Becoming a college grad sure does have its perks: no more exhausting exams to sit through, lengthy research papers to write, or struggling to make it on the honor roll each semester. Finally, after 4 long years, the hard work has paid off and you’ve earned your degree. At first, grad life will seem like a walk in the park, but the harsh reality of trying to secure your first full time gig can be a bumpy road to travel on. Often times, recent grads hit one major traffic stop during the application process; big, flashy words that say: “Relevant Experience.” To make the job search as easy as possible, having an internship can be your express route to landing a job well before graduation day arrives. After completing an internship, you’ll feel much more confident about clicking that intimidating “apply now” button.
Internships offer students real-life experience, preparing them in different ways beyond the classroom setting. They are an introduction to the career path you’ve chosen and help you to develop the essential skills you’ll need when transitioning to a full-time role. In addition to preparing you for your future, having internship experience on your resume will give you a competitive edge over other applicants. Internship opportunities do not just enhance your skillset; they have become a critical investment for your future.
At Advantage, we ensure that our interns gain vital hands-on experience, preparing them not only for their future, but for the remainder of their education. After sitting down with our marketing intern, Tyler, who just completed his summer internship, we’d like to share a few words from him and his experience with Advantage!
1. How would you describe your internship with Advantage and what did you enjoy most?
“I would describe my internship with Advantage as exciting! I really enjoyed it, and feel like I learned so much, as it was my first real experience in the business world. There’s a great collaborative work environment in the marketing department, and I know that I found a family here. I was given a lot of opportunities to travel and meet new people, which helped me to step out of my comfort zone.”
2. What were your primary duties as an intern and what skills do you feel you’ve gained/enhanced?
“Well, I helped support the marketing department in a lot of different ways. Some examples would be coordinating and setting up events, scheduling meetings for the executive staff, assisting with the set up and installation of the Advantage Connection (our televised communication tool) for our facilities, helped lead our #LetsGetSocial campaign (a fun, interactive marketing campaign to advertise our social media channels), helped to create PowerPoints that our CEO uses for important sales pitches, attended trade shows where I got to speak with others in the industry to promote our competitive services, and I assisted with cold calling to get new accounts for AdvantageCare Rehabilitation.
Some skills I gained are better communication skills. I feel much more comfortable speaking to new clients, potential clients, and with other professionals in this industry. I also feel like I have a better understanding of how a professional environment works. I really appreciated that I was trusted so much as an intern and that I was able to take on a lot of responsibility.”
3. Did you accomplish what you wanted to during your internship?
“Yes, I definitely did. One of the things I am proudest of is starting a new marketing campaign for Advantage Home Health Services called, “A day in the life of an Advantage Employee.” Of course, after receiving permission and approval from both our nurses and patients for this campaign, I would film the nurse taking care of the patient for the purpose of advertising the important work we do. To start the process, I would contact one of our nurses, talk to them about when and where they were going to treat a patient and then learned how they would be treating them in the comfort of the patient’s own home. I would gather the necessary info beforehand, meet with the nurse at the patient’s house, and would then meet the patient and get to know them, as well as their family. After filming, I would work with our graphic designer on developing a short video clip.”
4. What was the most beneficial thing you learned during your internship?
“I would say working in the corporate office because I was able to work closely with Amy, Founder/President and CEO of Advantage. Being able to learn from her has inspired the dream of having my own successful company one day.”
Tyler is on track to graduate from Robert Morris University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He hopes to have a fulfilling career in medical device sales and hopes that there will be many travel opportunities while doing so. After completing his internship with Advantage, Tyler says he feels prepared and knows he’s on the right career path.
