October 14, 2024
Over the summer, many Purdue University Northwest (PNW) students participated in a variety of internships to gain hands-on, real-world experience.
“Internships help students extend what they learn in the classroom into the real world,” says Zachary Jones, assistant director of career development at the PNW Career Center. “It’s very important for students to strive for practical application. It’s not just the years of experience that matters, but the quality of skill development that job seekers can convey to employers.”
Internships help students acquire professional skills, build professional connections, improve their chances of getting a job, and develop confidence at the same time. Additionally, internships are a way for students to sample potential careers, clarify career goals and interests, and help make informed decisions about future career paths.
It’s not just the number of years of experience that matters, but also the quality of skill development that a job seeker can convey to an employer.
Zachary Jones, Assistant Director of Career Development
“Nothing builds a better relationship with an employer than participating in an internship,” says Jones. “Many employers structure their recruitment systems around internship programs, which are the top route to a full-time career. Internships allow students to try out different opportunities with employers and learn about You can also see what type of work environment you prefer.
PNW students looking for internship opportunities have access to several helpful resources. Handshake, a leading recruiting platform, and PNW Career Expos, which allows students to meet directly with employers and recruiters, are two important tools to help with your search. Additionally, PNW Career Center staff will provide guidance and provide carefully selected resources, including resume tips, interview guides, and career fair how-to materials.
To learn more about internship opportunities and how PNW’s Career Center can help you on your career journey, visit pnw.edu/career-center.
PNW students shared their experiences gaining important knowledge and skills through summer internships.
Natalie Martinez
Faculty of Business Administration Major in Human Resource Management 4th year
Merrillville, Indiana
Natalie Martinez spent her summers at High Star Traffic in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As an intern in the human resources (HR) office, Martinez was involved in a variety of tasks, including processing time off requests, updating employee records, assisting in recruiting store employees, and handling the onboarding process.
“It was a perfect fit for my career plans,” Martinez says. “It helped me understand what I really wanted to do. It opened my eyes to the recruitment process and will really help me in the future.”
According to Martinez, the hands-on experience brought the lessons learned in the classroom to life and deepened her understanding of HR in a real-world setting. After learning about the role of unions in class, Martinez was able to put that knowledge to use while gaining real-world experience in a unionized workplace. Additionally, the internship not only reinforced my knowledge of the various HR systems learned in class, but also deepened my understanding of HR systems in general.
She also plans to bring the knowledge she gained during her internship back to her studies in the PNW. “I learned a lot of new terminology that I can take and apply in the classroom,” Martinez says. “I also experienced first-hand how fast-paced the HR environment is, something you wouldn’t experience in the classroom.”
The Merrillville native found her internship through the PNW Handshake platform. Martinez found the platform to be user-friendly, offering a convenient search process with job filters and quick resume submission. “It was very easy and convenient,” Martinez said. “I was looking through job descriptions during breaks between classes. Using filters, I was able to search for exactly what I wanted in an internship.”
After earning her bachelor’s degree, Ms. Martinez plans to begin her career as a human resources assistant and eventually become a human resources generalist. “This internship provided me with real-world, first-hand experience, knowledge, and insight into the HR field that I would not have had otherwise,” Martinez says. “I’m excited to apply everything I’ve learned to my future career.”
Peyton Marshall
3rd year, Marketing major, Faculty of Business Administration
Portage, Indiana
Peyton Marshall had an adventurous summer internship at Sandy Oak Ranch Wildlife Adventures (SOR) in Lake Village, Indiana. As a marketing intern, she managed the organization’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram and assisted with the website.
“The most fun part of my internship was creating social media posts,” Marshall says. “My posts didn’t just get likes, they generated engagement. It was so fun logging in and seeing the hundreds of comments and interactions on my posts.”
With hands-on experience creating social media content and managing marketing strategies, the Portage native has a valuable understanding of how to effectively promote experiences rather than products and how to adapt to the unique needs of tourism-based businesses. I was able to gain some insight.
Marshall’s internship responsibilities included conducting marketing research and implementing strategies to increase engagement. She created innovative campaigns, such as special Father’s Day promotions, and explored new marketing avenues, such as in-person promotions at local farmers’ markets. “I was able to apply a lot of what I learned in class,” Marshall says. “I just finished a class on marketing research and was able to apply many of the lessons in a real-world setting.”
Marshall’s future plans revolve around her passion for animals and her desire to establish and operate her own animal shelter. Additionally, I would like to advise other nonprofits and shelters on effective marketing strategies. This internship gave her valuable insight into the critical role marketing plays in successfully running and running a business. “I wanted to take this internship to make sure that marketing was what I wanted to do,” Marshall says. “I was thinking about changing my major, but I can now say that I definitely feel confident in majoring in marketing.”
Mackenzie Maguire
Graduated in 2024, Bachelor of Financial Science, College of Business Administration
Evansville, Indiana
Mackenzie Maguire spent her summer internship at AON in Chicago. As part of the Corporate Development team’s Finance Leadership Program, I gained insight into corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions while contributing to large scale integration projects.
“I expected corporate America to be cold and stressful, but at AON it was the opposite,” Maguire says. “It was amazingly sociable, warm and supportive. Most of the work was done on the computer, but you were encouraged to network and interact with people. The welcoming culture really It was outstanding and made my experience enjoyable.”
Maguire’s responsibilities focused on helping the newly acquired company integrate its personnel into the AON system. He managed several email inboxes and SharePoint platforms, assisted in troubleshooting information technology issues, and provided database access to colleagues. “I definitely utilized a lot of what I learned in class during my internship,” Maguire says. “Business communication skills were important because I was constantly interacting with people. I also used the knowledge I gained in my Business Information Systems class to create dashboards using Tableau.”
Maguire also gained a comprehensive perspective on the insurance industry through weekly educational lessons and lunch and learns. The session was attended by various teams within the company. Mr. Maguire gave several presentations, including a 45-minute presentation on artificial intelligence and innovation in the insurance industry. “During my internship, I often used corporate finance terms and concepts such as return on investment and earnings per share,” Maguire says. “I also used what I learned about swap options in my foreign markets class, which I didn’t expect.”
Maguire is currently seeking employment in finance or a related field. Although he admits the job market is competitive, his internship experience has already proven valuable, garnering interest from recruiters. “I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a professional this summer,” Maguire said. “I feel ready to start my career. This internship was a great introduction to corporate America.”
