Tag Archives: Internships

Victory Lap

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By Avery Jackson

Senior year has finally come! I’m on what some people call a victory lap – this means that it took me five years instead of four to graduate. However, I am no less excited!

I spent my summer as a nomad in Valparaiso, Indiana, working for a non-profit called Kids Alive International. This summer, I wore many hats! I created online newsletters, used my graphic design skills, took photos, wrote and edited stories, made donor presentations and did many hours of research on corporate matching gifts. I did the vast majority of the impact reports on both the countries we serve in as well as our previous site projects and fundraising events. I loved every minute!

In addition to the 40 hours I spent in the office, I also thrived outside of it as well. I made friends and explored Chicago, Wyoming and even Florida. I also had some much-needed family time with my parents and three youngest siblings, rode horses and trains, swam in the great lakes and even managed to squeeze in some concerts.

However, during my three months of summer, I stayed in SEVEN different homes. I basically lived out of my suitcase. That was an adventure in itself!

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I loved getting to spend time with my siblings!

Driving with my dad and my fearless feline, Jezber, back to Waco from Indiana was a relief. Baylor has really become my home. I began to feel excited and energized the closer I got to my art-filled apartment. After my fourth major internship, I now know that I have many of the skills I need to survive in the “real world.”

Building Your Future

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By Avery Jackson

One really cool thing about being in college (and specifically Baylor) is that you learn how to be prepared for the job search when you graduate. I still have one more year of school, but I have already built my online portfolio in addition to two different printed versions. A portfolio is something you put together that shows your graphic design skills, your writing skills, photography work and YouTube videos you have created, no matter if it was for work or for fun. You can also show what you did for a summer internships or other jobs to give a potential boss an idea of what you can do. You package this up with your resume and cover letter, as well as letters of recommendation, and take it with you to a job interview.

In two of my classes this semester, this was my final exam. Both classes were simply there to help me build up my portfolio and learn how to put it together. I have already gotten a summer internship in Valparaiso, Indiana, with Kids Alive International as a communications/marketing intern, and it is a full-time paid position! I was able to send them to my online site to see some of my skills in writing and design, and it impressed them enough to hire me as their first intern!

Once you start at Baylor, a majority of your classes will have projects or papers you can include in your own professional portfolio, and who know, you might just land your dream job because of a project you did in your first couple years in school!

Check out some of the pages of my portfolio!

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Update from New York

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IMG_0029By Charlie Foster

For those of you keeping up with me, I’m currently in New York City interning for CBS. I work in their Entertainment Publicity department, and I absolutely love it. I never know what to expect, as my job almost changes every day in order to match the needs of the shows. A couple of weeks ago, I went to the set of a new show that’s currently on pilot for CBS.

As a part of the publicity department, we interviewed Jim Gaffigan (comedian) and Ashley Williams (of How I Met Your Mother), both of whom are stars of the new show. I asked the producer of the interviews to take a picture of me on the interview set. Here it is:

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This is my view of the New York City skyline. I absolutely love it. It changes every day, and I always see something new. Every morning, I sit on my couch and look out at this as I have a quiet time. I love to see this crazy place that He has created, but I also know that He’s very much here. This has been an adventure of a lifetime, and I’m excited for the second half that’s coming soon.

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Also, as a surprise, I flew to Waco to watch All-University Sing. My fraternity, Phi Kappa Chi, partnered with Pi Beta Phi this year. We competed with an act about Romeo and Juliet. I love Sing, and it has always been one of my favorite aspects of the university. My little didn’t know I was coming, so I surprised him after his performance. I enjoyed getting to see family and friends – they are what I miss most while I’m in New York City. Nonetheless, this opportunity is COMPLETELY worth it. I’m loving every second of it. I hope you will find something like this that you love, as well!

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Projects and Celebrations

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By Avery Jackson

Spring Break is finally upon us! Unfortunately, that means midterms and projects as well. One of the fun things about being a Journalism, Public Relations & New Media major is that a lot of my midterms are just huge projects. Instead of memorizing pages of information for a test, I get to spend my all-nighters being creative on a computer.

I JUST completed a three minute video for a class and also for my work (Crop-Paper-Scissors) as well as some posters and info cards. Below are two things I’ve been working on recently. The first is a poster I had to make for my class while the second is a picture of the beginning stages of my business cards. I hand-drew the birds and the flowers.

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So. Much. Fun! But of course, so much work.

As I walked to my class this morning, I was complaining to myself about the cold and the fact that I didn’t make myself coffee. But then I realized that I was so blessed. I get to play and not have to worry about a nine to five job just yet. By “play,” I mean I get to learn all sorts of new software and create amazing designs and images!

