Internships
Build impressive resumes — Virtually every
marketing major can count on obtaining an internship, thanks to
the department's reputation of excellence and the faculty's
close ties with the business community.
Interns for Excellence — This innovative
program offers our most outstanding students a merit-based,
high-level internship that pays students a generous stipend,
plus a market-competitive salary from the employer. This
program is endowed and supported by one of our graduates. Learn
more.
For more information on Internships, click on the following
links:
For Students
For Employers
What is an internship?
How do you know if a career field is right for you? How can
you gain experience and skills that future employers will find
valuable? Internships allow students to gain valuable
experience, develop marketable skills, and test out a career
field prior to graduation. Very helpful in providing exposure
and mentorship, internships often lead to job positions.
Internships vary in their nature, but are generally unpaid
and require around 15-20 hours of work per week. Duration can
be from one quarter to an entire summer. In some cases,
students will receive a stipend or payment by the employer.
However, students do receive academic credit for the internship
as if they were taking a class at the university.
Providing you with a "real-world" experience in a
professional work environment, internships are becoming a norm
for college graduates.
Contact:
Pola Gupta, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
260-E Rike Hall / (937) 775-3046
Email: pola.gupta@wright.edu
Web: www.wright.edu/~pola.gupta
Benefits of an
Internship for students
- Receive academic credit (1 to 4 credits for each
internship)
- May receive financial compensation from the internship
employer
- Identify a future potential employer
- Gain real world experience
- Career field exploration
- Building a solid network of contacts with business
executives
- Gain an edge over individuals who have not had real world
experience
- Provide employers with valuable resources
- Strengthen your resume
- Reinforce career objectives and values related to a work
environment
Student
Internship Requirements
- Must have Junior/Senior Status
- Course Completion--Marketing 250 with a "C" or
better
- Course requirements:
- You must meet with the faculty advisor for internships
during the first week of classes. You may set up an
appointment with the faculty advisor via email or phone.
- Submission of bi-weekly activity reports
- Completion of a written report, which is due at the end
of the quarter.
- Obtain a copy of the syllabus from the Faculty Internship
Advisor.
Internship Credit can be given as a marketing elective (up
to 4 hours) and/or as a business elective (up to 4 hours).
Internship course number is MKT. 481/780.
Student Internship
Procedures
Student Application
Process
- Obtain a marketing internship application from the
Department of Marketing and other related information, or
download from the website via the student forms link.
- Prepare a quality resume and cover letter.
See Tips from Career Services
- Secure an interview with the internship employer.
- Prepare for an interview with the internship employer.
See Tips from Career Services
- Once you get an offer for the internship from the
employer, have the completed application form signed by a
representative of the internship employer.
- Return the original application for internship to the
Department of Marketing for an approval by the faculty
internship advisor and the Chair of the Department of
Marketing. The marketing department will sign you up for the
marketing course. If this course (MKT 481/780) doesn't show
up on your schedule, contact the marketing department
immediately.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the benefits of an
Internship?
- You will get college credit varying from 1 to 4
credits.
- A four credit hour internship can be applied toward a
marketing elective. A second internship can be applied to a
business elective.
- You may get hired by the same company for a position
after you graduate.
2. Do I get credit for my internship?
If you meet the requirements and follow the procedure
through the Marketing Department, you will receive academic
credit for your internship. The internship credit can vary from
1 to 4 credit hours depending on the amount of work
involved.
3. How much will I get paid as an
intern?
Internships can be both paid and unpaid. It is good to
inquire about this from the prospective employer before
beginning the program.
4. How long will my internship be?
Typically spread over a quarter. (Fall/ Winter/ Spring/
Summer)
5. Can I do an internship with my current
employer?
If the nature of your work is relevant to marketing and the
Faculty Advisor for internships approves it, then it qualifies
for an internship.
6. When is the deadline for signing up for
internship class?
Same deadline as for the other classes.
7. When is the best time to look for an
internship?
You should begin looking as early as possible for your
internship, at least three to six months before the quarter
begins. Some internship programs have deadlines early in the
year, be sure to check on those dates if you have a specific
internship you want to be considered for. No time is too early;
typically students participate in an internship during their
Junior and/or Senior year(s).
8. Where do I look for internship
positions?
- Marketing Department bulletin board
- Flyers circulated through classes
- Can obtain on your own by contacting a company
- Your current job may also qualify for an internship
9. Can I do internships in companies located in
other cities and countries?
If the faculty advisor approves, it can be done.
10. Is there a syllabus for this
course?
Yes. Click here for a sample MKT syllabus.
MKT 481
MKT 780
11. What are my responsibilities as an
intern?
See the sample syllabus for details.
MKT 481
MKT 780
12. How do I get graded for the
internship?
See the sample syllabus for details.
MKT 481
MKT 780
13. How many internships can I take?
You can get a maximum of 8 credit hours spread over two
quarters. You can apply 4 credit hours towards a marketing
elective and 4 credit hours towards a business elective.
14. Can I do internships during the current quarter
and apply it to the next quarter?
Under some special situations this can be done with an
approval from the Faculty Internship Advisor.
15. Who should I contact for more information about
the program?
Dr. Pola Gupta (For Fall, Winter and Spring internships; email: pola.gupta@wright.edu)
Dr. James Munch (For Summer Internships; email: james.munch@wright.edu)
Interns for Excellence
The Interns for Excellence Program provides unique, high
profile internships for marketing students of the Raj Soin
College of Business at Wright State University. This
internship opportunity, which allows students to experience
exceptional real world business marketing activities, is
available through the generous anonymous endowment of an
alumnus. Students selected for the internships
receive a $500 cash award from the program along with possible
wages from the employing company.
