Welcome to part one of the UW-Green Bay English Department‘s Internship Series! This post will focus on why internships are so important and take a look at all the benefits they have.
English majors (and, honestly, all college students) should consider getting at least one internship while they’re in college. Why? Because internships provide a myriad of benefits, from helping you figure out what career you want to go into after graduation to gaining real-life skills that can be listed on your resume.
Internships can:
1. Help You Pick the Right Path
Sometimes it’s hard figuring out what exactly you want to do after graduation. That’s where internships come in: they give you the chance to “test out” areas you’re interested in to see if they are truly the right fit for you.
2. Strengthen and Expand Your Skill Set
Internships can allow you to both sharpen your current skills while also giving you the chance to gain new ones. For example, you might consider yourself a strong writer, but you may not have any experience writing press releases until an internship requires you to do so.
3. Give You the Chance to Learn Outside of the Classroom
While you can definitely learn a ton from your classes, you can expand your knowledge by joining the professional world. Internships also provide the opportunity for students to use the skills and knowledge they’ve picked up on in the classroom and apply them to real-life situations.
4. Prepare You for Post-Grad Life
Internships – especially those that are full-time – can offer a taste of what life after graduation is going to be like. Just being immersed in a real work culture environment can teach you a lot about what it’s like out there in the “real world” – and what you can expect once you obtain a job upon graduating.
5. Improve Your Resume
Perhaps the most obvious benefit of internships is that they give you something to put on your resume. Whether your internship was paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, the time and effort you put in matters. The extra experience and skills you gained through your internship will definitely mean something to potential employers.
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Now, I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “That’s great and all, but how do I actually go about getting an internship?” That’s a valid question and one that will definitely be covered in a future installment of this internship series.
For now, check out these great opportunities for English majors that are offered through UW-Green Bay:
(Note: This is by no means a comprehensive list, but a sampling of what is available through UW-Green Bay!)
Sheepshead Review – Sheepshead Review, UW-Green Bay’s very own journal of art and literature, also offers internship opportunities for specific positions, such as Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, and several others. Through this opportunity, students can gain first-hand experience when it comes to creating an issue of the journal. Each internship position can be worth three credits.
UWGB Creatives – With positions like Podcast Producer, Chief Copywriter, and Programming Director available, this team of interns for the UW-Green Bay English Department helps spread the word of the English program. These positions give students the chance to become more involved with the English department. Each internship position counts for three credits.
UW-Green Bay Office of Marketing and University Communication – With positions such as Editorial/Public Relations Intern and Social Media Assistant offered, the Office of Marketing and University Communication at UW-Green Bay can provide great experience for English majors interested in pursuing careers in editorial work or social media.
Voyageur – Voyageur: Northeast Wisconsin’s Historical Review is a great opportunity right here on campus for English majors who are interested in editorial work or publishing. Through this semester-long internship, students work on copyediting pieces for the magazine and assist in research, layout, and other aspects. Internship positions can be taken for three credits.
Internship Draft Day – This event is right around the corner! On Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, students are invited to come to Lambeau Field and meet with representatives from over 60 local employers to obtain internships or jobs. Registration is required.
UW-Green Bay Career Services – Of course, Career Services right here on campus provides many resources for those looking to obtain an internship.