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Urban Dictionary defines being ghosted as “To be ignored, or not having anyone respond to your opinion and disregarding your remark, leaving you feeling insignificant.”

After weeks of searching for the perfect summer internship, I thought I had finally found THE ONE. The internship embodied everything I could ever want. I applied and got through to the interview stage. The interview was fantastic. I couldn’t have imagined it going any better. Like all interviews, I sent a follow-up email thanking my interviewer for their time and expressing my excitement for the position. However, my email never received a response.

No big deal, right?  Things happen, people get busy, I get it. However, the timeline that I was given came and went, with no responses. By this time, I was a little worried, so I sent another follow-up email. Still, no response. By this point I realized I most likely didn’t …

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My journey with Indiana INTERNnet (IIN) started as a junior at IUPUI, searching for an internship. I was struggling to find an opportunity in the non-profit world that would allow me to remain financially stable. While EARN Indiana is a wonderful program to help students in similar situations, I was ineligible to receive the funds. It was fate that I found IndianaINTERN.net and its internship posting on the day of the application deadline. I immediately applied and came in for interview soon after.   

This was my first and only college internship. While I loved my time with IIN, if I could go back, I would have definitely participated in more internships. It might sound cliché but finding a job after graduation is challenging. Take my advice and try to gain as much experience as possible to increase your chances.  

During my internship, I wrote blog posts, managed social media and assisted with events. Unfortunately, my position came to an …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th Annual IMPACT Awards Luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nominees’ successes.

These are their stories

Shoshannah Bontrager received her Bachelor of Science in Business, with a concentration in Accounting and Finance from Grace College. Last year, she completed an internship with Poly-Wood, LLC.

Indiana INTERNnet: What did you like most about your internship with Poly-Wood, LLC?

Shoshannah Bontrager: I loved how involved upper management was with everyone. There are over 300 employees, but the CFO worked one-on-one with me, an intern, to teach me about how to create financial statements, GAAP rules, etc. The company also works hard to make the environment one where people love going to work, and they succeed!

IIN: What was the most challenging project you were assigned?

SB: While I …

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It’s the middle of the semester, and you know what that means: MIDTERMS! In my college experience, I haven’t had a lot of midterms. Most of my classes focused on exams periodically throughout the semester. However, when I do have midterms I always try to make sure that I am well prepared so I can rock my tests. Here are a few tips on how to manage your internships during midterm week.

Plan your study schedule.

Between working, school, and now studying for midterms, your schedule can become pretty hectic. Make sure that you work in time for studying somewhere in your calendar, whether that means blocking out an hour or two, or saying no to going out with your friends. Better yet, plan some time to study with your friends. Being in a group and studying can help you focus and keep you accountable to actually studying.

Don’t put …

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Logan is a senior in the Lacy School of Business at Butler University studying marketing and finance. His passion for people and desire to apply his business and leadership skills led him to FirstPerson where he interns on the Sales & Advisory team. He is responsible for assisting advisors, growing the book of business and exploring creative benefit approaches in the marketplace. 

An internship is a two-way street. For the intern, it’s an opportunity to “try things on” and apply knowledge gained from hours of sitting in class each week. For the employer, it leads to enhanced perspectives, increased workflow capability, and a pipeline for top talent.

Having been an intern at organizations both small and large, operating in multiple locations, and in various industries, I’ve realized there is no one-size-fits-all approach. In all internship programs, however, it is important for organizations to incorporate their beliefs and values to …

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Athletes endure years of training to prepare for the Olympics; students do the same for their future careers. Through classes, homework and internships, you are improving your skills to advance in your industry. Here are some tips to help you score a gold medal in your career.

Pick the right sport.

If you’re afraid of heights, ski jumping probably isn’t the sport for you. There will be majors/fields that won’t be a good fit as well. You should determine what you like/dislike, the skills you have and research your options.

From my experience, I wanted to work in the healthcare industry, however science and math were not my strongest subjects in grade school. Once I started the coursework for radiology technology, I realized I needed to pursue a different major that better suited my skills. Writing was always my favorite subject; therefore I switched …

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When an employer asks for a phone interview you may have one of two reactions:

or

Either way, here are a few tips that will help you ace that phone interview.

Pick a time that works best for you.

Picking a convenient time can make or break an interview. Block out at least an hour for the interview and ensure you have plenty of time before the call to prepare. There’s nothing worse than going into an interview and feeling rushed.

Take the call in a quiet place.

Taking a call in a quiet place will allow your interviewer to hear you clearly. Background noise can be a distraction to both you and your interviewer. The point of a phone interview is to screen potential candidates, so it’s important your interviewer hears all of the qualifications you have for the …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th Annual IMPACT Awards Luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nominees’ successes.

These are their stories.

Marissa Smith is a junior at IUPUI studying journalism and public relations. She serves as the communications intern for local nonprofit Indiana Futsal, writing articles, managing social media content, and assisting with the coordination of the organization’s many events.

