Temple Student Pamela Jackson, a Geography and Urban Studies major, spent her summer conducting research and surveying social values along the Upper Missouri River Basin. Read more below to learn more about her interesting summer experience!

Jackson explained, “I actually was able to take that picture at Glacier National Park as a part of collecting images of places that residents valued. I traveled to several places that residents mentioned in their surveys to collect images for Arc Collector.”

What organization did you intern with?

University of South Dakota, National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

In a typical day, I would travel to a town in North Dakota, South Dakota or Montana and conduct surveys on what resident’s value about the land and how they use it.

In addition to conducting surveys, I was also collecting data for an individual research project. My research was about The Impact of Agriculture and Development in the Micropolitan Community of Yankton, South Dakota, on which I presented a poster at the epScor Research Symposium in South Dakota in late July.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

The Geography and Urban Studies Department sent out emails about different REU Programs, then I went to the NSF Website and looked for more programs to apply to. The interview process was great. I interviewed with the Grad student who I worked with since it was her research project. We were able to connect about our passions since we had similar interests.

How has your internship related to your coursework?

My major is Geography and Urban Studies, which includes a variety of topics. However, I was able to learn about different places this summer and how the lifestyles of residents depended on the area that they live in. Many of my courses examine the landscape, how people use their environment, and if they live sustainably. I learned about sustainable living through the Sustainable River REU in South Dakota.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

I learned that a connection can be made with anyone. By conducting door-to-door surveys I was able to connect with residents and hear their stories. I was able to understand the lifestyle of residents that live in the Midwest, which was interesting since I am from the East Coast. Additionally, I learned that research can be used to examine how residents feel about the opportunities that they currently have and can be used as a platform for the future.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Apply for different programs, because you never know what types of experiences you could have if you decide to do things that you never imagined doing before.

Did the career center assist you in any way, whether it was identifying the opportunity, applying to it, interviewing for it, or preparing for it?

The Rapid Resume Reviews allowed me to gain feedback on ways to edit my resume and display experiences that were relevant.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

Yes. Do not be afraid to deviate from the norm. Seek experiences and travel to places to do work that you are passionate about.

This Summer I traveled to West Chester, PA to visit 22 Temple students interning at the QVC global headquarters. QVC has a robust internship program with over 90 students and they love hiring Owls! QVC is a part of Qurate Retail Group, which is comprised of eight leading retail brands, and reaches approximately 370 million homes worldwide through 16 television networks and multiple ecommerce sites, social pages, mobile apps, print catalogues and in-store destinations.

I sat down with the QVC internship recruiter, Shannon Geddes, who shared some valuable information about the QVC internship program. Geddes explained, “Through our internship program, students have the ability to make an impact at QVC through the work they complete here. Some key skills they would learn are collaboration, professionalism, and problem solving.”  Geddes also shared, “Temple University offers great programs that align very well with QVC! The university does a fantastic job at preparing their students for the workplace.”

Make sure to keep an eye out for Shannon at the upcoming career fairs this fall, as she recruits students from all majors.

The interns at QVC work in a variety of departments including, E-commerce, Corporate Communications, Digital Content Development, Photography, Lifestyle Production, IT and more! Students I spoke with explained how they appreciate their internship experience and love the QVC work environment.

Three Owls took time out of their schedule to provide their thoughts on their QVC internship experience and share a few tips on making the most of their internship.

(From Left to Right: Ryan Leddy, Anastasia Postolati, and Corey Davidson)

College of Science and Technology student, Corey Davidson, shared, “My typical day entails shadowing members across QVC’s security team to learn about different aspects of IT security, as well as working with members of my team to implement changes to security.”.”

(Corey Davidson, CST)

Corey also shared how his internship related to his coursework, “IT Security at QVC requires knowledge of networks, computer hardware, and other aspects of computing. This has given me the opportunity to apply much of the knowledge I have learned in courses at Temple University such as Network Architectures and Operating Systems & Networking. In addition to this, I have been assigned an application development intern project which allows me to apply much of the programming skills I learned at Temple in languages such as Java and Structured Query Language (SQL).”

(Anastasia Postolati, FOX)

Management Information Systems student, Anastasia Postolati, shared information about her interview experience. Anastasia explained, “I found out about the opportunity through the Temple University American Marketing Association which hosts a Career & Internship Reception every year. Serving on the executive board, I was involved in the process of bringing QVC to the event and communicating with Shannon behind the scenes. It was great to put a face to the name when we finally met and spent some time talking!

The interview process wasn’t difficult but I was very nervous as this was my first internship interview. After Shannon and I spoke at the reception we had a phone call soon after. She then asked me to come down to West Chester for an interview! I was truly delighted to visit – the site is beautiful.”

