Hi, friends!
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day coming up, I wanted to talk about something I love: opportunity. I love opportunities to learn, grow, and be challenged. One particular opportunity that I had the privilege of participating in a couple summers ago was my first college internship.
In the summer of 2018, I served on a team of interns to Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. During this time, I was under the leadership of Phyllis Bell, Senior Advisor of Child Welfare to Governor Hutchinson and Intern Director. Not only is she the Intern Director of Governor Hutchinson’s staff, she is responsible for building the Governor’s intern program from the ground up. Of this experience, she says, “Building an intern program for a state’s governor is a rewarding experience of engaging young adults to realize their potential in being an active participant in their state government.”
Phyllis Bell is an absolute inspiration to me personally. She has an incredible story of perseverance that is a testament to her strength and resilience. She is an example of someone led by her passions, and I am honored that she is willing to provide such valuable insight regarding internships to Scholar In Style today.
If you would like to know Mrs. Bell a little better, you can view her TED Talk here!
If you are considering applying for an internship or are even in the middle of completing your internship applications right now, I hope that this interview with Phyllis Bell provides you with valuable information, encouragement, and confidence.
For Those of You Considering Internships
“What advantages do you believe internships provide to students?“
“Internships provide first-hand work experience that may lead the participants to pursue additional degrees or alternative employment/entrepreneurial paths than they previously considered.”
We all may fear that we are unqualified from time to time, and especially when applying for jobs or internships, those fears tend to creep up on us. I asked, “What are some of the most important qualifications that you look for when selecting interns? (Prior work/internship experience, strong grades, specific interpersonal qualities or areas of skill, recommendations, etc.)“
“I believe that good grades are beneficial and are an important component when considering an applicant’s qualifications. Prior work and other internship experiences also show a commitment to learning and growth as an individual. While these factors are favorable, what I consider of greater importance is the applicant’s willingness to serve and learn from the intern experience. The ability to communicate succinctly is also very important.
Interns who seek to be engaged and look for ways to help staff in their daily activities will learn more and will likely become an intern team leader early on in the program.”
“Do you find it important to follow up with you via phone or email after submitting their application for consideration?“
“Personally, timely applicant follow-up is very high on my list. An applicant who follows up shows a personal commitment and that they will likely be a professionally engaged participant in the program.”
Concerning follow-up, Phyllis adds,
“I would encourage you to DO your own follow-up. I’ve had parents call about the intern program and do the follow-up for their sons and/or daughters. Internships are a professional opportunity for students to learn. Having parents inquire about the program details, seems to reflect that the student isn’t ready for or personally invested in participating in the internship at the time of the application.”
“In your experience, do LinkedIn and social media activity play a part in selecting interns? If so, what do you look for or tend to avoid?“
“Social media sites portray what the individual wants the viewer(s) to see or think about their abilities and interests. In my experience, these sites should not be a final determiner of whether a person should be selected for an intern program. An internship can provide educational opportunities on how to best present in the workplace through professional video creation activities and discussions about overall professionalism on social media sites.”
For Those of You Who Have Secured an Internship
“For those who have been selected for an internship program, what DON’Ts could you share?“
“If a directive is given; for instance, a time to meet as a group. DON’T show up late unless an emergency occurs. This holds up the rest of the intern team and interferes with the other participants’ experiences.
Definitely DON’T complain about the program. If you see a problem or weakness in the process, seek to help find solutions to make the program better.”
When we think about interns, we often think of the stereotypical college student fetching coffee and making copies. This image makes me wonder, “What value do interns bring to the workplace environment? What makes their time there “worth it” to the respective organization?”
“Interns bring value to the workplace environment when they are allowed to engage in activities and contribute to the conversation about a particular topic or event with their ideas. Helping the interns to become “part of the team” makes the time invested in them mutually valuable to both the participant and the respective organization.”
If You Are Not Selected As an Intern
Rejection is hard. Very few are immune to the disappointment that follows not being selected for an opportunity. I asked Phyllis, “What advice or motivation can you give to internship applicants who are not selected for an opportunity they have applied for?”
“If you were not selected for an internship, be gracious in your response by thanking the organization for their consideration. This can be done with a phone call or e-mail, but a handwritten note takes very little effort and is a nice touch in helping an applicant to be remembered for their thoughtfulness. Remember, internship programs often receive many more applications than they can grant acceptance to participants. A response of understanding will likely go a long way in consideration for the next year’s application process if you are available and seek to apply again.”
Finally, I asked Mrs. Bell, “To those of us in our young adult years seeking career opportunities, what advice would you give to people like myself who are currently making pivotal choices in both our professional and personal lives?”
“Expose yourself to as many educational experiences as possible. Travel as often as you can to view the world through the eyes of different cultures and communities. Apply for that internship that you really want but may be hesitant to due to the thought of rejection. If you don’t get it, learn from the experience of applying for it and network with the people you meet along the way. Dream BIG and have a plan to accomplish your goals. Know that you will make mistakes. Work to only make little ones and then learn from them. “Life is the sum of (y)our choices.””
“Life is the sum of (y)our choices.”
My internship experience was so very rewarding, and I hope that if you are seeking internships—in any career field—that you have found value in today’s post. I am confident that if I had known some of this information beforehand, I could’ve saved myself quite a bit of anxiety throughout the application process. If you are considering internships in the near or distant future, know that I believe in you. Your hard work and your dedication to your field is not in vain, and your willingness to learn and grow in that area is beyond admirable.
I am so grateful for all of Phyllis Bell’s insight regarding internships that she so kindly contributed to today’s post. I hope that it has been encouraging and reassuring to you, friends. Keep working hard; You’ve got this!
Until next time,
Annie Lark
Further Internship Resources:
How to Apply for Internships
Writing Guide to Internship Resume for College Students
ANNIE BOYD SOWELL 