How the IMPACT Awards Indirectly ‘Impacted’ Me
In addition to having started my campus job just over a year ago, it has also been roughly a year since I began my internship with locally-based nonprofit Indiana Futsal! What originally began as temporary internship for a sport I’d never heard of before (Oops) has flourished into a yearlong position I’m highly grateful for.

Today I attended the Indiana INTERNnet IMPACT Awards …

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With the focus in colleges and high schools becoming more internship-based, it’s important to recognize the hard work and dedication that goes into being an intern and having a successful internship program.  On Wednesday, those efforts were recognized at the 12th annual IMPACT Awards Luncheon.

Indiana INTERNnet hosts this event to recognize interns, career development professionals and employers for having an impact in the internship arena. The theme for this year’s event was “Wild About Workforce Development.”

The luncheon featured Chris Heeter, founder of The Wild Institute located in Minnesota, as the keynote speaker. Heeter detailed how important it is for employees, employers, and interns to be “wild” in the workplace and make an impact in their positions.

“Being wild is having the courage to bring the gift of all of who you are to all of what you do,” Heeter said.

Heeter also explained how important it is for …

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One thing that I always struggle with the day of an interview is the age-old question: “What am I going to wear?” I’ve walked into rooms where I’ve been the best dressed and the worst dressed, although I prefer the latter.  Attire is a problem that affects every professional, even people who have been in the workforce for years.  Here are some important things to remember when choosing that perfect interview outfit.

Make an impression.  Your attire shapes the first impression you give to potential employers, so it’s extremely important to make the right impression. I always like to make sure that my outfit accurately represents the professional I am. I want my outfit to say “I’m competent, qualified, and can make a great impact on your company.” The way you dress should represent the way that you feel about your abilities as a professional. Showing up in jeans and …

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Between taking 18 credit hours, having two in-person internships, and keeping a healthy social life, college has seemed like a whirlwind. However, to further my professional development and career goals, I wanted to have as many experiences as I possibly could. So, I logged into IndianaINTERN.net and found an amazing virtual internship that I’m still active with today!

My virtual internship is with Indy Displays, an ecommerce display booth company, as the digital content strategist intern. In this role, I’m doing some graphic design work, as well as writing content for their blog to promote their company. This position is wonderful for me, because it allows me to earn extra money while growing my skills in a way that works well for my busy schedule.

The best part of this internship is that I’m able to work on skills that I would otherwise be lacking. For example, I had planned …

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Katie Pfeiffer is studying Electrical Engineering at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and is expecting to graduate in May 2020. She is an intern for the Spectrum Technology Advanced Research Branch at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division. Her responsibilities include researching, creating diagrams and user manuals, applying technical skills and coding.

My internship at Crane was one of the best experiences in my entire life – not kidding! Crane is located in the middle of nowhere, but never have I met a community of people that are so kind and hospitable. This creates a positive and inviting work environment that allowed me to be excited to go into work every single day. The people in my group were also willing to challenge me and push me to learn more, work harder, and grow to become a better engineering student.

I worked on a multitude of projects while I …

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I’m thrilled to be joining Indiana INTERNnet this semester as the communication and special events intern! I am currently a junior at IUPUI studying journalism with a concentration in public relations. I’m originally from #TheRegion (Northwest Indiana), but have since transplanted to Indy and instantly fell in love. One of the best things about going to school at an urban campus is that there are SO many opportunities for professional development and growth.  Not only do I get to learn about interesting topics in school, but I also get to directly use those skills in my work environment.

Interning has been the theme of my college career. In the past three years, I’ve held seven positions with experiences ranging from IT/technology support, graphic design and even event planning. Through these internships, I’ve learned what I love, what I don’t love, and the ins and outs of so many different areas. …

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Kenyari Keith transitioned from graduate assistant to project coordinator for the business education and events department and the Wellness Council of Indiana at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of IUPUI, receiving her master of science in event tourism in December 2017 and bachelor of arts in journalism with a concentration in public relations in May 2016.

Indiana INTERNnet: How did your graduate assistant experience prepare you for your current role?

Kenyari Keith: As a graduate assistant (GA), I developed several skills that I now use in my full-time role. As a GA, I assisted with the planning and execution of both on-site and off-site conferences and special events. I assisted our business education and events team in several areas such as speaker coordination, marketing, contracting and budgeting. I worked as the lead planner for Best Places to Work 2017 and the 2017 Environmental Conference. …

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Can you believe that summer internships are already being posted on IndianaINTERN.net? Some employers may be thinking this is way too soon, but it’s the perfect time. Unlike recruiting full-time employees, interns have multiple things to consider like short-term housing, class schedules and receiving college credit before being able to accept. That’s why it’s so important for employers to give themselves plenty of time to recruit internship candidates.

According to Indiana INTERNnet’s Employer Guide, students often apply to summer internships in February or March. However, highly competitive programs start recruiting in the fall prior.

During the summer, some students may be interested in interning at a company that’s far from their hometown. Since this will require them to set aside time to find short-term housing, they start searching for internships early. That way, if they receive an internship offer, they’ll have ample time to figure out their housing situation.

This …

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