Steps to get the internship: I applied through the company's website.
Day-to-day activities: I posted articles and photo galleries to the website and also wrote articles and obtained images for the DBusiness Daily News.
Most rewarding: I wrote copy for a two-page feature spread in DBusiness' November/December issue, which was a great experience.
Biggest challenge: I had very short deadlines for the daily newsletter.
Most important thing learned: I am not sure yet as I am still interning for them!
Key advice: Don't be afraid to ask questions or to ask for help.
Amy H.
Major: Psych and Communications
Company Name: Apple Inc.
City: Cupertino, CA
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Paid
Steps to get the internship: I filled out an application and conducted three phone interviews
Day-to-day activities: I attended meetings, planned recruiting events, and worked on individual and team projects.
Most rewarding: This internship came with a lot of hands on work and responsibility. I actually got to lead teams and plan my own events.
Biggest challenge: The biggest challenge was leading the efforts to plan events - delegating tasks to people that were obviously much more experienced than me was difficult!
Most important thing learned: I learned how to work effectively in a corporate setting.
Key advice: Definitely intern, it is such a helpful experience!
Patrick B.
Major: Communications
Company Name: Six n' Sticks
City: Ann Arbor, MI
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Paid
Steps to get the internship: My girlfriend had a class with another student who was planning on starting a website/product business and needed a writer. I was referred due to my interest in writing and the fact that I am minoring in writing. I had an interview with the company as well.
Day-to-day activities: I wrote blog posts daily relating to craft beer in the state of Michigan.
Most rewarding: Being able to set my own hours, take time off when I needed it, and mostly have fun writing about beer and being creative was quite rewarding.
Biggest challenge: It was all really easy. I would say writing in a particular style that suited the site and included the most relevant information was probably the biggest challenge though.
Most important thing learned: I learned how the startup world works and how to create a profitable website selling products.
Key advice: Be open to learning new things and be able to accept criticism of your work.
Amy H.
Major: Psych and Communications
Company Name: Apple Inc.
City: Cupertino, CA
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Paid
Steps to get the internship: I filled out an application and conducted three phone interviews
Day-to-day activities: I attended meetings, planned recruiting events, and worked on individual and team projects.
Most rewarding: This internship came with a lot of hands on work and responsibility. I actually got to lead teams and plan my own events.
Biggest challenge: The biggest challenge was leading the efforts to plan events - delegating tasks to people that were obviously much more experienced than me was difficult!
Most important thing learned: I learned how to work effectively in a corporate setting.
Key advice: Definitely intern, it is such a helpful experience!
Lauren M.
Major: Communications and English
Company Name: WUSA Channel 9, Local News, a CBS affiliate
City: Washington DC
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: For Course Credit
Steps to get the internship: I applied online and had a phone interview.
Day to day activities: Press releases, analyzing ratings and composing daily reports on how last nights news cast did in comparison to our competitors, attending news meetings, helping produce weather alerts, proofs, and promos, writing brief scripts for weather alerts, proofs and promos, organizational tasks and getting lunch
Most rewarding: I loved living in D.C. and being able to go out with reporters for filming.
Biggest challenge: When there was nothing to do at work it was a bit boring, and being far away from home was difficult sometimes.
Most important thing learned: I learned to be patient and polite, listen to everything, write down everything, ask for a letter of recommendation, network, make connections, and pay attention to details.
Key advice: Don't expect it to be glamorous, but do expect it to be worth it.
Amanda K.
Major: Communications and Psych
Company Name: Youth Marketing Connection
City: Ann Arbor
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Paid
Steps to get the internship: I applied through a youth marketing website.
Day-to-day activities: I organized and recruited a street team to hold six events on campus to promote Adidas.
Most rewarding: I got a lot of free Adidas clothing!
Biggest challenge: Getting full street team attendance at events was very difficult. College students have really busy schedules.
Most important thing learned: I learned how to turn creative ideas into actual functioning events and how rewarding that can be.
Key advice: Utilize your resources and don't be afraid to ask for help.