Summer internships are more than just a line on a resumé. The experience gives Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students the chance to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom in a real-world setting.
“I used to think that marketing was creating ads and posting content,” said Kimberly Ramirez, a senior business major with a concentration in marketing. “It involves planning, strategy and making intentional decisions.”
The Lawrenceville native has spent her summer working as an intern with InTouch Financial Group. One of her favorite projects has been the creation of Marketing Monday.
“It’s a webinar that agents attend to learn how to market themselves with tools and tips I share with them,” she said. “There are two of us for these webinars which are done in both English and Spanish. I lead the Spanish one.”
For senior Joceyln Rubio-Camacho, a business major with a finance concentration, her internship with Majors Management has been eye-opening.
“When you think of accountants, a lot of times you imagine someone sitting in a cubicle, completely focused on spreadsheets,” said the Lawrenceville native. “My experience here has been so much more. The company culture here is also about interpersonal skills and making those connections with your coworkers.”
Tony Arreaga’s office on a given day could be in the studio, an Airbnb or behind the wheel of a box truck. For the senior studying cinema and media arts production at GGC, the chance to intern at Crazy Legs Production in Atlanta has been enlightening.
“There are a lot of moving parts, and that has given me the chance to learn how things work and function,” he said.
Along with research and development, he has been collaborating with other interns on group projects.
“My favorite experience has been working on the set design for a documentary that will be announced by Netflix,” said the Gwinnett County native. “We went to prop houses to select items that would be used on the set. That meant taking the box truck, loading it, transporting props to the two locations, unloading, and working with the set designer.”
The organization and discipline needed for a project is a familiar one.
“I’ve been an active-duty Marine for 10 years so there are similarities between the two as far as managing people, equipment and multiple locations,” he said.
For Loganville resident Emily Zboran, a senior business major with a marketing concentration, her internship with Majors Management has focused on an area that interests her.
“Working in project management has taught me to work independently. My bosses are travelling a lot right now, so I’ve learned to prioritize and organize,” she said. “I’ve become confident in using Excel, which helps me to get things done. I’ve also had a chance to use what I’ve learned in marketing to help redesign the company’s website which will launch in August.”
The process of getting an internship can be challenging. Students must apply as they would for a job.
“Don’t be discouraged through this process,” said Ramirez. “As Dr. B (Marvin Bontrager, internship coordinator in GGC’s School of Business,) said, it’s not a no. It’s just not this one. Just keep pushing because it only takes one yes.”