One valuable lesson that Anastasia shared is the importance of getting involved in student organizations. “Get involved with student organizations as much as you can! There are so many great organizations at Temple and being a part of them allows you to make connections with people you wouldn’t typically know. I think by getting involved and attending various events, you can learn about what you prefer for your future career. Hearing from, and talking to speakers opens up your eyes to so many opportunities. All of these things also aid you in expanding your professional network and help tremendously when looking for an internship or a job.”

(Ryan Leddy, KLN)

As a Media Studies and Production student, Ryan Leddy, did not think he would be working at QVC. While he thought he would be working for news and media outlets, he is grateful for all that he learned from the other videographers at QVC. “I want to thank all the videographers I have worked with since January for their time, patience, and insight. I have learned an abundance of knowledge that I can take and apply it to my school work and professional projects. The videographers at QVC are the people that I will never forget because they took the time to sit down with me and teach me everything they could about the industry and share personal stories of their time working in the industry.”

While the QVC summer internship recently concluded, we are hopeful that a few Owls will transition to a full-time position after graduation!  You can apply for QVC positions and many similar opportunities using QVC’s career website and Handshake. Whether you are a freshman looking for an on-campus internship or part-time job, or you are a senior beginning your full-time job search for after graduation, Handshake’s unique blend of job and internship postings is sure to contain the opportunity that is just right for you!

Rising senior biochemistry major, Anthony Alcancia, spoke with us about his internship experience at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) last summer and fall. Learn more about how this College of Science and Technology student was able to apply the skills he learned in the classroom at a Fortune 500 company…

What company did you intern with and what is your position?

GlaxoSmithKline – I was a Topical Product Development Analyst in the Dermatology Department

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

I worked alongside researchers and analytical chemists in the analytical lab of the Dermatology Department. A typical day entails performing analytical tests in the lab, writing/submitting experiment reports, and attending/presenting at department meetings. The work focused on the physical analysis of creams, gels, and ointments in the early stage of product development. In addition to aiding investigators in performing experiments, I also conducted independent research on solubility studies and shelf-life method development. I presented my research at the GSK Dermatology Symposium and the GSK Science Sharing Day. I worked full-time during the summer and part-time during the fall semester.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

I discovered the opportunity by searching online for summer internships near my area. I applied through the company’s career website by submitting the job application, resume, and cover letter online. A few weeks after applying online, I was contacted by HR to set up a phone interview with the hiring manager. The phone interview with the hiring manager was about an hour long. She asked about past experiences, background, and walked through my resume. A week later, I was asked to come to the site for an-in-person interview. It was about three and half hours consisting of a tour of the lab, a lunch with employees, and a sit-down interview with the manager and employees. I was asked about my academic background, previous research, college involvement, a behavioral questioning segment, and technical knowledge questions.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

In the pharmaceutical industry specifically, your technical understanding and skills are very important. Most of the concepts and procedures you learn in your science courses are applied in the lab and expanded on to great lengths. Employers expect you to have an in-depth understanding of your field and have the ability to demonstrate your understanding.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Apply! Always be actively looking for opportunities throughout the year. Be open-minded and apply to any opportunity you feel would potentially be a good fit for you. There are a lot of opportunities out there, but you must apply to have a chance.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

Again. Apply! I wouldn’t worry too hard about trying to present yourself in an interview or application in the way “you think you should.” Really expressing your own individual strengths and interests and not just saying the standard response to questions is important because interviewers can easily distinguish between the two. Sometimes it may seem frustrating and not-worth-the-effort to apply to a whole bunch of internships you might not get, but it is also a great learning experience and when you finally get one you will look back and see that it was all worth it in the end.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

If you are interested in the pharmaceutical industry, whether it be the science side or the business side, GSK has a great, well-organized, and professional internship program which really integrates students into the company’s workflow. The were many events set up for interns, as well as company events, that provide opportunities for interns to experience, learn, and network with others.

The Career Center recently connected with Mechanical Engineering junior, Renee Eastburn, about her past internship at General Motors in Detroit, Michigan. Read on to learn more about the unique way that Renee landed her internship. Sometimes your personal network can get you farther than you might think…

What semester did you do this internship?

Summer 2017

What company did you intern with and what is your position?

