UWG
News Item
Contact: University Communications & Marketing
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
ucm@westga.edu
Internships provide experience
February 13, 2004
CARROLLTON, GA - When employers look at resumes, they want to see evidence of work-related experience. So how does a college student add experience to an application? Through participation in an internship program that blends academic foundations to real-world work.
Carrollton
businesses and the University of West Georgia partner together to
prepare students for the career world through a variety of internship
opportunities.
“UWG and local organizations have learned the value of utilizing students in internship positions in various fields and majors,” explained Dr. Bruce Brewer, director of the University’s Career Services.
Internships are regularly available in many organizations throughout Carroll County. Businesses such as Enterprise, Carrollton Main Street, West Georgia National Bank, Patrick Malloy Communications and Pathways have benefited from having students work within their organizations.
Tanner Behavioral Health Services has a large internship program employing over 20 interns per semester. Students who intern at T.B.H.S. come from a variety of majors such as psychology, sociology, counseling and criminal justice. Interns are placed in areas that fit their interests and personalities.
“T.B.H.S. treats interns like actual therapeutic staff,” explained Amy Waddell, clinical manager of Tanner Behavioral Health Services. “Students are assigned to work with a staff therapist as their co-therapist, and are expected to fully participate in treatment services.”
To work in such a professional environment, candidates for internship placement must posses certain skills and qualities to be considered for a position.
“We look for mature students with a strong academic record,” said Carlianne Patrick, manager of research and communications for Carroll Tomorrow. “Excellent interpersonal skills are a must, as well as self-motivation and dependability.”
Carroll County organizations, as well as UWG students, benefit from the University’s internship program.
“Interns bring excitement, new ideas and passion to our work,” explained Waddell. “An internship is a wonderful training ground for future employees. Some of our very best staff therapists and even one of our managers started at T.B.H.S. as interns.”
Internships give students an opportunity to connect with a business and make decisions about career goals for the future. Beth Walton, a graduate of UWG, interned at Randstad and was hired on as full-time employee after graduation.
“I was put into real business situations and experiences when I was an intern at Ranstad,” said Walton. “I was able to establish myself as a dedicated employee, which helped me to get hired on after I got my degree at UWG.”
Students who intern are able to firm up their major choice and build a solid resume.
“Interning at Carrollton Main Street allowed me to use my academic knowledge of marketing and apply it in a real organization,” explained Lauren Holt, student assistant at Communications & Marketing. “The internship helps my resume stand out and is something that employers now look for.”
The internship program was developed at UWG in 1981. The Richard’s College of Business was the first to offer intern positions and gave fruit to the centralized version developed by the University’s Office of Career Services. There are currently 120 students employed in internship positions throughout the University, county and state.
For more information about the internship program, contact Brewer in Career Services at 770-836-6431.
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