October 31, 2017
Lindsey O’Reilly
Finding the perfect match can be difficult, and with so many options to choose from, students may not know how to commit to just one.
But if you cannot choose between multiple internships, or don’t even know where to begin, the Internship Speed Dating event can provide a chance to get started.
The Communication Graduate Student Association will host the second annual Internship Speed Dating event on Nov. 6 from 5 – 8:30 p.m. in Berger Hall. The event will feature local businesses that will briefly interview students looking for internships in marketing, business and communication industries.
Laura Eurich, senior instructor and internship coordinator for the communication department, and second-year communication master’s students Iwa Wolff and Laina Salani coordinated the event. The department hosted Internship Speed Dating last November as well.
“This year, it should be just incredible, because we have so many people lending their help,” Salani says.
For this year’s event, the group reached out to over 1,000 companies in Colorado Springs, according to Wolff. About 40-50 tables have been prepared for the registered organizations.
“Last year we had 38 companies. This year we are hoping to at least double that,” she says.
The Catholic Charities, Miss Rodeo America, The Pioneer Museum, U.S. Air Force Academy Sports, The Gazette, Southeastern Colorado Red Cross, Centura Health and the Colorado Springs Independent are just a few of the companies who will attend this year.
At last year’s event, Wolff explained that a multitude of students were offered internships from the majority of the companies.
“Some companies left early because they already found students they wanted,” says Wolff.
“Multiple students who attended last year got internships and are coming back this year representing these companies.”
Members of the club will assist with event marketing, setup, student check-in, resume evaluations and mock interviews. The Communication Center and Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honors Society, will table at this event to offer student resources as well.
Students interested in communication positions are encouraged to attend; however, all students are welcome. The event is not just for upperclassmen looking for internships; both Wolff and Salani would love to see freshmen attend as well.
“We’re really trying to advertise the resume building and the mock interview for (freshmen). That’s one of the most beneficial things there,” Salani says. “We know, because we’ve all been there. Most freshmen aren’t into the internship thing, and it’s absolutely nerve wracking.”
Students attending the event are encouraged to dress in business-professional attire and bring copies of their resumes. There will be a table specifically for resume evaluations and mock interviews for students to learn and improve interviewing skills.
Alongside the communication department, the Student Government Association, Service Learning Internship & Community Engagement, Alumni Relations and the Communication Department will sponsor the event.
Wolff and Salani serve as co-presidents of the Communication Graduate Student Association, a new club on campus that will be hosting this event.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. with 30 minutes to check in.
The speed interviewing process will begin at 5:30 p.m., and students will have a 30-minute session at the end of the event to talk with all the companies they did not already have a chance to meet.
Students can register for the event on Mountain Lion Connect.