The internship is conducted during the summer months or
during the academic year at local businesses.
These internship opportunities are highly sought after
positions with well-known local companies.
The Interns for Excellence Program
Requirements:
- Resume
- One page essay summarizing why you feel that tyou should be considered for this award.
- Completion of the application for Interns for Excellence Award. Application forms are available in the Department of Marketing Office, 254 Rike Hall.
- An Interview with Dr. Pola Gupta for short-listed applicants. After screening the application material, short listed students will be called for an interview.
- Recommendation letter from your internship supervisor.
- Quality of your final report submitted as a part of MKT 481 requirment
Submit your application, reference letters, and resume to
Evelyn Roberts or Tess Stelmat, in 254 Rike Hall.
Tips for Internship
Success!
Now that you have secured this wonderful internship
opportunity, be sure to follow these tips in order to get the
most out of your experience!
1. Communicate...effectively and often: A
weekly meeting with your supervisor will enable you to discuss
utilizing your skills to their full potential as well as
seeking to develop new skills.
2. Set Goals: Prior to starting your
internship, prepare a list of goals or things you hope to
achieve while at your internship. Share these goals with your
supervisor and be sure to have a plan to accomplish them.
3. Keep your Eyes and Ears open! Learning an organization's
culture is critical to your success. This includes
communication styles, dress, decision making strategies and
hierarchy. Knowing this will ensure that you don't overstep
your boundaries and are able to fit in and work comfortably
with the other employees.
4. Know your fit in the organization: The
organization is taking their time to teach you new skills. Be
sure to do what is asked of you in a timely manner.
5. Be Flexible: Often, interns are asked to
do the "grunt" work. Understand that employers begin with
simple tasks and build up to important tasks. Proving that you
can do well at any task will show that you're ready to move to
the next. In the event that you feel they are taking advantage
of you and your skills are not being utilized properly, have an
honest discussion with your supervisor regarding your concerns.
Share these types of concerns with your faculty advisor for
internships.
6. Be Responsible: Often, your internship
may lead to a full time job with the company. Turning in
assignments on time, taking directions seriously and displaying
a good attitude will all contribute to a positive reflection of
you and the university.
7. Learn as much as you can: Employers
frequently say that you will get out of your internship what
you put into it. You can learn as much about the field, the
position or the organization you want when you are talking with
people, reading what is around you, and becoming involved with
extra projects.
8. NETWORK! Talk to everyone that you can.
Introduce yourself and take their business card. You never know
when their contact information may come in handy. If you aren't
good with remembering names, write where you met them on the
back of their card to help you remember.
9. Keep in Touch: Your network will have
grown after you finish your internship. Be sure to stay in
contact with those who you met during your internship, because
you never know when someone may be looking to fulfill a
position. Also, former supervisors make great references for
students who don't have a lot of employment experience.
10. Last but not least...Have Fun!!
Students'
Testimonials about their internships:
What did you gain from your internship
experience?
-
The workplace atmosphere at iNet. The people were great.
(iNet Interactive)
-
The relaxed environment and type of work assigned to me.
(iNet Interactive)
-
The opportunity to prepare myself (increase my skills)
for my career. (Reynolds and Reynolds)
-
It forced me to stretch myself a little bit and step out
of my comfort zone. ( Calvary Baptist Church)
-
I learned a lot. (Home Depot)
-
The variety of projects assigned to me. (Clear Channel
Communications)
-
Freedom of Creativity. (The Guardian)
-
My internship was a great experience! (iNet
Interactive)
-
Web Sites for Job Searches and internship
opportunities:
Check out internship and job opportunities on Wright
Search. And keep your current resume on Wright Search
so that employers can find you! For your convenience, we
also post each week's internships and jobs from Wright
Search on our College Home page.
Great Dayton
Works
Career
Builder
Job Resource Center
Employer
Feedback Form
Department of Marketing Employer Feedback
Form
Evaluation Form
Employers' Testimonials about WSU
Interns
MeadWestvaco: She has
done a great job during her time at MeadWestvaco. She is
organized, works independently and takes initiative when
she's completed assigned tasks. Meadwestvaco recently
moved locations, which she did an excellent job of
assisting. She helped prepare and organize for more which
is outside traditional job descriptions. She's a hard
worker!
Reynolds and Reynolds:
He has very good interpersonal skills (comfortable around
others). He is flexible, does assignments without
complaints and not afraid to ask questions.
iNet Interactive: He did
a great job of taking the initiative in a relatively
unstructured assignment. Excellent written communication
skills.
iNet Interactive: He is
a self-starter. Works well independently. Good
communication skills, especially written. Great technical
"common sense." Able to figure out new technologies on
his own.
The Guardian: She is
very organized. If you come to her with an idea, she will
get working on it. She is always on top of things and
knows what is going on. She is very personable. She gets
along well with others while still maintaining a
professional level of conduct. She asks for help when she
needs it. She organized the implementation of an
advertising database as well as helped organize a
comprehensive advertising campaign resulting in a
contract with SOAR.
Home Depot: He is a team
player, self starter, he is an asset to our store. He
drives business through excellent customer service.
WSU Athletics: She is
very organized, dependable, has a great attitude, and is
overall an excellent intern. She completes every task I
giver her in a timely manner while producing outstanding
results. She is always dressed professionally and has a
great attitude.
Calvary Baptist Church:
Works well with others, listens to what you have to say.
He was wiling to do whatever we ask of him. He was very
professional in how he handles himself and his work.
He is excellent at keeping the customers
at ease. He has a very likeable personality, which makes
handling realtors, brokers, and attorneys much
easier.
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