Guest Opinion: Internships offer valuable experience
BY ABIGAIL MEIER | Former intern, Iowa Women Lead Change
Editor’s note: Last week, Brianne Fitzgerald with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa wrote about the importance of companies providing emerging female talent with internship opportunities. Sticking with the topic of internships, Abigail Meier writes about the value she found as an intern for Iowa Women Lead Change.
I frequently talk to undergraduate students eager to learn more about their intended field. They pepper me with questions about how to advance their interests, make themselves more marketable to future employers, and to learn the art of networking. I often find myself answering their questions in the same way.
So, as a recent college graduate and a newbie in the workforce, here is my advice to aspiring women leaders on why internships provide valuable experience.
Internships offer variety
Everyone hears horror stories of interns being relegated to coffee and lunch pickups. I’m sure that many women and men have had those experiences, but I would argue the vast majority of companies today truly want to use the intern talent they have hired.
For me, IWLC’s internship was unlike any other because of the wide array of people and careers to which I was introduced. It’s not often an intern can boast that she met international legal analyst Lisa Bloom; took a selfie with Oprah’s all-time favorite guest, activist and author Dr. Tererai Trent; or met former supermodel and lifestyle designer Kathy Ireland.
Yes, I had the opportunity to meet some inspirational and energetic speakers. But the people who affected me the most were right here in Iowa. I had the distinct pleasure to meet men and women across the state from all different areas of work, which helped land my job. I used the wisdom gleaned from many of those speakers, coupled with the networking skills I honed in various interactions, to make my next step.
Internships broaden your horizons while narrowing your focus
When I first started at IWLC, I wasn’t sure exactly which direction I wanted to go after college, but after working there, I was able to narrow down my decision with confidence. The ability to bounce ideas off women who have been in the workforce for 20 or 30 years was a huge advantage.
While at IWLC, my primary duties were in marketing and communications. While I enjoyed this role, I knew that my passion lay in broadcast journalism. Through hands-on work, I realized where I thrived and where I needed more guidance.
Internships are mutually beneficial for students and employers.
Internships allow students to start building a network and meeting the mentors they may keep for the rest of their career. Internships aren’t just an opportunity for students, but also a way for employers to build mentors and guide the company’s future leaders.
I have many friends who interned at a company and were subsequently offered a full-time position. Talk about a win-win for both the company and the intern!
Often I am asked to name my favorite experience as an undergraduate student. My mind, of course, flashes to many of the social activities I participated in, but I also am quick to think of the internship I held at IWLC and how it prepared me for life in the “real world.” My senior year seemed like a roller coaster — constantly toggling with what I wanted to do after graduation — but it’s the people you work with and the leaders you meet who will help guide you to the answer to that question.
Abigail Meier is a producer at ABC7 and NBC2 in Fort Myers, Fla. Originally from Cascade, Iowa, she graduated in 2015 from the University of Iowa, where she studied journalism and mass communication with a minor in political science. She has a passion for writing and giving back to the community. Abigail can be reached by email or on Twitter at @AbigailAnn12.
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