2010, 71 percent of students who had jobs after graduation said they obtained them through the assistance of their career centers on campus. 70 percent of them said they used the office for resume revision or assistance, which is a critical factor in the hiring process.
An additional survey conducted by NACE consisting of 266 employers indicated a 7 percent increase in opportunities available. According to Glenda Jones, director for the Office of Career and Outreach Services, many companies from the Career Fair, including Shell, Accenture, Raytheon, General Electric, Exxon Mobil, Walgreens, and Enterprise all frequently show interest in Prairie View students for internship opportunities. Jones notes that many of these companies are willing to hire outside of their traditional fields and are partial to accounting, communications, business, and marketing majors.
Jones said, “Regardless of whether or not your degree plan requires you to have an internship, students should still pursue these opportunities. In this competitive world and struggling economy, things like internships make you a more marketable candidate and, in many cases, add to your salary.”
One of the major reasons Jones and her colleagues stress the importance of internships is to boost the post-graduate employment rate, which according to a survey conducted by the Office of Career and Outreach Services in December 2010, stands at an estimated 35 percent.
Jones noted that many internship deadlines are vastly approaching and encourages all students to visit the Office of Career and Outreach Services for additional information on internship opportunities.