I was able to sit down this week with Wesleyan’s Experimental Learning Coordinator, Jill Okes. Jill’s mission is to help coach and supervise students on their personal journeys of finding and attaining internships. Her goal is to help students gain valuable insight on their chosen career path as well as help them get a better understanding of their field of study. Internships are a great way to gain real world experiences like working in teams, public speaking, interviewing and so much more.
There are a few ways in which Jill can help you find the right internship. First, in a one-on-one coaching experience, she will sit down with you and help you sort through and find the internships that fit your career profile. There is also an internship placement program where she will help you sort through the details of each internship you are looking to apply for.
Jill has formed and maintained relationships with over 50 local business and practices in order to help foster community and student growth. So, if you are looking for an internship in Buckhannon, Jill is the woman to go to. She can also help you find internships closer to home if you are looking to get a summer internship.
Jill recommends that students start their internship search during their sophomore year, which she says can help foster personal growth in one’s intended field of work.
“If you think you want to be a surgeon, and do an internship and find that you don’t like blood, then maybe it’s be a good idea to look into something different,” she says. “Internships are about finding what you like and feel comfortable doing.”
The earlier you start searching for internships, the more opportunities you’ll have to gain valuable work experience, insight into how the career fits you, and the ability to communicate more effectively. Plus, internship experience looks great on a resume, especially as you start applying for graduate schools, jobs and other internships.
Internships can be (and are recommended) to be taken as a credited course. Jill encourages students to take internships for credit because it helps facilitate the student’s learning. She works closely with Academic Affairs to make sure that the internship is credited and will be a good fit for you. By taking an internship for credit, you will be asked to develop learning outcomes for yourself, figure out methods to attain those outcomes, develop the process, and work with a faculty sponsor in your field. By doing this, you are able to take more away from the internship than just a few days of work. It allows you to more effectively communicate your experience to future graduate schools and employers and it also makes you accountable for what you learn while you are there.
Jill can help you find internships in any field from arts to engineering. Some local businesses that often take Wesleyan students include AF Windling, Country Roads Physical Therapy, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Upshur County Art Alliance, Create Buckhannon and many others. Some companies even look for multiple fields of interns.
There are also many workshops offered throughout the semester to help you in every aspect of the internship process. The next workshop will be held Tuesday, February 23 at 4 p.m. and Thursday, February 25 at 11 a.m. in Haymond 4. An Ace the Skype Interview workshop will be held at 4 p.m. on March 8 and again at 11 a.m. on March 10 in MRC 200. The other workshop, Study Skills, will be held at 4 p.m. on March 8 and at 11 a.m. on March 10 in Haymond 4. Also be on the lookout for the Credited Internship Paperwork workshop on March 15 and 17, as well as other programming.
Be sure to visit Jill Okes in the Student Success Center on the first floor of the Administration Building if you have any questions. You can also find the SSC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram under the handle @wvwc_ssc !