What Makes a Great Internship?

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7/14/15, 3:44 PM

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JUN 17, 2015

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WHAT MAKES A GREAT INTERNSHIP?

A STUDENT INTERN
SPOTLIGHT
By Sean Nasi, UIP Assistant
Anna Hamelin, Economics Major
Southwest Airlines

What makes an internship a great experience?

For Anna Hamelin, an Economics major at
DePaul, her experience at Southwest Airlines
was unlike any job shes ever had. Time literally
flew by while interning at the company.
Internships as phenomenal as Annas are not
hard to come by, but they do take time and energy to find. Here are some questions to
keep in mind when deciding whether or not to apply to an internship or accept an offer
for one!

http://www.hiredepaul.org/student_spotlight_series_anna_hamelin

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What Makes a Great Internship? - HireDePaul

7/14/15, 3:44 PM

What Will I Learn?

The biggest thing that separates great internships from good ones is the learning
components. As college students, we are still developing our skills and learning how to
apply them to the workforce. At Southwest, Anna never filed papers or got coffee for her
superiors. Instead, she learned how to plan events and collaborate with companies to
create a satisfying final product. They trust the interns here a lot and give them projects
that are important. That makes everyone work extremely hard to make sure everything
comes out perfect, Anna says.
Who Will Teach Me?
It is one thing to simply gain experience at an internship, but its another thing to learn
from and make connections with industry professionals. Mentorship is another big
component of an internship, and it can come through supervision or by leading through
example. At Southwest, Anna received both types of mentorship. The people who work
here are happy and approachable, so its a great environment to learn, says Anna.

http://www.hiredepaul.org/student_spotlight_series_anna_hamelin

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What Makes a Great Internship? - HireDePaul

7/14/15, 3:44 PM

What is the Environment

Like?
Its important to select an
internship that will
complement your work
style. Organizations in
Chicago offer all kinds of
internship programs, and
some environments are not
suitable for everyone. Some
companies are high-pressure
and fast-paced, while others
are more laid-back. Some
companies even look for
interns to work remotely.
Anna enjoyed the laid-back
environment at Southwest.
Southwest does a lot to
ensure that their employees
are genuinely happy, says
Anna. They want you to
work hard, but they also
want you to have fun and
enjoy your job and coworkers. The people at Southwest know how to work hard and play
hard.
How Will I Be Compensated for My Time?
Contrary to popular belief, not all internships are unpaid. In fact, roughly 65% of the
internships posted at DePaul are paid. Additionally, some unpaid internships offer nonmonetary perks, such as free lunches, or stipends to cover expenses. For example,
Southwest not only offered paid internships, but also gave interns the opportunity to
travel for free anywhere Southwest flies. Ive been able to travel almost every weekend
and have visited twelve cities. Its been a semester long adventure, and I couldnt have
asked for a better experience, says Anna.
http://www.hiredepaul.org/student_spotlight_series_anna_hamelin

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What Makes a Great Internship? - HireDePaul

7/14/15, 3:44 PM

Am I Qualified for the Position?

When I was a freshman, I was looking up the top internship programs in the country, and
Southwest was high on the list, Anna says. At the time I wasnt qualified, but as soon as I
was I applied to a few different positions and ended up getting my current internship!
Many students experience anxiety when applying for positions for which they feel
underqualified. Most employers understand students are still learning, and are willing to
overlook a lack of experience if students exhibit ambition and enthusiasm. If you possess
the minimum position requirements, it never hurts to apply for an internship position,
even if you feel it may be out of your league. The worst that can happen is they either
dont respond, or say no. Even if they say no, never be afraid to reapply in the future when
you meet more of their qualifications.
Where Could This Lead?
Many companies offer opportunities for full or part-time employment post internship.
However, even if there is no opportunity to move up, the networking opportunities
available, both with full-time staff members and other interns, will last a lifetime. At
Southwest, Anna enjoyed regular interactions with both staff members and other
interns. There are 90 interns in my class, so Ive met a ton of awesome people from
around the country and have developed friendships that will last well beyond December,
says Anna.

Anna made the most of her time at Southwest, and would encourage prospective interns
to enjoy every minute and work as hard as you can because time goes by way too fast. It
also never hurts to be open-minded to new opportunities. If you are on the fence about
applying to a certain internship, apply anyway. You can always decide after the interview
if its really a company worth working for!

Want to learn more about DePauls University Internship Program

Program? Check out the Jobs and
Internships page at careercenter.depaul.edu, or send inquiries to UIP@depaul.edu. Need help
finding an internship? Visit depaul.experience.com, or come into DePauls Career Center to
http://www.hiredepaul.org/student_spotlight_series_anna_hamelin

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What Makes a Great Internship? - HireDePaul

7/14/15, 3:44 PM

meet with an internship advisor.

$
student spotlight
southwest airlines

depaul

career center

uip

internships

anna hamelin

economics

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