Recent News
Internships increasingly important in post-graduation job search
A new report from Grace College found that unemployment has fallen about 7% for 20- to 24-year-olds. There are many reasons for upcoming college graduates to be optimistic about their job searches, but there are also noteworthy trends that should keep expectations in check and even inspire extra effort. Internships and other work-and-learn opportunities continue to be a step toward work readiness and, in many cases, job offers.
The Class of 2015 has planned ahead for the future. According to Dan Kadlec of Time, 82% of current seniors considered the availability of jobs in their field before choosing a major â a 7% increase from 2014. The Accenture Strategy 2015 U.S. College Graduate Employment Study backs this up: 63% of 2015 grads were encouraged to pursue a STEM degree (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), compared to 52% of grads from 2013 and 2014. Jobs in STEM fields are often high-wage and high-demand, …
Internship allows student to experience âgray areaâ
Ashley Hager is a fall intern with Milliner & Associates, a staffing and recruiting agency for accounting, finance, HR and administrative employment positions.
What thoughts come to mind when you think about the word âinternshipâ?
Are they positive, negative or somewhere in between? I never really had an opinion about them. My professors kept saying how important they were, but I just couldnât see the value at the time. Now, Iâm disappointed I waited until my senior year to even start applying for an internship, but thereâs no point in regretting the past. I can only change the future.
I started applying for internships knowing that they were extremely important and that I needed one to put on my rĂ©sumĂ©. I knew I would gain experience and knowledge, but I had no idea to what extent. My time here at Milliner & Associates is unlike anything I could have imagined. …
Casey Spivey: Making an IMPACT
Casey Spivey was named Intern of the Year at the annual IMPACT Awards luncheon in 2013. Today, she is a full-time employee with the Indiana State Personnel Department â the same organization she worked for as an intern when she earned the award.
Indiana INTERNnet: What have you been up to career-wise since graduation and earning an IMPACT Award?
Casey Spivey: I started my internship with the State of Indiana the day after I graduated from college. Thankfully, the Indiana State Personnel Department (SPD) offered me a Benefits Specialist positon before the conclusion of my internship, so I was able to transition directly into full-time employment with the State! I spent about a year in SPDâs Benefits Division before transferring to a Generalist position supporting the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC). Currently, I manage Human Resources for the Pendleton Correctional Complex, which consists of three IDOC facilities.
IIN: How …
Avoid âspookyâ behavior in the workplace
As you know, this time of year brings the chance to transform into someone or something else. To maintain course on the education and career front, however, there are some âspookyâ behaviors that do not translate well in the workplace.
Youâve nailed the interview and landed the internship that will be vital to your education and future career. Now, itâs time to avoid turning the opportunity into a horror story. Based on Universal Studiosâ classic monsters, these are the kinds of interns you donât want to be.
The Invisible Man intern: Being present is not enough. While on the job, strive to impress. One way to do this is by not displaying the bad temperament of the H. G. Wells character. Accept assignments with enthusiasm and offer your assistance regularly. Smiling while exchanging greetings with those you encounter in the workplace is also a good idea.
The Frankenstein …
Jeff Papa (IBJ Interview Issue)
This clip is from the Indianapolis Business Journal: The Interview Issue.
Jeff Papa estimates heâs been to 45 countries in the last 25 yearsâfor either teaching, volunteerism or vacations. He helped create an orphanage in Nepal. And last year, he went to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to be an observer for prisoner hearings.
But international work isnât his full-time jobâeven though he might like it to be.
Instead, the 46-year-old works as chief of staff for the Indiana Senate, a position heâs held since 2007. And this past June, he became Zionsvilleâs first mayor.
IBJ: What got you into working with government initially?
Jeff Papa: I accidentally did an internship with the [Indiana] Senate.
IBJ: How did you accidentally do an internship with the Senate?
Jeff Papa: I was a Rose-Hulman [Institute of Technology] student, and I was going out of town for the weekend with my friend …
First generation college student trailblazing career path
Firdas Abamislimova is a senior at IUPUIâs Kelley School of Business. She is studying Management, HR and International Studies.
My name is Firdas, and I am the first member of my family to go to college!
My family moved to the United States 10 years ago when I was only 13 years old. Â At the time, I already knew that going to college would be a given for me. My parents gave up all their life savings and their loved ones in order to move to the land of opportunities. You see, my parents never had the opportunity to go to college, so they have always dreamed about being able to give the opportunity to their children. Where I am from, going to college was a dream that came true only for the wealthy. Finding a job upon graduation was for those of true Russian ethnicity. Why, you may …
Yes, college is still worth it
The answer to the question, âIs college worth it?â is a no-brainer for this grad. I answer with an emphatic, âYes!â
The question is a central theme of the recently released Gallup-Purdue Index 2015 Report. The report surveyed more than 29,000 U.S. college graduates. One of the questions asked graduates how certain experiences in college influenced well-being and workplace engagement after graduation. A finding of particular interest to us here at Indiana INTERNnet pertained to the value of internships:
âIf recent graduates strongly agree that they had any of three experiential learning opportunities â an internship related to their studies, active involvement in extracurricular activities or a project that took a semester or more to complete â their odds that they strongly agree that their education was worth the cost increase by 1.5 times.â – Gallup-Purdue Index 2015 Report
We are pleased but not exactly surprised by this figure. The …
Despite heavy course load, internship is worth it
Ashley Hager is a fall intern with Milliner & Associates, a staffing and recruiting agency for accounting, finance, HR and administrative employment positions.
Stress. Overload. Pressure. Worry.
