National Intern Day was July 31, a day for employers to celebrate and commemorate their hardworking interns.

At Davenport University, all bachelor’s degree programs include an experiential learning requirement, and internships are highly recommended as an opportunity to not only cultivate valuable relationships with prospective employers, but also to develop the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

 

In today’s competitive job market, recent college graduates must look for ways to differentiate themselves from other applicants so they not only stand out but also rise to the top. This can be achieved by volunteering and having a high GPA, solid references and related industry experience. The latter is usually in short supply among recent graduates, which is one reason Davenport graduates all have internships under their belt by the time they pick up their diplomas. 

Studies show that completing at least one internship can really increase the chance of a new college graduate landing that first job.  According to Forbes, New LinkedIn data shows that interns are almost 25% more likely than non-interns to start a full-time position within six months of graduation.

Midland native and Davenport alumna, Josie Sokol, believes her internship with the university’s marketing department gave her a competitive edge when it came to looking for a full-time job. She graduated in April 2024 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and felt confident applying for positions because of the education she received from Davenport and the skills and experience gained during her internship.

Eric Cross, assistant director of Career Services at Davenport, said the university polls employers to understand what they are looking for in a new hire and what the job market looks like. “Employers want to hire someone with relevant work experience, in addition to a degree, and those who have both of those things are more desirable,” said Cross. “Internships are the best way for students to build knowledge and skills and become more employable.”

Harnessing the power of internships goes far beyond boosting a resume and checking a box on an employment application. They are an excellent way for students to explore different career paths and to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios. Interns learn valuable new skills, gain experience and make professional connections that can lead to new positions down the road.

Finding that all-important internship was a challenge for Sokol, but she didn’t have to go it alone. “I struggled to find an internship, mostly because I was out-of-state and needed an online option, but my career coach was able to provide me with several resources and advice on reaching out to employers,” she said.

Cross said every student at Davenport is paired with a career coach who will help them identify different internship possibilities, build and edit resumes, and provide advice on how to have a positive internship experience.

Sokol started her internship with Davenport’s marketing department in September 2023 and was more prepared than she expected. “The beginning of my internship was a little scary, but I quickly realized that what I had learned in class prepared me to perform well, adapt to different situations and gave me the confidence to share my ideas. The whole experience helped me prove to myself what I am capable of, and it was a great feeling,” she said.

Her internship duties included developing monthly reports for corporate partnership meetings and assisting with email tracking and reporting. She also assisted with the development of marketing pieces and emails for admissions events.

“It was really amazing to learn new things and to be put in charge of projects, and it was incredibly satisfying when I completed projects that were mine from start to finish,” Sokol said. “The marketing team was great to work with because they allowed  me to face certain challenges on my own and  were always there when I needed them or to applaud my work.”

Kate Barch, director of marketing for Davenport, and Sokol’s internship supervisor. said that from day one, Josie brought a strong foundation of marketing knowledge from her Davenport courses that allowed her to immediately contribute in meaningful ways. “Her insights were not only thoughtful and well-informed, but they added real value to our projects and team discussions. It’s rare to see someone integrate so quickly and effectively,” Barch said.

One of the most important things Sokol learned during her internship is that there is no such thing as a bad idea and to always share what comes to mind, no matter how out-of-the-box it seems, because it might just be that missing piece that everyone was searching for. 

When Sokol’s internship ended in December 2023, she stayed working as a student assistant until she graduated in April.

Sokol has since moved back to Michigan, diploma in hand, and is working in Grand Rapids as a manager at Amazon. “I’ve been with Amazon for seven months, and so far things are going very well. I have many different responsibilities, but my main focus is using data to support our associates and to ensure they have everything they need to perform their best,” she said.

According to Sokol, her internship helped her in ways she couldn’t have imagined. “In addition to learning so many new skills, my internship also helped me become more polished and professional, which I was able to demonstrate during the interview process at Amazon, and I know it definitely helped me get the job,” she said.

Sokol’s online journey

Sokol began her journey at Davenport as a traditional student. She lived on Davenport’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus, where she attended class and was a member of the women’s track and field team. Her junior year, she moved to North Carolina, but thanks to Davenport’s Global Campus, she was able to finish her degree online.

“I wanted to finish what I started at Davenport, and didn’t want to go through the process of transferring my credits to another university, so I was very thankful to be able to complete my degree online,” she said. “I found online learning to be easier than I thought. All of my professors were very responsive, and if I had questions, I was able to have video meetings with my advisor.”

Sokol offers a bit of advice for students facing challenges or new circumstances. “I think the most important thing to remember is that your opportunities don’t end just because something in your life changes. Take all of the positive aspects of what is going on in your life and find ways to use them to better yourself.”