Internships Are All About the Experience

Many Communication students at California State University, Dominguez Hills, stress out when they hear the word "internship." We should remember though that good things come to those who work hard, or wait? However that saying goes, we can get through it when looking for an internship.

Internships are starting points for careers and this is why most seniors freak out because they don't even know where to start. The majority of students don't know the process of getting at an internship and how to get the ball rolling. Being aware of the resources that CSUDH provides can give students the answers they are looking for.

As a major in the Communications Department, most students are required to take the internship course their last semester, which can be a lot on a student's plate. Many students question internships because they are doing a job for free and wonder how this would benefit them.

"We know that an internship will increase students' marketability after graduation," said Internship Coordinator Lisa Mastramico. "It's an important bridge between students' academic work and the career paths that they will pursue after graduation."

Some perks of this graduation requirement are that it could be a paid internship and, at the very least, students can get real-world experience for what they want to be doing in the future. Not all internships may be paid but the overall experience will often prepare students for their future careers. Students can also receive a great recommendation from the internship that could help land them the dream job. The on-the-job experience can also differentiate graduates from the competition when they are competing for jobs in their prospective industries.

Mastramico, who guides graduating COM students through the internship process, finds the program helps students to be ready to take on the "real world."

Not only does Mastramico teach the COM 496 Internship class, she also works closely with students to assist them throughout the entire internship process. To start, students must attend two workshops that provide information about how to write a resume and a cover letter for the internship. Once students have this step done, it's the struggle of having to find and obtain one on their own. Mastramico said that searching for internships should be easier with the database model.

"We are moving to a database model for internship placements," said Mastramico. "That will mean that most opportunities that we know will be in one searchable place, which will make the process more efficient and user-friendly. Students can also look at Handshake from the Career Center, websites like Indeed and meeting with their faculty and advisors. Overall, internships can come from a variety of sources, as long as they match the student's major."

But for many students, securing an internship can still be challenging, from knowing where to look to getting their timing right. Some students wait until the last minute in the hopes of finding the perfect internship but Mastramico encourages students to get a head start because waiting until the last minute on something this important is not the answer either.

"For internships, the earlier the better," said Mastramico. "Ideally, students would come in for advising the semester before they plan to do their internship so we can talk about the process and they can begin their searches."

Students who wait until the last minute may end up with whatever internship is left available, which they might not be happy with, so Mastramico recommends that students prioritize the process so they have options to choose from and can pick the internship that is right for them.

"For me, it was stressful because it was all new to me," said Journalism major Velia Salazar. "I wanted to get the best internship but I didn't know where to start. I was panicking for a while but it all ended up working out and found a local newspaper."

After students have sent their resume and cover letter, it's the waiting game for the interview. While students are waiting for a response, they can follow up with the company and let them know that they are interested.

Once the students secure an applicable internship, they then have to complete 120 hours to meet their graduation requirements. Communication students have done internships from companies as big as CNN to even smaller, local media outlets and organizations.

"The internship that I'm at right now is helping [me] figure out if this is what I want to do," said Journalism major Salvador Oceguera, "and, as of right now, I can see myself being a writer."

Great results can also happen if the students also put in the effort.

"I would also say that some of the best internships come from our alumni when they begin their careers and reach back to recruit their fellow Toros for internships," said Mastramico. "An example would be Doriam Romero, class of 2019, who secured a position shortly after graduation at Allied Global Marketing and almost immediately reached out to me to hire interns. This will be her second semester of being an internship supervisor to her fellow Toros. A great success story all around."

There is proof that internship do benefit us and students having connections can lead them to what could be their dream job. Even if we get stressed or have to put in that free work, the end game is going to be worth it.