Company: General Motors (Global Propulsion Systems- Pontiac, Michigan)

Position: Electric Motor Manufacturing Engineering Intern

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

I worked on process, cost and quality improvement in electric motor wire forming processes for the Motor Manufacturing Validation Center in Pontiac, Michigan. This required me to design and build a bench-top rig used to test and collect data to compare different end-of-arm tooling options. My typical day started at 7:30am and ended around 4:30pm and involved both desk work (using CAD, Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Project), attending various meetings, visiting supplier locations, as well as working on the industrial lab floor where the robots were located. At the end of of my internship I had to present my project findings to higher-level executives in my division. One of the best parts about this internship was that I was treated like a full-time engineer rather than “just an intern”, so my typical day was very similar to the typical days of a full-time employees.

General Motors has a really great internship program, which did include some perks. There were often events held during the week that intern coordinators and project supervisors strongly encouraged interns to attend, like the Detroit Grand Prix, Tigers baseball games, intern poster symposiums, volunteering events through Habitat for Humanity, and even the North American Quarterly Earnings Report held in downtown Detroit where I got to meet GM’s CEO, Mary Barra.

Renee standing outside of General Motors headquarters in Detroit, MI

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

I found out about this opportunity through the 2016 Society of Women Engineers National Conference (WE16) which took place in October of 2016 in Philadelphia, PA. There were countless workshops, speakers, networking opportunities, and the largest career fair of its kind, with over 300 exhibitors. While at the career fair, I spoke with a recruiter from General Motors. The following week I got an email requesting an interview. The interview process was pretty straight-forward, with one behavioral-based interview. I received a call in January 2017 with a verbal offer, so the entire process took about three months.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

One of the most important things I learned during my internship/job experience was to have more confidence in myself and my abilities. Given the highly technical nature of my project, I was a bit intimidated at first. However, after a month or two, I really started thriving in and enjoying this environment. It has become clearer that the courses I have taken in Temple’s College of Engineering are preparing me up for success.

Renee and other interns at the Detroit Grand Prix, next to a Chevy Bolt EV

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Without networking, I would have never landed this internship. The main piece of advice I would give to current students embarking on an internship/job search is to get involved in organizations that foster professional development and to take up as many networking opportunities as possible. While online applications are sometimes successful, meeting and connecting with someone face-to-face is invaluable for the recruitment process. If I had not been involved in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) or attended WE16, I doubt that I would be where I am today!

Did the career center assist you in any way, whether it was identifying the opportunity, applying to it, interviewing for it, or preparing for it?

SWE has done collaborations with the career center, like Resume Reviews and workshops on professional dress for women, which I attended leading up to the conference. Additionally, I visited the career center for career coaching and interview tips previously. The career center is a great resource!

 The Career Center caught up with junior Adult and Organizational Development major Shayne Carson this past week to learn more about how she landed her internship with Target. Shayne first heard about the internship opportunity at the Fall University-Wide Job and Internship Fair. Read on to learn more about how she landed her internship.

Shayne found her internship at the last Job and Internship Fair. She recommends checking out the job fairs this week too!

What is your major and year?

Adult and Organizational Development, Junior graduating May 2019

What will be your internship experience for Summer 2018?

Store Executive Team Leader (Assistant Manager) Internship at Target Corporation. It’s a paid 10 week rotation during the summer to provide a realistic full-time job preview and leadership development by providing the opportunity to learn the business, core roles of an ETL. The first 5 weeks is training through shadowing other Executive Team Leaders, and the next 5 weeks I will be responsible as the store’s “Lead on Duty” and run operations of the store.

How did you learn about the internship at Target?

I attended Temple’s Job and Internship Fair in October 2017 where I met a Store Team Leader (General Manager) and learned more about the role of the internship.

From the time you submitted your application, how long was it until you were called for an interview and informed that you were hired?

I had left my resume with the recruiters from Target at the internship fair in early October. By mid-November I received an email inviting me to officially apply for the position, and had my first interview in the beginning of December. I had three rounds of interviews that took place between December and first week of January.  I was informed I was hired the second week of January.

Tell us more about the interview, how was it formatted?

I had an initial phone screening, two phone interviews, and one FaceTime interview.

All of my interview rounds consisted of behavioral-based questions, where they were looking for me to describe the situation, then the behavior or action I took within the situation, and finally, the outcome. It consisted of questions such as, “Tell me about a time you recognized a process that wasn’t working, and what did you do to change it?” The questions they ask are trying to pull out situations where you show your leadership ability. Even if you don’t have an extensive work history, you can pull from classwork situations.

Did anything happen in your interview that you didn’t expect?

I was surprised at how short my interviews were. None of the conversations lasted more than a half hour. My last interview, which was my first ever FaceTime interview, lasted 14 minutes. Because they were so short, I doubted my performance in the interviews. Target is just very straight forward and to the point in their interviews in order to streamline the process.

 What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship search?

