Everything You Need to Know About Internships
Our goal is to provide you with valuable, necessary resources to be successful in your internship experience through two key divisions:
Explore and Engage.
Whether you are exploring internship opportunities, engaging in your current internship, or seeking to elevate after your internship experience, you are in the right place! You are sure to find the information you are looking for through the FAQs, student comments, and employer tips found on this page.
Ready to explore and engage your internship experience? Click the buttons below to find out more!
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Student Experiences:
PJ Barnes
Tennessee Small Business Development Center Intern
What skills did you learn from your internship experience?
I gained so many personal and business skills over the last year. I have been able to look at the ins and outs of businesses, which has helped me start my own business. I have also developed some more tangible skills like marketing, SEO, website design, photography, and videography. My communication skills have also vastly improved over the last year.
How did your internship experience better prepare you for your future career?
Without this internship, I wouldn’t know what a professional, or even business casual workplace would be like. It changed the way I am preparing for after I graduate.
Where did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I learned about this opportunity from one of our amazing advisors within two weeks of me starting at Tech. I expressed interest in interning somewhere, and she helped me build a resume and get the tools I needed for a successful interview.
Addison Dorris
Organizational Development Intern at Dollar General
What skills did you learn from your internship experience?
During my internship, I developed my skillsets in project management, collaboration, human resources, and professional writing and design. Throughout the summer, I was able to take the lessons I learned in the classroom and apply them to real-world situations.
How did your internship experience better prepare you for your future career?
After this experience, I better understand how HR operates at a major corporation. This internship experience helped me realize that a career in Human Resources is the direction I want to take for my future!
Where did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I originally found this opportunity on Handshake. After applying, I spoke to the Professional Readiness and Leadership staff about my interest. They were able to provide me with resources to obtain and succeed in the interview process.
Coble Brooks
Internal Audit Intern at KraftCPAs
What skills did you learn from your internship experience?
I learned a lot about stress management and communication. I put a lot of pressure on myself through the learning process, which created stress when I would hit a wall or slip up. I got much better at deciphering when a problem can be accomplished through more time and when I need assistance. Communicating with my coworkers about where I am as far as knowledge and experience helped relieve the tension that I put on myself. Another skill the internship gave me is mental endurance. College teaches you how to get a lot done in a short amount of time with rest in between. A job provides a more consistent stream of work. This required me to adjust my expectations and energy output to prepare for a marathon rather than a sprint.
How did your internship experience better prepare you for your future career?
The internship gave me confidence by showing how much growth can come in a short amount of time. I do not fear my life after college. I am now looking forward to it.
Where did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I learned about this internship opportunity through the Pathways event put on by the Accounting Department in the College of Business.
Mackenzie Byrd
Technology and Innovation Intern at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
What skills did you learn from your internship experience?
I had the opportunity to take several courses focusing on enhancing my technical skills, such as the Agile methodologies and how Quality Assurance is involved in Agile development. I also learned more about reading queries and how different software is audited according to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act using database administrators and SQL.
How did your internship experience better prepare you for your future career?
This internship reflected what it was like working in a tech/IT field. It helped me better understand communication methods used in particular industries can be different than what is often taught in school. I learned what it is like to working in a hybrid setting in on a smaller team and how to collaborate amongst different departments to accomplish goals. It was nice to learn that many different majors can work on the same tasks and within the same departments.
Where did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I met a recruiter at Tech's spring Career Fair, and then applied for the position on Handshake.
Charlotte Norman
Internal Communications Intern at GEODIS
What skills did you learn from your internship experience?
I developed multiple skills during my internship, including design, communication, and professionalism. I also learned how to use programs such as Staffbase Email Tool, Powtoon Video Creator, and a website page creator.
How did your internship experience better prepare you for your future career?
After my internship, I better understood multiple communication software and aspects. I also developed my knowledge of Supply Chain and Logistics and the aspects of those companies. This internship taught me a lot about myself and what I would like to pursue in the future!
Where did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I found this internship on Handshake and quickly applied. I spoke with a mentor multiple times throughout the process and was able to take his advice into the application and interview!
Emma Fontenot
Data Architecture and Governance Intern at Eastman Chemical Company
What skills did you learn from your internship experience?
My project at Eastman required me to learn many technical skills, such as new coding languages, data management platforms, application development, and more. I also learned a lot about navigating the corporate world, knowing what questions to ask, and organizing my own productivity.
How did your internship experience better prepare you for your future career?
My internship experience was valuable because it taught me how to be specific with my questions in future interviews and career conversations. Before I began my internship, I didn’t necessarily understand the day-to-day work of a data analyst. Now that I have experienced some of that work for myself, I can be much more precise about my skills and interests when pursuing future career opportunities
Where did you learn about this internship opportunity?
Eastman is near my hometown, so I have always been familiar with the company. I first considered the possibility of interning there when it was mentioned during a meeting for an Eastman-sponsored scholarship program. After that, I was able to make connections with talent acquisition specialists, interview for a position within my organization, and eventually secure the internship.
