As summer comes around, students are looking into how they will be spending their time.
Some will stay in school others will be looking for work. Other students, however, will have the opportunity to earn credit while making money with a co-op or internship placement.
Ronda Sawyer is one student who has taken advantage of such an opportunity. A graduate student in the master’s of public administration program, Sawyer has spent three semesters working for the City of Johnson City.
“My placement has helped me as far as being in a local government setting, meet various people that I would not other wise would had the opportunity to meet,” she said. “I think it [is] very valuable to get to know people in the field of study. I also have the benefit of getting good references from my supervisor as well as co-workers.
“I do not know many places that I could go to get the training that I have received with the city. I am lucky to be where I am. It is a good place to work [and] I have learned a tremendous amount while being there.”
Getting an edge on the job market has also motivated students to gain co-op and internship experience.
Wayne Speer, assistant director of cooperative education and internships, said that six years ago 2,000 employers were asked in a survey for the top 10 reasons they would select someone for an interview. The third reason that employers would give an applicant an interview was co-op and internship experience at the college level.
“Having co-op/internship experience is a very good thing to have,” he said.
“Students with co-op/internship experience made on average for the first [job] offer $2,400 more than a student with zero experience.”
Not all co-ops and internships are paid. Although last school year students averaged $3,800 a placement, some students feel that the work experience is more valuable and will accept a placement that is non-paid.
Although the job market has been worsening in recent months, internship availability has been good.
“We are very affected by the economy,” Spear said. “However, our spring semester was very good and our fall semester was very good. We had over 40 placements each semester.”
Sawyer has other advice for students who are looking to pursue internships. Students should decide what it is they want to do and start making contacts in that field early.
“I am a firm believer that persistence always pays off,” she said. “If an employer sees how hard you are working to get a job, you are more likely willing to work hard to keep [that] job.”
She also advises other students to “take advantage of the learning experience.”
“There are not many places willing to teach someone so much while paying them,” Sawyer said. “Most places expect you to know how to do the job before hand.”
“To have the opportunity to learn at work is really priceless.