Aviation for Women is the flagship member publication of Women in Aviation International. Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.
Issue link: https://afwdigital.epubxp.com/i/638688
M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 6 Aviation forWomen 71 fresh, on-trend training students are receiving on campus, but they'll also offer the next generation experience-based training, better equipping them to contribute to their indus- try in meaningful ways when they enter the workforce. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) notes that that the intern conversion rate was 51.7 percent, according to its 2015 Internship & Co-op Survey. In fact, NACE reports, the primary focus of most employ- ers' internship and co-op programs is to convert students into full-time, entry-level employees. It's a win for both in- terns and employees. I was lucky enough not to have to pack up my desk at the end of the summer. A few days before my internship was set to end, I received a job offer. So when should you start looking for internship oppor- tunities? Now. Employers begin planning for intern re- cruitment approximately seven months in advance. Stu- dents want to k now where they'll be spending their summer, and employers want to know that their intern needs will be filled. But also keep your eyes peeled for opportunities during the school year. If your class sched- ule allows, it's worth extending your summer internship into fall and winter, and beyond. The NACE survey also showed that interns who worked for a single employer on multiple occasions were most likely to be converted into full-time hires. And don't hesitate to try and create opportunities for yourself either. I reached out to EAA at my professor's sug- gestion, and at the time they hadn't been offering intern- ships in their publications department. I've been told it was my persistence—I may have been following up week- ly at one point—that helped pave the way for an internship spot that summer. Since then, the department has em- ployed one or more interns every summer, and even a few into the school year. I ultimately spent more than eight years at EAA, the last several of which I was the one on the other side of the desk, hiring interns. It was always exciting to me to review the résumés and conduct the interviews, knowing full well how the person on the other side of the table felt. But it was far more rewarding to welcome our new intern to the department and show her or him the ropes in publishing and aviation. My experience isn't entirely unique. Students every- where have had doors opened to them through internship opportunities. As one of the country's largest regional air- lines, Republic Airways offers internships as part of its goal to strive for excellence. "Offering an internship to students pursuing a career in aviation presents us the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent and get students excited about aviation," said Jen- nifer Soe, corporate talent acquisition coordinator. "An in- ternship is also an opportunity for students to prepare for the workforce. Obtaining an internship is a critical piece to a student's future career, and a way for us to encourage their return to our organization." Three of Republic's interns from the summer of 2015 took some time to share their experiences with us: ; PA I G E C A I T O Indiana University Major: Journalism with a minor in Business and Spanish A s a freshman in college, I thought internships would come along further down the road, but a recent discus- sion about résumés and internships during a marketing and branding class prompted me to begin thinking about the fu- ture. Coincidentally, a family friend and Republic employee told me about the company's internships, and before I knew it I was driving home for an interview at Republic Airways. I had no previous knowledge of aviation or corporate com- munications, but I love to travel and fy and have always been interested in aircraft. I'd heard internships are about discov- ering what you would like to do in your future, a way to test- drive different areas of a certain feld. In my interview, I liked the projects my managers suggested I would be working on and was excited to dive into something new. I had never con- sidered corporate communications before this internship, but Paige Bailey Alex PHOTOS COURTESY OF REPUBLIC AIRLINES