Internships article

Internships give graduates competitive edge during job market slump
By Courtney Jewett
1/26/1008
*printed in Baylor Lariat

The competition is on for 2008 seniors graduating into a possible economic recession and declining job market.

A recession is defined as a decline in a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for two or more successive quarters of a year.

According to CNNMoney.com, “top economists from two of the major Wall Street Firms- Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs- say recession is likely already here.”

This economic slowdown produces fewer jobs, placing recent hires and new job candidates in a difficult situation compared to veteran workers.Students with internship experience on their resumes are likely to be the preferred applicants to increasingly selective companies.

“Recruiting top quality talent has become increasingly competitive for companies,” said Dr. Kent Gilbreath, professor of economics and Stevens Chairholder of Private Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

“Students who have held an internship by them are more likely to be recruited by them.”Gilbreath said students with real-world internship experience and knowledge will be more likely to get hired.

The Career Services department will offer more resources this semester to assist students in obtaining valuable internships.

The department will hold six job fairs this spring, along with on-campus interviews and updated online internship searches.“Sixty percent of hires now are a result of internships,” said Dr. John Boyd, Career Services director.

The February HireABear Career Fair will have 37 companies seeking interns. Students can log into HireABear from the Career Services Web page to register for the event, or for on-campus interviews.

HireABear’s job search now lists 153 internship opportunities in Texas. Career Services also offers resume critiques to help students obtain desired internships.

Senior James Nortey interned with the FBI last summer, working in an office of law-enforcement coordination. He values the experience he gained and advices other students to obtain internships while in college.

“Internships are [the company’s] way of pre-hiring,” Nortey said. “The biggest thing is to start early because some internships are so competitive. And to have a killer resume.”

Junior Jessica Evans was a full time intern at the White House last semester. She worked 40 hours a week in the presidential scheduling office.

Evans said the experience opened up new career opportunities.“I’m hoping to work at the Bush Library, and I’ve made a lot of great contacts. [The internship] got my foot into the door so I can work for him full time after I graduate,” Evans said.

One of the highlights of The White House internship was posing in a picture with President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the other interns. Evans described the internship as being “the best experience I’ve ever had.”

Dr. Blaine McCormick, associate dean of Hankamer School of Business, said an internship “might be the most valuable thing to have on your resume.”

McCormick stressed the importance of obtaining a good degree and “relevant work experience.”

Since more students are graduating from college today, the job-finding process is becoming more competitive.Gilbreath said “Students need to become acquainted with the Career Center very early in their time at Baylor- beginning with career analysis their freshman year.”

He advises students to prepare a resume by the second semester of their sophomore year.“Try to nail down your internship by your junior year,” Gilbreath said.