September 15, 2023

Many Purdue College Northwest (PNW) college students spent the summer season gaining worthwhile profession expertise and a aggressive edge within the job market whereas collaborating in an internship.

“One of many high issues an employer appears to be like for in latest graduates is an internship or prior expertise within the business,” says Joelynn Stephen, director of Profession Companies at PNW. “Internships enable college students to construct a particular set of business particular abilities and present employers they’re able to do the job.”

In keeping with Stephen, internships are integral to the school expertise. By internships, PNW college students are in a position to put educational theories and ideas into follow; acquire publicity to office cultures, tendencies and likes and dislikes a few specific job; develop a community {of professional} contacts; purchase expertise of their business and construct confidence. “Internships assist college students make knowledgeable choices about their profession paths and most significantly their future,” she added.

Alejandra Martinez

Fourth-year Administration main and Human Sources minor within the Faculty of Enterprise

Portage, Ind.

Alejandra Martinez spent her summer season internship at Beachwalk Trip Leases in Michigan Metropolis, Indiana. As an intern within the entrance workplace, Martinez created reservations, checked company out and in, processed funds, helped vacationers organize household holidays and interacted with company.

“It’s been a busy summer season however I’ve realized so much,” says Martinez. “With the ability to work in such a wonderful place and work together with company day-after-day has been my actual pleasure.”

Martinez discovered concerning the internship at Beachwalk in an occasion administration class taught by Matthew Bauman, assistant professor of Hospitality and Tourism Administration. “Dr. Bauman introduced in firms to speak concerning the hospitality business within the space,” says Martinez. “It was actually useful to be taught concerning the completely different companies and have the ability to meet the representatives.” Intrigued by the prospect of a trip rental firm, Martinez was in a position to meet with the final supervisor after class and ultimately was awarded the internship.

Martinez plans to enter the hospitality discipline after commencement and says this internship has offered her with invaluable expertise within the discipline. “That is what I need to do,” says Martinez. “This internship is giving me expertise and data within the business I’m obsessed with. I’ve been in a position to community, study completely different enterprise alternatives within the discipline and get sensible expertise. My focus is to make use of my research and internship expertise to set myself up for a administration profession within the hospitality discipline.”

Martinez will get that chance this fall as a entrance desk supervisor at Beachwalk. “To go from working as an intern to changing into a full-time worker could be very motivating,” she says.

Alexander Stinnett

Fourth-year Pc Engineering main and Pc Science minor within the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences

Cedar Lake, Ind.

Alexander Stinnett’s summer season internship was spent on the E TECH Group in Portage, Indiana as an engineering intern engaged on a undertaking that included Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming for an industrial setting.

“My favourite a part of the internship was fixing issues,” says Stinnett. “It’s what I love to do and I’ve enjoyable doing it. If I get hit with one thing I don’t perceive, I benefit from the technique of figuring it out and fixing it.”

Stinnett admits that the PLC programming he labored on this summer season was not precisely what he realized in class, however the expertise he gained from fixing issues at school helped him out on the internship.  “It was actually completely different, however it’s nonetheless programming,” says Stinnett. “The power to critically suppose and downside remedy is what I do at school and what I used to be in a position to straight apply to this undertaking.”

That wasn’t the one lesson Stinnett was in a position to switch from the classroom to the internship. “For pc engineering you be taught so much about software program and {hardware} for computer systems,” says Stinnett. “This internship is particularly designed for a pc engineer as a result of you must work together with the {hardware} for the machines, however you additionally must program the PLCs with software program.”

“This internship has given me a glance into the working world,” says Stinnett. “I really feel I’ve realized so much concerning the technique of working in an workplace, like interacting with coworkers and the boss, reporting and asking for data. It’s made me comfy in and accustomed to an workplace atmosphere.”

After commencement, Stinnett want to proceed working on the E TECH Group as a pc engineer. Finally he want to focus particularly on software program engineering. “I actually like understanding {hardware},” he says. “However I get pleasure from working with software program probably the most.”

Jessica Flores

Fourth-year Administration main within the Faculty of Enterprise

Chicago, In poor health.

Jessica Flores had a magical 2023 summer season as a participant within the Disney Faculty Program at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. As a university program forged member, Flores labored in merchandising on Principal Avenue within the Magic Kingdom. When she wasn’t making candy treats on the Principal Avenue Confectionery, she was ensuring the merchandise on the Emporium on Principal Avenue was displayed correctly.

“My favourite a part of the expertise was interacting with company,” says Flores. “My favourite reminiscence was having the ability to make a magical second for a visitor.” Whereas working within the confectionery, Flores seen a small lady with a birthday button ready patiently for a cake pop. The lady and her household spoke Spanish and Flores was in a position to keep it up a dialog with them whereas the cake pops have been being made. As soon as the deal with was prepared, Flores gave the her the cake pop. “The lady and her dad and mom have been so completely happy they wished to take a photograph with me,” she added.

As a Administration main, Flores was in a position to acquire worthwhile perception into the behind-the-scenes retail operations on the park. High quality, consideration to element and security have been the highest precedence. “Every thing have to be show-ready,” says Flores. “Earlier than something could be placed on show, it’s reviewed to verify it meets Disney requirements, all fixtures must be full and themes and coloration schemes must be collectively – no crossing of themes!”

Flores knew earlier than she left for Florida she wished to increase her expertise at Disney, so she organized along with her advisor to schedule her fall semester lessons on-line. She expects to graduate fall 2023 and plans to use to Disney’s Aspire program to earn a grasp’s diploma in Enterprise Administration (MBA) whereas persevering with to work on the park.

Apart from gaining real-world expertise, Flores acknowledges that getting her foot within the door at “the happiest place on earth” was essential. “I need to proceed working at Disney,” she says. “Sooner or later, I’d wish to develop into a frontrunner and work my approach up into administration.”

To learn the way The Profession Heart at PNW may help you in your profession journey, go to pnw.edu/career-center.