Looking for an Internship…Pretty Hopeful Still

Kristen wasn’t looking for easy when she signed up for a double major in Technical and Professional Communication and English Literature at Cedarville University.

Her advisor (STC-SWO Senior Member Sandra Harner) had told her, "This won’t be easy."  Summers mean dealing with summer classes and demanding internships. Every day of the school year involves juggling technical skills and textual analysis. Still it’s not too bad.

"I’ve benefited from both sides of the spectrum," she says, "with a broad scope that is detailed enough so that the skills I learn (will) help me eventually in the work force."

Now it’s 2009.

And that’s where things have gotten a little tougher than expected. She’s wrapping up her  junior year this year–in 2009. In the middle of the worst recession in 20 years, with record unemployment, epidemic layoffs, and anemic hiring.

Despite the economic doldrums, Kristen is looking for an internship that "focuses more on marketing, particularly one where I can be part of a team, discuss different ideas, and market a product," including the product documentation. 

Thanks to the rigorous double major, she has a lot to offer. "The English major challenges in different ways, she says. "It really strengthens my analytical, overall thinking, and logic skills. The TPC major focuses one developing skills in a lot of different areas that strengthen my already good writing skills. 

"We learn Web design and HTML coding, as well as visual communication–how to put documents together to be visually appealing. We also focus on the psychology of audience analysis and how to write documentation for users that is very user friendly."

Kristen’s Job Search Strategy

• She has been busy: applying online, e-mailing STC contacts, polishing her resume, adding pieces to her portfolio, checking websites for technical writing internships and applying online.

• And she expects to be successful.

"I’m pretty hopeful still. It is a bit disheartening when I get no response after applying for an internship that I’m perfect for. But I’m trusting that something will come up."

Kristen is a junior, majoring in Technical and Professional Communication and English at Cedarville University in Cedarville, OH. She might be the perfect candidate for your "summer intern" project.