LAS Student Spotlight – Victoria

Victoria

Major

Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology

2024 Summer Internship

Communications Intern for the United Way of Story County

What advice do you have for fellow students regarding internship/job searches?

“Don’t wait for an opportunity to arise – create it. Reach out. Ask professionals in your field if you can buy them a cup of coffee in exchange for an hour of their time (if they say yes, you’re getting a bargain; their time is worth more than $5-7/hr). Then come prepared. Know what you want from a meeting or an internship, and be your own advocate. Sometimes, the answer is no. But if you never ask, the answer is always no.”

What advice do you have for students seeking work experience in their field of study?

“Do whatever you can to intern or shadow individuals who do the work that interests you. Experience is always valuable. Sometimes, it’s a great experience. Sometimes, it teaches you that specific work is a bad fit, and then you’re more informed going forward. Remember “loose ties” in your social network. Maybe someone who is a 2nd connection on LinkedIn already does your dream job. Reach out to them! Or ask your mutual connection to introduce you over email.”

Did you attend any ISU Career Fairs? How did you prepare to speak with employers?

“I’ve attended several Career Fairs. It can seem intimidating to walk into the Great Hall when it’s full of potential employers and applicants. To make it more manageable, I would look at the businesses that registered for the career fair beforehand (via CyHire). Then, I would focus on 3-5 businesses I wanted to speak with. Sometimes, I prepared notes beforehand. I always brought several extra resumes. I think attending multiple career fairs is helpful because it helps you get a sense of how they work. Then, you will feel more comfortable and prepared for the future.”

Have you taken LAS 2030, the LAS Professional Career preparation Course? If so, how did it help you?

“Yes. LAS 2030 offered a veritable treasure trove of information. It was a lot of content relatively quickly, so I bookmarked many resources for when I have more time!”

Have you used any resources provided by LAS Career Services? How was this service helpful?

“I am a big fan of advising appointments. Meeting one-on-one helps me organize my thoughts and materials. Advising appointments have helped me to prepare for interviews, streamline my resume, and generally become more comfortable utilizing career services resources.”