My first piece of advice would be to start with the Career Center and prepare. Secondly, you don’t have to take the first internship you get an interview for. Before Target, I had an interview with a company that handled the process unprofessionally, and I considered taking it just so I could put the experience on my resume. You need to find an internship that is right for you, because the experience is meant to help you grow professionally and personally.

Did the Career Center assist you in any way, whether it was identifying the opportunity, applying to it, interviewing for it, or preparing for it?

I took full advantage of the Career Center before I attended the Job and Internship Fair in October. I started by making an appointment with Laura Craig, the Associate Director of Career Development. I brought a copy of my resume to be reviewed, as well as talked about how to prepare for the Fair in terms of professionalism, dress code, what employers are looking for, etc. After making improvements on my resume, I then went to a Rapid Resume Review that took place on campus during Career Week. I wanted to be as prepared as possible, and it definitely paid off.

Last summer, Career Center staff met with thirteen talented Temple Owls interning at Publicis Health. Publicis Health is a healthcare communications agency that provides solutions in advertising, medical education, marketing, and scientific affairs. They have 12 agency brands in more than 60 offices located in 10 countries. They also have a robust internship program seeking all majors, and they sure do love hiring Temple Students! Their 40 hour/week paid internship program lasts 9 weeks and offers internships in:

• Marketing/Account Management
• Project Management
• Design
• User Experience
• Copywriting
• Technology
• Medical Writing
• Strategy and Account Planning
• Social Strategy
• Finance
• Human Resources and Recruiting

If you are interested in learning more, Publicis Health will be hosting a Facebook live Q&A event on March 1^st from 3-4pm to answer questions about our internship program and give best practices for landing and excelling in an internship. If want to apply for their internship program make sure to check out their posting in the OwlNetwork before their March 16^th deadline!

(Temple alumni from Publicis Health showing some school spirit along with the 13 Temple student summer interns)

While visiting the Publicis Health office, located in the heart of Center City, we caught up with Klein College of Media and Communications graduate, Miranda Krause. Miranda spent the summer as a SEO Content Strategy intern, and was offered a full-time position at Publicis after graduating in December! Read on to learn more about Miranda’s experience…

What is your major and date of graduation?

Advertising (Minor in Public Health) – December 2017

During which semester did your internship take place?

Summer 2017

What is/was your job function and what does a typical day entail?

            SEO Content Strategy intern. A typical day is back-to-back meetings and working on projects across various consumer and pharma wellness brands.

How does your internship relate to your coursework at Temple?

            Time management between multiple, high-priority projects. I feel like Temple’s advertising department is intense and rigorous – there are so many advanced digital classes to take advantage of like Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Digital Analytics, and Reporting.

(Miranda Krause, Lew Klein School of Media and Communications, 2017 Graduate)

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

            I heard about Publicis Healthcare Communications Group from chatting with Mark and Callie at an event held at Temple called Queers Making Careers. We mainly talked about what it means to be out in the workplace, which was something I was afraid to embrace or even bring up. They began saying that there is a group I could get involved in here called Egalité, which is for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to come together to form a voice in the queer community. We talk about events such as raising money and forming a team for the AIDS Walk, as well as waling in the Pride Parade for Pride Month!

That is the most important thing you have learned during your internship/job experience?

            I’ve learned that I should never sell myself short in any way and that there is no judgement when it comes to checking your work with someone who has been in your shoes!

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Never be afraid to ask for help – an internship is provided by a company to help someone learn and grow in that field in which they are interested.

Did the career center assist you in any way, whether it was identifying the opportunity, applying to it, interviewing for it, or preparing for it?

            They did! I noticed the opportunity for the internship when I attended the Queers Making Careers event.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

            Grades do not factor into how well you can apply yourself at an opportunity. Having passion and drive will make you the most confident you can be – you have co-workers for a reason. Use your resources!!

We recently caught up with a 2015, School of Tourism Hospitality & Management (STHM) alumni, Jordan Goldberg. His current employer, Parker-Dewey offers interesting internship/gig opportunities to help students gain experience in the field they are pursuing.  Read more below for some helpful tips and learn how he was able to leverage his internships to start his career.

What were some valuable resources you used while you were at Temple that helped you find internships, and ultimately land a job after graduation?

While I was still a student I heavily relied on my school’s (STHM) Center for Student Professional Development to find internships and experiential learning opportunities. STHM’s job database was consistently updated with new and exciting internships in sports and hospitality, and they always notified us about opportunities to gain Industry Hours (we were required to completed 250 hours-worth of experiential learning.)

