Career Services to hold internship fair

As May, graduation and summer loom closer, one thought is prevalent on students’ minds.

Internships.

But students aren’t the only ones thinking about internships. Local companies take advantage of the talent available at UNC by offering dozens of paid and unpaid jobs year round.

Many of these companies will be highlighted in today’s University Career Services’ Internship Fair.

3 Birds Marketing, an advertising company in Chapel Hill, has employed several UNC students since coming to the area.

“They love having college students from UNC,” said Hannah Watts, a senior public relations major who currently holds an internship with 3 Birds.

“A lot of companies recognize that we put out a lot of really good students,” Watts said.

Watts heard about the internship through the School of Journalism and Mass Communication newsletter, which comes out every Monday.

“We look for someone who is ready to come in and be kind of self-directed,” said Emily Farrar, social media strategist and account manager for 3 Birds and as well as a UNC graduate.

Sierra Piland, a junior graphic design and media production double major, has held an internship with Southern Weddings Magazine and with University Directories, which she found at an internship fair during her first year.

“Stay really positive and realistic, apply to multiple internships, some local and some far-fetched, get really involved on campus with what you want to do and remember networking is very important,” she said.

UCS teaches students how to write resumés and present themselves in the best possible light.

UCS Assistant Director Gary Miller said it is important for students to tailor their resumé’s list of experiences to the position they are seeking.

“Employers tell us that they spend between three and 20 seconds on any one resumé, so it is important to ensure that they can quickly ascertain from your resumé what skill sets they can leverage,” Miller said.

The fair offers more than just local internships, attracting everything from investment firms to national brands like Target.

Junior Analisa Price held a store executive internship for Target during her sophomore year. Price also worked on the other side of the table, helping recruit other interns for the company.

Price said that the key to landing an internship at a fair is for students to research any of the companies they’re interested in before going.

“It’s not really like window shopping,” said Price. “The ones that get a job are the ones that plan ahead.”

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