Jasmine Velez
Major: Criminology/Criminal Justice
Minor: Spanish
Expected Graduation Date: May 2019
Company Interned With: U.S. Marshals Service and Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
How did you find your internship?
Sorle Diih, assistant professor in criminology and coordinator of law enforcement internships, has been my biggest influence throughout my time at The University of Tampa. He helped me apply for my first internship with the Office of Inspector General, U.S Department of Health and Human Services. If I did not take that leap of faith to apply with his added push, I would not be where I am today now having experience with two federal internships.
What did you learn from your internship?
In both of my internships, I gained interactive experiences that allowed me to learn valuable information to receive a job in the criminology and criminal justice field.
This fall, I interned with the U.S. Marshals Service, located in downtown Tampa. I work with deputies within the office to help transport prisoners inside the courthouse, update information within the Justice Detainee Information System (JDIS) and assist with prisoner airlifts. Previously, I interned with the Office of Inspector General, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, located in downtown Tampa. During my time with this agency, I obtained the ability to work and present information to the FBI, DEA and other federal agencies on an investigation against a local pharmacy where we looked at the major pill discrepancies between opioids.
What was surprising or unexpected about your internship experience?
It was interesting to work with various other federal agencies such as the FBI and DEA. When people think about federal agencies they think it’s a very contentious environment, but it really isn’t. We actually work together more than people think we do. It was such a great experience to be included in numerous projects with various agents and agencies on a daily basis.
How did classes or involvement at UT prepare you for your internship experience?
Being the president of Sigma Delta Tau prepared me for my internships the most in regards to the ability to multitask, conduct emails and myself professionally, as well as balance school work and free time now dedicated to my internship. Having the ability to be a leader of 150 women has been the most empowering experience that has transcended into the preparation to take on my federal internships.
What advice would you give students who are searching for internships?
- Start early! Doing internships earlier in your college career not only sets yourself up for success in the long run, but gives you the ability to make contacts and connections with companies/agencies.
- Utilize your resources on campus. Each academic major on campus has a faculty/staff member in charge of helping students obtain internships. Utilize these contacts as resources in order to obtain a list of companies/agencies to apply to.
Augusto Vidales
Major: M.S. Marketing
Expected Graduation Date: May 2019
Company Interned With: Turner Construction in Reston, VA
How did you find your internship?
A long time friend of mine from UT, and also a member of Delta Sigma Pi, is currently working there.
What did you learn from your internship?
It was my first time working for a big corporation, since my previous experiences were with start-ups. I learned the ins and outs of marketing at a big firm, and from one of the top marketing teams from Turner in the United States. Work ethic was probably my biggest takeaway.
What was surprising or unexpected about your internship experience?
How well I was treated, welcomed and how the company paid for my housing in D.C.
How did classes or involvement at UT prepare you for your internship experience?
Definitely the biggest factor was joining a great organization like Delta Sigma Pi, where you are surrounded by like minded individuals. You meet great people, and the hunger for success is unrivaled. Master's level classes take a more hands on approach that helped me greatly with being more confident when talking to high level executives.
What advice would you give students who are searching for internships?
It starts in class. First, develop a mindset of a professional and not a student. A professional wants to learn and grow; a student wants to pass a class. Join professional organizations and expand your network. Connect with professors and offer help in research. Finally, don't just apply; follow-up, do your research, connect on LinkedIn, show interest and tell them how YOU can bring value to their company.
Miranda Palumbo
Major: Communication
Graduation Date: May 2016
Company Interned With: Signature Theatre Company
What did you learn from your internship?
I learned so much from my internship. I gained technical knowledge in Adobe software and social media platforms. I also learned about marketing strategies and how they differ for each theatrical production's target audience.
What was surprising or unexpected about your internship experience?
What was both surprising and unexpected was getting to attend the opening night of one of their productions. I didn't know I was going to get to do that, and the experience was such a thrill.
How did classes or involvement at UT prepare you for your internship?
My coursework really prepared me in terms of my technical knowledge. I went into my internship knowing a lot about some of the Adobe software. This was imperative in order for me to get the internship, but it also helped me once I got there.
What advice would you give to students who are searching for internships?
- Don't be afraid to use Google! I found a lot of the companies I applied to just by doing a simple Internet search. Of course, once you find the company you will need to do some research on them, but sometimes Google can be your best friend.
- Apply! Apply! Apply! Don't just send out one application to one company. Who knows if they are going to say yes? The workload of applying to multiple internships while juggling everything else a college student has on their plate can be intimidating and overwhelming, but for me it was worth it. Each summer, I have applied to more than 10 internships. The best possible scenario is you get offered more than one and you have to choose.
- Figure out who you are writing to in your cover letter. As someone who is in a more creative field, I began my cover letters a little differently than I think someone would if they were applying to a more business-oriented company. That helped me a lot. It was a risk, but I knew it was a risk that could be well received by that type of company and possibly help me stand out and get me to the next step of getting an interview. If I were a business student, I would have definitely written my cover letter differently.
Lauren O'Hanneson
Double Major: Business Marketing, Sport Management
Graduation Date: May 2017
Company Interned With: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
What did you learn from your internship?
I started with the Grand Prix as a sophomore, and they were one of the only companies to give me a chance to work for them as an underclassman. I gained a wide range of experience, from routine office experience to event planning to ticket sales to client services. I was able to meet so many people and not just in the IndyCar industry, we had a ton of other athletes, company sponsors and VIPs from all around Florida. I learned the importance of hard work and doing more than was asked of you – it always pays off.
What was surprising or unexpected about your internship experience?
I went in thinking I was just another intern in the office. I didn’t think I would be able to make that much of a difference at all. Turns out, that was completely wrong. GPSP (Grand Prix St. Pete) trusted me with so many important tasks that were critical to the flow of race weekend. As an intern, we were treated as a part of the team, not just students coming in to work for school. I was thrilled I had a much bigger role in the event than originally anticipated. At the end of the day, my name will forever be in the 2015 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg program as a “Client Services Representative.” It was awesome!
How did classes or involvement at UT prepare you for your internship?
Being a part of the sport management program helped me prepare a ton for my internship. The Department of Sport Management invites various employers to come speak to students once a month, which is how I got my internship. It allows us to learn about their jobs as well as gives us the opportunity to network afterwards – which is amazing! My professors always stressed the importance of networking and getting as involved as possible from the start. I think that’s what stuck with me the most since my Gateways class freshman year.
What advice would you give to students who are searching for internships?
Go to the events UT offers. There are a TON of internship fairs/networking events that UT puts on; take advantage of those. Don’t wait until junior or senior year to get an internship. Internships provide the perfect opportunity to discover what career path you may or may not want to take, so start early! Even if there aren’t hired positions within a a company, there are still so many volunteer opportunities to start networking.