I also had a great relationship with the Assistant Director, Brandon Mayer, and he was able to connect me with the Director of Integrated Marketing at CBS Radio my junior year. After interviewing with CBS Radio, I was offered an internship with their Non-Traditional Revenue department helping sell and activate sponsorships for various Philadelphia events such as the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, the Broad Street Run, and the Stotesbury Cup Regatta to name a few. Since STHM requires students to complete an internship junior and senior year, CBS Radio extended an opportunity for me to return for my full-time senior internship in the same department.

What experiences did you find most valuable for your own career?

After graduating from Temple, I had no idea what I wanted to do and was still searching for opportunities when I came across an interesting company called Parker Dewey. It connects students and recent graduates with companies to complete short-term, paid projects, or what they called “Micro-Internships.” After completing eight projects through the platform, I had a number of interviews with companies, including one with Parker Dewey itself. Because of these experiences, I was able to provide examples of my skills and ultimately decided to take the position with Parker Dewey. I think that the variety of projects helped me understand my interests and take a role which I was excited about. In fact, I think this excitement is what helped me get promoted to the Director of Client Success in under a year.

Since transitioning from internships and school to a full-time position, what is the most valuable thing you learned?

During my college-to-career transition, I think the most valuable thing I learned was the importance of grit. This soft-skill cannot be taught in the classroom, but rather has to be developed over a period of time. Grit is one of the most sought-after attributes recruiters look for in potential hires today because it shows someone’s willingness to persevere in the face of adversity and speaks volumes about their character.

What advice do you have for current students that are about to make their career path?

Start looking for internship opportunities as early as possible. Do not wait until your senior year to start thinking about this because, by that time, you are miles behind those that started early and have already completed one or two internships. A great thing about my current company, Parker Dewey, is that the micro-internships we provide are available to students of all grade levels and can even be completed while you are taking classes or working.

This summer, Career Center staff visited three stellar Temple students interning at the Philadelphia Zoo. The Philadelphia Zoo has been operating a well-developed internship program open to many majors for over 20 years! While the internship hours may differ if you are participating in their spring or summer internship, there are plenty of opportunities to develop a valuable skill set all year round. The Philadelphia Zoo is currently seeking interns for Spring 2018 and has opportunities posted in the Owlnetwork!

While at the Zoo this summer, I caught up with Amanda Nguy, a junior Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience major from the College of Science and Technology. Read more below to learn a little more detail about her experience.

What Company and department are you working with?

I worked at the Philadelphia Zoo as an Animal Care intern.

What semester did you do this internship?

I used my merit stipend scholarship in order to work during the summer session from mid-May to early August. I am continuing to work at the zoo during the fall session as well which runs until late October.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

A friend suggested that I try applying for the summer internship since she knew I had an interest in animals. The interview process included sending in an online application with a copy of my transcript. Afterwards, I attended a group orientation which involved speaking in front of other applicants as well as interviewers. One component of the interview required us to make up a short story on the spot using provided props.

What was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

As an animal care intern, my main task was to assist the keepers in KidzooU. A typical day would include a lot of cleaning and husbandry (caring for animals) as well as preparing diets to feed out to the KidzooU animals. Animal care interns are also responsible for making nutritional enrichment for the animals.

How has your internship related to your course work?

My internship allowed me to make connections between the material that we go over in lecture in classes such as genetics, biology, and neuroscience to the way that actual living animals function. It’s interesting that I was able to observe an animal’s behavior and try to pick apart the reasoning behind why that certain animal would behave that way.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

The most important thing that I’ve learned during the internship is that you should always be transparent about everything. Own up to the mistakes that you make and ask questions whenever you are unsure. As an intern, you’re not expected to know everything right off the bat so asking questions allows you to learn so much more while minimizing the mistakes that you make. It’s easier for your supervisor to answer your questions than to take on extra work to fix a mistake that you’ve made!

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Don’t limit yourself on the internships that you’re applying for. Even if you think there is only a slim chance that you might get a certain internship, apply for it anyway if it’s one that you’d really like to have. You’re more likely to regret not even trying for it later on and there’s always the chance that you will actually be accepted.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

Rather than learning a valuable lesson about obtaining jobs or internships, I’ve learned how important it is that you have one of these experiences on your resume. It seems as if the importance of building resumes is always emphasized everywhere by everyone, but I personally didn’t truly realize how important it actually was until I was sitting in the group interview with people aiming for the same intern position listening to all of the amazing things that they had done.

As a neuroscience major, Did you ever think you would be working here?

I would have expected myself to be working in a hospital or a lab rather than in the Philadelphia Zoo. Working with animals was always more of an unrealistic dream for me so it was a pleasant surprise that I was able to work as an animal care intern.