Career Connections: A Q&A with Megan Pierson
Posted: February 18, 2009
Mount Holyoke has a long history of engaging students in internships and research projects and, of course, in helping them find jobs once they graduate. Reporter Mickey Rathbun caught up with Megan Pierson, coordinator of internship programs at the Career Development Center (CDC), to find out how students can land and find funding for meaningful cocurricular opportunities in the summer.
Q: What are the benefits of an internship?
MP: The benefits are many. Internships help students connect their academic program with real-world experience. Students learn about themselves, what kind of work they’re interested in, and where they want to go professionally. These experiences open doors and create networking opportunities. Students are now pursuing internships earlier in their college careers and this leads them to mentors and other professional contacts. These networks are extremely helpful in landing subsequent internships and finding a job after graduation. Applying for an internship--which includes résumé preparation, networking, and interviewing skills--also provides great practice for the job search process.
Q: How many students had a summer internship or research experience last year?
MP: More than 550.
Q: Where do internship opportunities come from?
MP: There are several sources. First, the CDC provides access to more than a dozen databases and online resources. For example, LyonNet is a customized online database where employers and alumnae specifically recruit MHC students for job openings. LACN is an online database of 25 small, prestigious liberal arts colleges who share internship opportunities.
There are also opportunities coordinated by individual departments and centers, which are cross-listed on LyonNet. The McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, for example, offers more than 25 international internships and overseas fellowships for independently designed student research projects. And the Center for the Environment is another fantastic resource with more than 16 internship programs on topics of environmental concern, local and global sustainability issues, as well as politics and civic engagement. In addition, there are exciting research opportunities supported by the sciences, social sciences, and humanities departments.
Mount Holyoke also provides three faculty-mentored independent research programs: Yale's SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships) and Weed Fellowships, which are designed for students interested in pursuing graduate-level research and careers, and the HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) Summer Program, for students interested in the sciences.
Many students also create opportunities for themselves, and we provide support for this process.
Q: How does a student successfully create her own internship?
MP: It all depends on a student’s initiative, her planning and strategizing about how to find an opportunity that meets her goals. First, a student decides on an industry that interests her, or on a specific employer or person she wants to work for, and then she narrows her focus to a particular kind of experience. Through networking, the student markets herself and pitches her idea to a potential employer. The student needs to show her passion for the field or opportunity and communicate clearly and coherently how she would make a positive contribution to the organization. That’s what employers are looking for, and they are very receptive to students who are able to communicate their passion and purpose.
Q: What happens when an internship does not work out as hoped?
MP: That can be a valuable experience too, since students are learning about themselves and what they both like and don’t like. A student may decide she’d rather work in the field than a lab, or prefers to work with people rather than on her own. Those experiences where students are challenged can have a greater learning value over time.
Q: Is there funding available for internships?
MP: Yes. Sometimes the internship employer or research sponsor funds the position. If the position is unpaid, or to offset expenses for a partially supported project, students may apply for funding through Mount Holyoke’s Universal Application Form (UAF). Our UAF program is unique because it provides students with a centralized online application process. Through the UAF, students can access fellowship funds from a variety of departments. Last year the College supported more than 200 students with nearly $600,000 in funding for internship and research projects. The average fellowship is around $2,500. Approximately 75 percent of all students on internship or research projects receive funding, either from UAF fellowships, faculty supported research, or outside paid internship and research opportunities.
Q: As coordinator of internships, what are your specific responsibilities?
MP: My responsibilities include managing a comprehensive suite of internship support resources. I conduct workshops that help students identify their experiential learning goals, plan what they want to do, find an internship or research project, and apply for funding opportunities. I collaborate with Jale Okay, the director of experiential learning at the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, to help students prepare for their summer experiences, both here and abroad. Since I help coordinate the Universal Application process, I work closely with all the academic departments and centers that participate in the awarding of internships and research funding. I also manage the SEED program, which helps students get the optimal benefit from their summer experience.
Q: What is the SEED program?
MP: The SEED program (Student Experiential Education and Development) helps students develop a support network, both in their geographic location and in their industry. For example, this summer we had networking receptions in New York City and Washington, D.C., which were attended by approximately 50 alumnae and students. All student researchers and interns are invited to participate in the SEED program.
Once the internship or research project is finished, we encourage students to reflect on their experience in a number of ways. First, a resource list is provided to all SEED summer interns so they can network with each other upon their return to campus and in the future. This peer network enables students to share experiences, gain industry or geographic insight, and make important connections that will help land future opportunities. Second, students provide a written report of their internship or research experience, which is then accessible to all students through the CDC library. This information is incredibly helpful to other students seeking internships and for exploring career options in general. Finally, we arrange discussion groups for students who have completed internships and others who are interested in pursuing internships in the same field. Students who have returned from summer internship and research opportunities may also be invited to participate in the LEAP Symposium.
Q: What is the LEAP Symposium?
MP: The LEAP (Learning from Application) Symposium is an exciting multidepartment event that takes place in the fall. Selected student interns and researchers present their experiences to the College community. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect on what they’ve learned over the summer, to consider how this experience fits in with their academic work and career goals, and with what lies ahead for them. This is also a unique opportunity for students to learn from each other about cutting-edge issues and how Mount Holyoke women connect with research and career opportunities on a global scale. More than 50 students were invited to present at the 2008 symposium.
Q: Can internships lead to permanent jobs?
MP: Definitely. And this is increasingly the case as more employers use their internship pool as a source for recruitment. In this economy, this streamlines the recruitment process for employers, and the trend is likely to continue.
Related Links:
McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives
Universal Application Form (UAF)