These are a few words that come to mind when I think about working 20 hours a week and taking 18 credit hours this semester.
You know what, though?
Experience. Mentor. Learning. Opportunity. Thankful.
These are a few words that come to mind when I think about my internship.
Still to this day, an entire month after my first day, I am shocked that I get to work at Milliner & Associates for a whole semester. This is an amazing opportunity.
I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and get home at 9:30 p.m. from my evening classes. I have never had problems with time management before. Iâve also never really had a full schedule like this before either. It is hard finding time …
Studies show internships matter
Did you know that employers nationwide offered full-time positions to their interns nearly 65% of the time in 2013? And 79% of the interns accepted the offer.
I find these figures from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) fascinating because they are a testament to the value of internships. Many employers now treat internships as an extended job interview of sorts â training the next generation of talent in order to build their workforce. A 2015 survey by NACE confirms this trend. The report reveals about 70% of employers indicated that seeking full-time, entry-level employees is a main function of their internship programs.
An additional benefit to internships is the return on investment. A study cited by Purdue University Calumet showed that in 2012, college students with internship experience made on average 15% more money than those who did not complete an internship. More coin in the pocket …
Lessons abound outside of school
In school, I learned about the Revolutionary War, the Pythagorean Theorem and racial injustice from âTo Kill a Mockingbird.â
All this knowledge is useful in certain settings, but one has to admit there is an array of valuable skills acquired mostly from experiences outside of school.
For example, I had to figure out on my own how to properly manage finances. I recall on more than one occasion rotating Ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches for daily meals because I valued the latest video game over nutrition. One thing is for sure, scraping by certainly builds character.
As for professional skills, another example of life education is learning the role of government, especially at the local levels. My initial introduction came in the form of a speeding ticket. As I entered the courtroom as a teenager, I recall being as nervous as a small bird with a hungry-cat neighbor. The …
Calling all internship success stories
The tenth timeâs a charm!
Indiana INTERNnet began the tradition of celebrating internship excellence nearly a decade ago by launching the annual IMPACT Awards program.
Today, the IMPACT Awards are presented at an annual luncheon honoring Interns of the Year (high school, college and non-traditional categories), Employers of the Year (for-profit and not-for-profit categories) and a Career Development Professional of the Year. Indiana INTERNnet will honor its tenth group of award nominees and winners on Feb. 3, 2016. Co-founder and CMO Angie Hicks of Angieâs List will be the keynote speaker.
Honorees are nominated by the public, and winners are chosen by a panel of impartial judges. Click here to submit your nomination(s) in any or all of the categories by October 23.
The inaugural group of honorees set the standard for years of inspiring stories of accomplishments by â and on behalf of â interns. Here is a sampling …
Non-traditional review of The Intern
Admittedly, when I first considered applying to work with Indiana INTERNnet, I thought I was a bit aged to take on an internship.
That is until I watched the trailer for the upcoming movie âThe Intern.â I am nowhere near 70, the age of the intern character played by one of my favorite actors, Robert De Niro. But I did wonder how I would compete against traditional college students. It goes to show that no matter your age, if youâre willing to learn, you can find opportunities.
I call this a non-traditional movie review for two reasons. First, non-traditional (a 37-year-old parent who works while attending college) is the type of student I am, and second, Iâve yet to see the movie, which is set for release Sept. 25. Based on the trailer, however, I expect to experience more than a few laughs and maybe even learn a life lesson …
Indiana INTERNnet Summer Intern Reflects on Growth
âDo what you are afraid of.â
These are the words of Caryl Auslander, VP of Education and Workforce Development Policy at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. When she said this, she didnât know I accepted this internship at Indiana INTERNnet for that very reason.
Prior to joining this team to help increase talent retention, I was a student plagued by writerâs block, and I had very little social media experience. I decided I wanted to face this head-on.
I was that guy, probably like your parents, who used Facebook just to see who wished me a happy birthday once a year. As far as I was concerned, hashtags were never the character displayed in front of a word to loop a post into a larger conversation. It was always just the number/pound sign to me.
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“This kind of growth could not be found in …
Wrap Up Your Internship Like a Boss
Itâs party time because youâve almost made it through your summer internship! Youâve learned new things and grown professionally. Youâve become a significant part of the team. Whether you are sad to skedaddle or ready to roll, how you leave is just as important as how you arrived. Here are some tips for wrapping up your internship in a professional manner! What will they do without you?
Reflect
Internships are like swimming in the kiddie pool. Itâs the same water the professional swimmers use, only itâs specifically constructed for learning. In other words, internships are the time to test the waters and even pick up some new strokes. After âsplashing around,â perhaps you know that you are in the right area, or maybe you need to explore another career path.
Make a list and reflect on things you liked about your experience and things you didnât. What did the …
Intern-to-Hire Calls Indy âHomeâ
The journey Alex Eaton embarked on after his sophomore year has come full circle.
A recent Indiana University graduate, Eaton, utilized Indiana INTERNnet to apply for an internship position at Pete the Planner, a small financial wellness company based in Indianapolis founded by Peter Dunn. Dunn is an author, radio personality and financial expert.
Now, Eaton has transitioned into his new full-time role as the Director of eLearning at Pete the Planner.
While his job involves marketing Pete the Plannerâs online platforms, he wears many hats during the day.
âIâm reaching out to a perspective client and starting the sales process, Iâm running the actual product demos all the way to helping sign them on as clients, and Iâm working with them once they are clients to make sure everything is working,â Eaton explains.
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âIf you can find more situations where you donât know what …