By: Renee Radzom, DePaul University graduate, former University Internship Program (UIP) assistant
DePaul Diaries is a day-in-the-life blog series written by DePaul students. The series unveils DePaulians’ experiences as interns in their field of choice. Students share their honest thoughts about their experiences, what they learned as an intern and advice for students who are interested in the same field.
Emily Goedken, an Animation major, recently completed a graphic design internship at Geater Machining and Manufacturing, Co. (GMM). In her role as a graphic design intern, Emily had the opportunity to create print projects, video campaigns and work with Geater’s Student Outreach program. Although Emily started out as graphic design intern, her role quickly expanded; she was offered the role as a multimedia intern. Emily said some of her favorite projects were developing YouTube videos and designing T-shirts.
Emily had a lot to say about her experiences at GMM, but she said her favorite aspect was the “company atmosphere.”
“I grew up down the street from GMM and never really knew what they did,” Emily explained. “Now I know they made a part that went into space, [they make] the radio bodies that keep our military personnel safe…and, almost every new Boeing 747 contains a few GMM parts. It’s really neat to be involved with a company whose parts span not only the globe, but also space.”
During her internship, Emily said she learned how to analyze existing multimedia programs and write proposals on how to improve them. Ultimately, she had the opportunity to create materials for a company in an industry she previously had no knowledge of and was thankful for the chance to try new things!
Perseverance is Key:
Originally, Emily had applied to a different position at GMM, but was not accepted. However, she kept in contact with the company, and was later informed about the graphic design role. Emily didn’t let her past attempt deter her, and applied for the new position. Her initiative and continued interest in the company gave her an advantage when applying for the second position. If you’re really interested in working for a company, don’t give up even if you aren’t offered the first position you apply for. Remember, employers take into account your interest and continued efforts, and may just contact you when they see a new position open up.
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Coupled with her great experience at GMM, Emily took UIP 254: Corporate Social Responsibility. In the class, she “learned about how companies contribute to their communities and the world, for better or worse.” Emily would recommend this course to other students; it can open your eyes to how companies give back to their communities.
Lessons Learned:
Emily said her one piece of advice for future interns is to experience new avenues. This will help you decide what career path and industry to work in long-term.
It’s important to keep in mind that even manufacturing or finance companies, for example, have use for a graphic design intern or a social media manager. It’s great to branch out and see how different companies and industries operate!
Want to learn more about DePaul’s University Internship Program? Check it out, here, or send inquiries to UIP@depaul.edu. Need help finding an internship? Visit depaul.joinhandshake.com, or come into DePaul’s Career Center to meet with an advisor.