The Career Development Office (CDO) will host an internship panel discussion on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. The program will be held in room S104 of the Williams Center. Students, faculty, and staff can come learn about internship opportunities and receive career advice.
All who attend will have a chance to win a free iPod and be provided with pizza and refreshments. Although the discussion is free, to participate, students must R.S.V.P. via QUEST (www.fredonia.edu/cdo).
The program will provide insight on how internships can confirm or reject tentative career choices, help students develop useful career building skills, help students become more attractive candidates to graduate schools, and show potential employers that you have successfully applied your skills in a professional environment.
The panel will consist of representatives from The Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Entercom Communications (which owns several Buffalo radio stations), Jamestown Jammers, RPM Entertainment Productions and WKBW-TV Channel 7. Several different topics related to internships will be discussed including available opportunities at the organizations present and the value of gaining hands-on experience related to specific fields.
Tracy Collingwood, the CDO’s interim director, said students should participate in a professional setting before beginning a career for many reasons.
“Internships are known for giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world environments,” she said. “At the same time, hands-on experience helps develop skills which will help them perform better at their jobs. Internships are considered a talent pipeline as many employers hire from their internship pools first. Many students are completing multiple internships as they realize the value of related experience, and that internships greatly increase the chances that a student will gain full time employment after graduation.”
Collingwood also noted that, on average, more than 50% of students were offered a full-time job after completing their internship.
The CDO is an internal organization at SUNY Fredonia that assists its students with career choices before — and after — graduation. By making an appointment with a counselor, students can receive tips on writing a résumé and cover letter, search for internships, plan their careers step by step, and much more. For more information or to register for the panel discussion, log onto QUEST at www.fredonia.edu/CDO or call the CDO at 716-673-3327.
