2008 Woodie Awards
Staff give council for summer internships
Amanda Crider
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Amanda Crider
Staff writer
When Katie Pride, junior from Clay, Ky., decided to apply for a summer internship, there was only one choice in her mind.
Pride wanted to be an intern at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., mostly because her brother was a former patient there. She said, however, there were some difficulties fulfilling her dream.
"I had been applying online for a year and a half," Pride said. "I hadn't heard anything, hadn't heard anything."
Finally, a chance meeting with a former Murray State public relations alumna gave Pride the chance of a lifetime.
"I met Kristen (Larkins) at Up 'Til Dawn and she agreed to be a reference for me," Pride said. "Last summer, I interned at St. Jude's from May until August, and now I am the executive director of Up Till Dawn."
After her experience, Pride had some words of advice for other aspiring interns.
"Call and definitely don't e-mail," Pride said. "You want to get in touch with the highest person you can. Get their number and call. … When you call you look more interested, and they'll be more likely to help you."
Murray State students wanting to apply for internships don't have to go it alone like Pride, however. Career Services will help anyone interested in an internship or a job.
Brooke Wiles, cooperative education and internship coordinator, said there are a few basic things every student needs when applying for an internship.
"They need three to five professional references," Wiles said. "It could be an advisor, professor, employer, etc. We typically tell students to stay away from using friends, family or clergy as references."
Wiles added that students also need to pay attention to instructions on any applications.
"If you see an advertisement and they call for a specific number of references, give them what they want or they might throw it out," Wiles said. "Sometimes it will say three, and you think, 'I'll wow them with five.'" They'll throw it out because you didn't follow directions."
Staff writer
When Katie Pride, junior from Clay, Ky., decided to apply for a summer internship, there was only one choice in her mind.
Pride wanted to be an intern at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., mostly because her brother was a former patient there. She said, however, there were some difficulties fulfilling her dream.
"I had been applying online for a year and a half," Pride said. "I hadn't heard anything, hadn't heard anything."
Finally, a chance meeting with a former Murray State public relations alumna gave Pride the chance of a lifetime.
"I met Kristen (Larkins) at Up 'Til Dawn and she agreed to be a reference for me," Pride said. "Last summer, I interned at St. Jude's from May until August, and now I am the executive director of Up Till Dawn."
After her experience, Pride had some words of advice for other aspiring interns.
"Call and definitely don't e-mail," Pride said. "You want to get in touch with the highest person you can. Get their number and call. … When you call you look more interested, and they'll be more likely to help you."
Murray State students wanting to apply for internships don't have to go it alone like Pride, however. Career Services will help anyone interested in an internship or a job.
Brooke Wiles, cooperative education and internship coordinator, said there are a few basic things every student needs when applying for an internship.
"They need three to five professional references," Wiles said. "It could be an advisor, professor, employer, etc. We typically tell students to stay away from using friends, family or clergy as references."
Wiles added that students also need to pay attention to instructions on any applications.
"If you see an advertisement and they call for a specific number of references, give them what they want or they might throw it out," Wiles said. "Sometimes it will say three, and you think, 'I'll wow them with five.'" They'll throw it out because you didn't follow directions."
Be the first to comment on this story