This week’s BLOG is written by our Career Peer, Justin Keith, who is a first year student planning to major in Finance.
How I found my Internship:
I had always been told that freshmen either cannot get internships or do not need one; I have now learned that both statements are false. Freshmen can get internships by looking in the right places and internships are important for freshman to learn vital information about their majors and to obtain experience in their field. I started looking for an internship in November, and by early December I found my internship through a tip from my sister’s friend who had worked in the same office two years ago; the internship was for spring semester, as a Cash Control Analyst at Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.
The first thing I did was log onto the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts website and look at the qualifications needed to apply for the job. The position required no finance experience which was one of the main reasons I applied for this job. I have not yet taken the finance course offered at Penn State, so ideally I needed an internship that requires little to no experience. I made sure to get my information in right away once I found the posting.
The Interview:
I applied for the position on the Hershey Entertainment website and submitted my resume. About a week later, the company contacted me for a face-to-face interview. Before the interview, I revisited the Hershey Entertainment website and familiarized myself with the values of the company and reviewed the tasks I would be responsible for doing in my internship. On the day of my interview, I dressed in a suit and tie and made sure I was early as possible so I would not be late. I ended up having trouble finding where the interview was located, so the extra time was a good safety measure!
The interview was a little different than a typical interview because I had no real experience to speak of. I believe the interviewer was instead looking for my passion for the job and my willingness to work. A lot of interviews at lower levels are judged on the candidate’s interest and your ability to show interest and knowledge of the company. About 2 weeks after my interview, I received a call saying I had an offer for the position. The hiring process does not always move so quickly, but they admitted to me that they really needed someone. The only barrier to my employment after that was a drug test and a background check. I started working in late January, after taking their new employee orientation class.
Tips for Interviewing and Internships:
- Do not think just because you are a freshman you cannot get an internship; you can if you look for them.
- Have knowledge of the company you are interviewing with; they will ask what you know.
- Show passion and interest in the job, especially if you don’t have the qualifications; people react to those who show interest and willingness to learn.
- Remember that there are many internships out there so don’t stop looking, and if you don’t get the internship, it isn’t the end of the world.