College is such a great, fantastic time to learn things you NEVER considered learning! I have never ever liked computers, and I just bought a new one. Now, I can put tons of software on it that I can use on my own as well as for school.

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Yeah, I am happy Spring Break is around the corner, but honestly Baylor has been wonderful! I feel like I am really learning stuff that can help me do my dream job one day.

Goodbye Baylor, Hello World

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By Valonia Walker

December graduation is approaching quickly. Originally, I had planned on graduating in May, but I found out I could graduate a semester early! So now, I am super excited and anxious.

Being told you can graduate a month and a half before graduation is actually very scary. But, it was definitely a blessing. After finding out this news, I scrambled to create the best looking resume, online portfolio and LinkedIn account. With the support of my parents, professors and peers, I started to feel calmer about what was to come next.

I applied for about 30-40 jobs and internships in the Houston area where I want to live, and it seemed to be the only thing I did on the weekends and in my free time. I even gave up opportunities to hang out with my friends because REAL LIFE was happening, and it was happening fast.

After weeks of filling out job applications, I finally started to hear back from places I applied to. I ended up accepting a paid public relations internship back home in a school district. I am excited about all of the learning opportunities I will have and the items I will be able to add to my portfolio.

If you ever miraculously get the opportunity to graduate early by surprise like I am, here are some things to remember:

  • Do not become overwhelmed.
  • Visit the Career Center in the Sid Richardson Building – they have great resources.
  • Start researching jobs and companies you would want to work for.
  • Talk to your professors – they might have connections to past students who can help you land an awesome job.
  • Remember you do not have to take the first job you are offered.
  • It is going to work out! Just have faith.

My Final Summer

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By Avery Jackson

I have been in college four years now, and I have one more left! Since I’ve had the chance to stay in school so long, I have been afforded WAY more opportunities than the average college student. I was able to study abroad in Ireland as a freshman at my first university, and when I transferred to Baylor my sophomore year, I was able to have multiple internships and other travel opportunities.

Throughout college, all I have heard professors talk about and encourage students to do is internships!

What is an internship? An internships is an opportunity to work for a company or organization in your area of study for a month or two during the summer. The experience you get from your time on the job is priceless! You actually get the chance to see if what you are studying in college is really right for you!

I have had two big internships now, both of which involved sales and marketing. For my first internship, I sold and delivered dog food in a giant box truck to small farm stores. I also attended fairs, where I would sit at a booth for HOURS and pass out samples of dog food. During that summer, I worked unusual hours. I was normally awake at seven to load my box truck, and I would begin my deliveries by eight. Then, I would return home by about one or two for a break. By five or six, I would head to the fair of the week to talk to people about their dogs and what food would be right for their canine companion.

My second internship was this past summer with Southwestern Advantage. I basically went door-to-door in one of the poorest areas of Pennsylvania and sold children’s books and study tools. I ran my own business, which meant I set my hours, bought the books myself and paid for shipping and taxes. I worked 6 days a week, which equated to about 82 to 84 hours. By the end of the summer, I was ranked in the top five percent of sales representatives in the company.

Both internships taught me better people skills, how to communicate under stressful situations and helped me grow as a person! I also made a lot of money (ALWAYS a plus!). This coming semester, I will have an internship in public relations on top of my class load! I am very excited!

I think EVERY student should have at least one internship under their belt before they graduate (although two or three wouldn’t hurt). It’s a lot of fun, and you learn so much about what you are passionate about and what you see yourself doing after school!

Beyond the Classroom

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By Laura Beth Moore

Did you know Baylor offers more than 190 various student organizations? Not only do these organizations help you meet other students in your major, but they also provide opportunities and internships. As a Journalism, Public Relations & New Media major, I decided to join the Baylor chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. PRSSA serves as a bridge for students to meet and learn from PR agents. Baylor’s PRSSA chapter will frequently email us when different PR conferences, events and various opportunities arise. A couple of weeks ago I received an email about an opportunity to tour the GolinHarris agency.

The GolinHarris agency began in 1956 when Al Golin saw the potential to market a hamburger stand. What started small has now become the world’s largest fast food chain, McDonald’s. Today, GolinHarris has 45 offices throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

 

The greater Texas branch, located in Dallas, invited university students to attend an office open house. Eight Baylor students, including myself, attended along with students from University of Oklahoma, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University and more. I loved the opportunity to meet and network with other public relations students. It’s thrilling to meet people who are passionate about the same things you are. It’s interesting to collaborate on ideas and see what they’re learning too. After chatting and enjoying some Southwest wraps, we all headed into the conference room to begin.

