Most students know that having an internship is an important step to getting experience and boosting their employment opportunities after graduation. For some, the question arises, “Can I still have a meaningful internship during these pandemic times?” Hear what two students have to say about their internship experiences.

  Tammy is a rising junior at Clemson University with majors in Marketing and Psychology. She is an honors student and very focused on her future. While she does not know exactly what she wants to do, she realizes that it is important to have experience in the workplace. She wants to understand the business world, learn more about various roles and more importantly learn about her strengths and preferences.

  Currently she holds two internships; one paid and the other unpaid. She is working for a start-up company whose service is to revamp company images to appeal to Gen Z. She has held this position since the summer of 2019. In 2019, Tammy had to undergo three rounds of interviews to secure the position. In 2020 she participated in one virtual interview to secure her position as a Sales and Marketing Intern. In this role she does market research, conducts prospecting for leads, makes pitch calls and conducts surveys to learn more about Gen Z.

  Tammy’s second internship is with an image consulting firm that helps clients revamp their brands. Most of their clients feel they are losing traction and need assistance with rebranding.

  Tammy has discovered that there is a lot of self-learning that is required during the internship. For example, she has had to learn Salesforce. She also believes you must be adaptable to the needs of the organization. In this role, she is learning about advertising and marketing. Her responsibilities are diverse. She may have to design new packaging for a company or learn about the goals of that company.

  Working during COVID times and working virtually has actually made her more efficient. She does not have to travel to New York and as a result she has more working hours to complete assignments. She talks on a regular basis with her manager, so the communication is constant. As a student, she has challenged herself with these two internships, but she feels that she is learning, and it will pay off in the future.

  Thomas is a 2019 graduate of Rutgers University whose major was Information Technology and who is currently enrolled in an MBA program at his alma mater in Information Technology and Analytics.

  Through networking and persistence, he was able to secure an internship at Colgate Palmolive in their Global Technology Program. He began his internship in April despite the shutdown due to COVID 19. His assignments are digital. He is helping design systems for positive user experiences. He is assisting with research and video production. He is working with one other intern and he and his manager communicate multiple times a week on Google Hangouts.

  Thomas reports that he was interviewed via video conferencing. He was comfortable with that format. He likes the digital nature of his work. He says it is very flexible. He is able to manage his time and found it is easier for him. The bonus is there is no commuting time.

  Thomas has been surprised at how well the internship is going. He is most proud of completing a project for a movie editing app. He is learning about the American corporate structure and protocols for meetings and even emails. The experience of working in corporate America is somewhat different from the textbook learning he’s accustomed to.

  His advice for other students is to apply, apply and don’t get down and frustrated when seeking an internship. You will eventually be selected.

  Thomas is grateful to have this opportunity, test out his skills and gain experience at a respected company like Colgate Palmolive.