Pacific Index

Some tips on how to secure a summer internship with the expertise of Pacific’s Internship coordinator Heidi Wright

   By the second semester, all most students can think about is warmer weather and the excitement of nearing the end of the year. While being so preoccupied with longer days and blooming flowers, students (often) turn a blind eye to internships. No, summer is not just the time to wear that bathing suit stuffed in the bottom of your closet drawer or to brush off that boogie board gathering dust in the garage. It’s equally a time of work, but don’t fret, some internships pay!

   Not only can an internship give you the work experience needed for your intended major and future career, it can broaden your connections within the field. As amazing as that sounds, many students don’t know where to start when it comes to securing an internship. Luckily for those panicked by the ticking time bomb that is upcoming summer internship interviews and applications, we have Heidi Wright, Pacific’s Internship Coordinator located in AuCoin hall.   

   “Been here six years and I took over internship coordinator two years ago,” Wright explains. “I do both academics like helping students plan out their schedules and that kind of thing, as well as I help students find opportunities for their future and help with resumes.” 

   She shares, “There’s community work study. So that’s something that money comes from the federal government, and it’s distributed to students through our local organizations and nonprofits.” On top of that there is community service work study, work study, which take place either on or off campus. “Internships come from a variety of places, so sometimes organizations will contact me directly,” she notes, making it clear that she’s in the know when it comes to internships in the Forest Grove and Hillsboro area. “I will go through our alumni network, LinkedIn; I do a lot with LinkedIn.” 

   Wright emphasizes the need for skills that can only be built outside of school. “Some of those basic skills they want graduates to have can be gained through internships, and so it’s really hard to get some of those skills in the classroom,” she says. While internships can be helpful, she also discloses that even holding a job at a corporation can give you certain skills that are important for your job. “Service, learning, anything. Anything where you can get some experience with the outside world to build those skills that will make you more marketable,” she exemplifies. She assures that anyone can spin work experience to make themselves more attractive to hiring businesses. Wright suggests, “Find a part time job that gives you some kind of skills that will help you in your future.”

   Wright explains the ways in which she breaks down student interests and skills in order to find suitable internships. “I have an interest in sports. And then I’ll say, what types of positions would this person be? And, okay, what companies have these job titles in the Portland area?” Using the help of AI and her connections, she is able to pinpoint the best options, but not all majors have it so easy as the click or two of a computer mouse. “The really easy ones are the accounting students, because the accounting firms really want interns, and they’re willing to pay,” Wright notes. On the downside, some more niche majors may require a lot of digging to find internships. While it can be easy for someone looking for a job in social media, it can be much harder for someone in an English or art major. It’s all about the perspective of the job market.

   “You gotta be able to organize yourself and know what works for you,” she recommends for students trying to balance life and an internship. Some students choose to take on internships during the school year, but that can be tough when also aiming to do well in academics and maintaining a social life. Wright suggests that people with this sort of schedule should keep a regimented log of what they’re doing for the day. She even recommends going so far as to build periods of rest into their days. 

   Internships are a great way to build skills and show future employers and grad schools that you know what you’re doing in your field. To get extra help on finding internships suitable for your major and interests, Heidi Wright is a great place to start.