Bright and cheerful Baylor alum, Ginger Porter, welcomed us to the Dallas office. She has been with GolinHarris for 12 years and now is the director over the greater Texas branch. My attention was captivated as she described her passion for PR and walked us through the history of GolinHarris. As Porter described, GolinHarris prides itself on relationships. It’s easy to see the tight knit and friendly relationships between the staff in the office. Their community spills over into their focus on cultivating a strong relationship between the employees and clients. The ripple effect continues with inspiring clients to gain and maintain relationships with their stakeholders. The 57-year-long account with McDonald’s proves their commitment to focus on long-term relationships with their clients.

One of their prominent features, The Bridge, was designed by GolinHarris to integrate real-time news headlines to spur on business marketing strategies. The Bridge serves as a philosophy and a physical environment.

The 5 Bridge techniques include:

  1. Insights into Action
  2. Relationship Building
  3. Hype-Revelant Media Relations
  4. Customer Engagement
  5. Content Creation

After explaining The Bridge concept the Director of Real-Time Engagement Stephanie Matthews issued a challenge for us. We were given 10 minutes to come up with various ways to attract a certain ESPN reporter’s attention and influence to GolinHarris’ client AccuWeather. Slips of paper were passed out and the pressure was on. The winner of the challenge received a lunch with directory Ginger Porter while the two honorable mentions would be given the opportunity to shadow the office for a week. I quickly rushed to the conference room to begin writing.

I was so nervous. My mind was racing, and I could barley read. I took a deep breath and thought, “OK, what did she say they’re looking for?” In the margin, I began to list out various ideas. One idea actually came from my PR class lecture last week. We were talking about ways to grab the media’s attention in creative ways. Dr. Bates used the RGIII for Heisman Baylor campaign as an example. They sent out baseball cards with RGII’s stats and information. Since the task was marketing to this ESPN reporter, I suggested sending the reporter AccuWeather baseball cards with information promoting the company. I scribbled down my ideas, hoped I spelled everything right, turned it in and headed to the next session.

They offered four different sessions students could pick from including: How to be a Rockstar Intern, Resume and Internship 101, The Bridge Information Session and Recent Client Campaigns. I attended the session where various employees presented recent case studies and campaigns they have worked on for Texas Instruments and PetSmart. I tried to jot down as many ideas as I could as they spoke. They’ve even worked with Josh Dumel and Nicholas Sparks on various PetSmart promotions.

At the conclusion of the sessions they announced the winners of the challenge. I was shocked to hear my name called out as they announced the two runners-up! I can’t wait to go back and shadow! I am extremely thankful for Baylor presenting students with opportunities like this! I’ll have to let you know how it goes!

 

So You Don’t Have a Job…Yet!

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By TJ Partida

Well, I don’t have one…and I’m graduating in a couple of months! Originally, I had been planning on staying for the academic year, but I decided it would be best just to graduate in December and use the spring to figure myself out. I’m really hoping to become an admissions counselor for Baylor, which happens through the human resources portion of Baylor’s website. Unfortunately hiring for Admissions doesn’t happen till mid-spring…so I’ve got some time.

I just want to list a few things to help you out, even if you are a prospective student! Not being employed is nothing to freak out about. While we all want to achieve success in the job hunt, it’s not always easy to get a job. Fortunately, Baylor has some resources to help you out and get you ready for the real world.

  1. Join an organization. We have more than 190 organizations to choose from, so get involved ASAP! You can go Greek like I mentioned in one of my past posts or maybe run for an office in Student Government. There are tons of options like the Driving Club, Hispanic Student Association or even a martial arts club. Make sure to start by going to Late Night, which is the first Friday night of every school year. After you join an organization, take up responsibilities you think can get you ready for the real world.
  2. Get a job. Now, I’m talking about something part time that you can manage with your schoolwork. I currently work two jobs, one off-campus and one on-campus, which I don’t recommend to students with harder majors than mine. Showing recruiters that you have work experience is going to give you a better chance at positions, even if it is just waiting tables or working a front desk. On our website, there are a bunch of postings for on-campus positions as well.
  3. Write a resume. The sooner you write one the better! Try to avoid including high school stuff unless you held a job for at least a year before coming to college. Try to keep it to one page; most employers won’t look at it if it’s longer. This is your opportunity to categorize everything important you’ve done to get you ready for the workforce. Take advantage of the Office of Career and Professional Development, who can help set up mock interviews and resume-writing information sessions!
  4. Make a website. For journalism students, creating an online portfolio is mandatory, but I think it’s one of the most creative ways to showcase work you’ve done or just a little about you. You can include links to social media and your resume, post pictures and videos and even add a contact box so employers can shoot you a quick email! Here’s my website just to give you an idea of what I’m talking about.

These are just a few things you can do while as undergrad or as a high school student. By starting early and keeping with the end in mind, you will set yourself apart from everyone else! I love helping friends out, so if you have any questions, definitely let me know. Have a great week guys!