Preparing for Internships & Careers
Preparing for and finding internships and career opportunities that align with your goals and interests can feel overwhelming, so taking the time to reflect, do research and find resources to support your search can make all the difference.
As Scripps College of Communication student, there are several resources available to you within the University and the College to help you prepare for internships and careers.
Reflect on Your Goals
Before you begin searching for internships or careers, start by reflecting.
- Where would you like to get an internship or find a career? Think about the type of internship or career, possible company and geographic location (city or state) you would like to be in.
- Think about the type of internship or career experience you want to have.
- For an internship, think about the skills you want to build during this experience. Think about your long-term career path.
Network
Social media platforms and online networking communities are a great way to begin networking. Platforms like LinkedIn and the Bobcat Network are a great place to network with professors, friends, family and other Bobcats.
To get started networking:
- Ask questions about how they got to where they are now, ask for industry feedback, and ask for tips on how to break into the industry.
- Expand your network by asking if they know anyone else you need to meet and with whom to speak.
- Always follow up with people you meet.
Social Media
Each social media platform can be used in different ways for networking.
- Get established since LinkedIn is a professional networking site.
- Update your profile with your career accomplishments, skills, company information and education.
- Search for and request to join the private group "Ohio University Scripps College of Communication" to network with other students and alumni.
- Search for the Ohio University page on LinkedIn. Once there, the alumni tab offers great opportunities for networking. You can find alumni from various cities, industries, programs and companies by using the keyword search tool, and scrolling left to right and top to bottom on the results.
LinkedIn users, even those without LinkedIn Premium, are allowed five free notes per month. Use these five free notes to build your network. Even if an alumnus may not warrant the use of one of your free notes, go ahead and send a connection request without a note. If they accept your request, you can message freely. Bobcats love to help Bobcats. Don't be afraid to reach out, especially if you've applied to an internship or position at their current company. - Follow companies you admire or for whom you would like to work.
- Facebook is a great place to promote your professional brand. Post informational articles, follow trends, connect with your friends.
- Clean-up Facebook (remove any suspect photos) or make them private.
- Do not post anything you would not place on the front of the local newspaper.
- X allows you to tap into community sharing similar interest.
- Look for opportunities to share your ideas, opinions and interests with people you respect professionally.
The Bobcat Network is an online community where alumni, students, faculty, and staff can seek and provide career guidance, connect via events, and learn through an abundance of educational opportunities and resources.
There are lots of ways to network with alumni on the Bobcat Network. Using the Connect with a Bobcat tab, you can filter alumni by industry, company, location, college, and more! Find a connection and message them by visiting their profile to connect.
Prepare Your Resume
Prepare (or create) a resume so that you're ready to apply for any jobs or internships that interest you. Career Services, located on the 5th Floor of Baker University Center, offers many in-person and online resources for students. Students may drop-in during designated hours, listed on the Career Services webpage.
Visit their website or drop-in during designated hours (listed on the Career Services webpage) to learn about:
- Handshake
- Career Coaching
- Career Events
- Career Closet
- Career Fairs
- and more student resources, such as tools to help you strengthen your resume and generate tailored cover letters, explore your interests, practice interviews, etc.
Searching For Internships & Careers
From University and College resources to online searches, there are many ways to find internships and careers online. Aside from online searches, there's value in reaching out directly to companies for which you are interested in working with.
University Resources
- Use Handshake – As an Ohio University student, you already have an account! Log in, fill out your profile and use the search tools to find opportunities from throughout the country and the world.
- Student Newsletter – Sent from the Scripps College of Communication dean’s office to your OHIO email inbox each week. If you aren't seeing it, search your Spam, Clutter or Junk folders for emails from "Scripps College of Communication" beginning with an emoji in the subject line.
External Online Resources
Not everyone lets us know about their careers and internships so it's a good idea to scout some out on your own. Here are some great places to look:
Specific Companies
If you’re interested in a particular geographic area, you may need to look at the possibilities and then make inquiries. For example, if you want to intern at a newspaper, first make a list of the newspapers in the area and then do some research on their websites to see if they list internships. If not, you might contact them and let them know you are interested.