Internship Experience?

[RhoSigma2003]

hey guys! I would value your input for this project I have been constructing in my Organizational Communications class.

We had to choose an organization and basically analyze it. Then we have to suggest a change or to implement something new.

Well with my company I have chosen to do an internship program.
I have to come up with how it’s going to be structured. And how this can be implemented through the values, culture, and communication of the organization, I got that part!

I want to know about your internship experience, the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Here are some things to go on:
-How was your overall experience?
-Do you feel that you contributed to the company?
-How was it set up?
-How did you get the internship?
-Did you go into the field that you interned in?
-Do you feel you gained "real world experience"?
-How long was your internship?
-Did you receive any benefits(including fringe) while being an intern?
-How were you treated?


Thanks everyone in advance!

Nicole

[AchtungBaby80]

I wish I'd done an internship like my advisor "strongly suggested." I took extra classes instead because that's what I wanted to do, but if I'd done an internship at least I would've known to change my major in time!

[aephi alum]

I did one internship, between freshman and sophomore years of college, over 10 years ago.

My overall experience was pretty good. The work wasn't quite aligned with my field (I am a software engineer, and they had me doing technical writing, no actual software development), but the experience has helped me in my career, as part of a senior software engineer's job is to write technical specs.

I don't know that I contributed to the company on a company-wide level, but I certainly contributed to my department.

I feel I gained some "real world experience". College does not adequately prepare you for the realities of the corporate world.

IIRC, I got the job by interviewing through my college's career office. The internship lasted about 12 weeks. I received no benefits.

Hope this helps.

[blueangel]

I was a reporter intern at a TV station. The experience was wonderful because I wasn't restricted to just "go-for" work, but was actually allowed to go out in the field and do on-camera reporting. This was great, because I left my job with an on-camera resume tape. And, while I was interning, I also sold a few of my stories to the network-- which was quite exciting for me back then.

I not only got paid for interning, but I received college credit. You can't beat that!

Yes, I DID go into the field, and am still working in broadcasting.

I highly recommend interning. What you do in a college station, and out in the real world are two different things. I learned so much about how the real world of news exists, rather than the classroom version.

I was treated very well. I dressed professionally, and acted professionally, and in turn, was treated professionally.

I highly recommend it to everyone.

Now, I'm in the position of hiring interns. Since I was one at one time, I know what they need to learn. I do everything I can to help them get a big leg up in their careers. And-- I try to mentor them in this very tough industry. I help them learn about the importance of networking, how to interview, how to make a tape, how to dress professionally, etc.

[nauadpi]

-How was your overall experience?
It was great... It let me see what real research was like, not just in class labs.
-Do you feel that you contributed to the company?
One of my programs has been dirrectly used multiple times over.
-How was it set up?
I was hired on as an intern dirrectly by a scientist, then I spent the summer programing and helping him take data.
-How did you get the internship?
I contacted the scientist directly saying I was interested in an internship.
-Did you go into the field that you interned in?
Yes. I continued my major in that field and will be starting graduate school in it in the fall.
-Do you feel you gained "real world experience"?
Yes. Lab work is very different in real life then in a class. Especially in space and planetary science.
-How long was your internship?
3 months (but I did it multiple summers)
-Did you receive any benefits(including fringe) while being an intern?
Access to NASA Ames Research Center and a stipend of $2000 for the summer.
-How were you treated?
Wonderfully and my conections there have helped me get into Graduate School.


For the record. I worked as an intern at NASA Ames Research Center as an intern doing research in Planetary Science (mainly Mars research).

[adpiucf]

-How was your overall experience?
I held several internships. All were great. I got to see valuable niches in marketing from several different places and was able to hone in on what I wanted to do.

-Do you feel that you contributed to the company?
Yes. Interns at every company I worked out made a contribution in terms of planning and executing events, writing copy, internal communication, PR, making a final presentation based on a marketing problem they had identified and it's potential solutions, etc.

-How was it set up?
I established set hours at each, with regular meetings with the intern supervisor and a lot of on my own time to work through projects.

-How did you get the internship?
My university holds intern fairs. What really helped me get hired was knowing previous interns or full-time entry level staff-- university alumni and sorority members

-Did you go into the field that you interned in?
Yes

-Do you feel you gained "real world experience"?
Absolutely

-How long was your internship?
Each lasted one semester. Some were concurrent

-Did you receive any benefits(including fringe) while being an intern?
I was paid at one internship and received free promo items (theme park tickets, goodies, concert tickets)

-How were you treated?
I was always treated as a professional whose time and opinion mattered.

[texas*princess]

Here are some things to go on:
-How was your overall experience?
Overall it was pretty good. I loved the department I worked for, and I feel I learned a lot about the way the company operated. I do wish it had been a longer internship, but that was beyond my control since I was graduating. I also enjoyed it b/c I wasn't the person who made copies or coffee... I actually did things that pertained to my field

-Do you feel that you contributed to the company?
I definitely feel that I contributed to the company and the department I worked in. Since it was the first time they had ever had interns it started off a little shaky, but it definitely got better and as it did, we were able to contribute more to the department and the company.

-How was it set up?
Not sure what you mean on this question. We worked MWF 8-5 and had Tuesday & Thursdays off for class.

-How did you get the internship?
The internship was offered through the Co-op/Internship office. There were a ton of people interviewing and only 3 spots to fill.

-Did you go into the field that you interned in?
Yes

-Do you feel you gained "real world experience"?
Definitely. The experience I got helped me in finding a perfect "real world" job after graduation. I got to learn about the company, the industry, and the field I was studying.

-How long was your internship?
A little over a semester -- it was my last semester in college.

-Did you receive any benefits(including fringe) while being an intern?
Not sure what "fringe" is, but I didn't get any company benefits if that is what you mean?

-How were you treated?
Me and the other interns were treated great. It was a nice environment and we don't feel like we were treated like "lowly interns" or anything.