Internship fair a chance for connecting

There were opportunities galore at the internship fair in the William Pitt Union on Tuesday…. There were opportunities galore at the internship fair in the William Pitt Union on Tuesday. Students handed out resumes, talked to potential employers and collected literature provided by the companies.

The participating companies informed students on finding internships, presenting themselves effectively, the hiring process and additional tips.

When searching for an internship “students shouldn’t settle,” Sheila Talarico, director of development of the Holy Family Foundation, an organization that cares for abused children, said. “[Students] just want to get some experience, but it’s important to get the right experience.”

To get the right experience, potential interns or employees should know “where their skills lie and an idea of what path they want to follow,” Carolyn Kukurin, a human resources representative at State Farm Insurance, said.

She added that this path does not just include career, but also “personal goals and where you want to live geographically.”

When seeking internship or employment opportunities, avoid “any experiences that won’t [provide] professional development,” Lynn Rosen, a career consultant at Pitt’s Career Services, said. Instead of “making copies, getting coffee and filing, seek exposure to your professional career,” she added.

Many company representatives agree that an ideal candidate must be professional.

“Every one of these organizations counts an intern as a member of their staff and relies on them to do their job responsibly,” Marvin Roth, director of Career Services, said. “They take it as seriously as a full-time job.”

Professionalism may pay off because many employers “use the internship program for potential hires,” Sharon Mulvihill, a human resource representative at Auberle, a nonprofit, social services organization, said. “It is a great recruiting tool.”

Ideal candidates can “communicate their qualifications and what they bring to the organization,” Kurkurin said.

Jacqueline Thomas, director of children and youth development and education at the YWCA, considers one who is knowledgeable and willing to learn an ideal candidate. Several employers said good communication skills and an outgoing disposition make for a model intern or employee.

It is important that for the interview, a potential intern or employee is prepared, Mulvihill said, “and has done their homework on the agency.”

Other company representatives agreed that having a specific interest in their company is imperative, and, according to Mulvihill, a passion to work in the field is important, too.

The process of finding an internship or employment varies among companies but generally follows common guidelines such as filling out an application, which many companies provide online, then going to an interview. “Make sure you follow up,” Katherine Uran, promotions coordinator for Radio Disney, suggests.

Internships vary at different times of year. Some companies represented at the internship fair hire all year long, whereas others hire only in the summer.

When seeking an internship or employment, banish all modesty. It is important that candidates sell themselves, Kukurin said.

Students arrived at the internship fair in attire ranging from casual to formal, and many had resumes in hand.

Some students were looking for summer internships, while others wanted to network and check out their options.

Not all the students were enthusiastic about the internship opportunities available.

Joseph Lurie, a junior, was “disappointed that the selection is for business and marketing positions.” The internships, he said, were not geared toward his fields – mathematics and philosophy.

Other students, such as Andrea Marcolla, a sophomore sociology major, found the fair to be very beneficial.

Career Services offers an online resource for finding company information. “Students and alumni can search postings for student employment positions, full-time and part-time jobs and internships, upload a resume, and view company information,” according to the department’s PantherTRACS Web site.