I recently took on an internship at ACCESS Community Capital Fund as a Social Media & Marketing Intern. Although the placement is for a limited time, I would definitely like to stress the importance of getting involved in what you are interested in pursuing before graduation. I found that my experience at ACCESS has prepared me for a number of roles I would like to pursue when I graduate. As I touch on my experience, I’ll share ways you can get involved in your field of interest before you jump into the job market.
Use Your Ryerson Connections
Pursuing a marketing minor, I was exposed to a number of well-connected professors in the field of marketing. One of my marketing professors actually sent out the ACCESS posting, which is the reason I applied. It was definitely a great fit as it matched my interest in marketing and social media with my curiosity in the nonprofit sector.
I strongly recommend keeping an eye out for postings sent out by professors and your program’s departmental assistance staff. It is a great way to get a position as both groups usually have knowledge about the company they are promoting or they may also have existing connections within the company. These are vital pieces of information you can use in applying to these positions.
What This Internship Experience Has Taught Me
Working for ACCESS, I gained the opportunity to be exposed to the nonprofit sector. This is the beauty of internships! They allow you the opportunity to test certain fields that you have an interest in, to better understand which areas you would like to pursue job-wise.
The internship has also granted me the freedom to dabble in a number of work experiences, surrounding social media and marketing. I am a very strong part of the ACCESS social media campaign at present, through Facebook and Twitter, and I especially enjoy that my input is greatly taken into consideration.
At the end of the day, I am happy to put in the work for a charity that helps build communities through small business, which is what ACCESS does. I really feel a part of something that is growing and continuing to build.
How ACCESS Views Interns
A statement from Ann Lockhart, Program Manager at ACCESS Community Capital Fund:
“The interns we have had at ACCESS recently are awesome. ACCESS has greatly benefited from the contributions of interns over the past few months. Their contribution to our core activities and other important aspects of our organization and public image, surprised us greatly. Fresh ideas, fresh perspectives, a great attitude, and lots of energy are only some of the things that come to mind when thinking about the interns we’ve been lucky to have over the past months. Their creative, analytical, and critical skills, combined with common sense and eagerness to learn, make it easy for us to involve them in a vast array of projects. It’s also great to meet them at this interesting point in their career. Though I would love to hang on to them, it is our hope that the internship can help provide perspective on microfinance and the non-profit sector and will in some way, help them achieve their career goals down the road.”
A statement from Jessica Wroblewski, Program Assistant at ACCESS Community Capital Fund:
“I believe ACCESS Community Capital Fund is a non-profit organization that does value its interns and volunteers. Not only has Ann Lockhart, the Program Manager at ACCESS, gone out of her way to introduce me to board members and clients, but she has also given me work that is at or above the level I should be in with about 1 year of relevant work experience. It’s good to know that your boss believes in you, your goals, and your abilities.”
Do you have any other tips regarding how to get involved in your field of interest before graduation?
