At the start of my junior year in October, I was frantically seeking out internship opportunities in the field of public relations, advertising, and marketing. Was I stressed? Absolutely. Not only is an internship required for my major, but I knew if I wanted to find a job upon graduation, I needed experience. Initially, I thought finding an internship would be relatively easy, but that was far from the truth. Amid a global pandemic, many businesses were reducing their number of interns or cutting their program altogether, there was not an abundance of opportunities. The limited number of internships worried me. I thought about the chance of not finding an internship the summer before my senior year and having to add on another semester of school to find an internship. I also worried about gaining experience before I graduate college.  

But that uneasy feeling drove me to find an internship, I applied to any and all openings that came through Indeed, Linkedin, and other job boards. After searching for months, I finally found the perfect opportunity at Hello West Michigan. This non-profit organization offers support to job seekers and their families as they explore possible relocation to West Michigan or after a recent relocation. The open position was a Web & Marketing Internship beginning in early January. After some research, I applied and went through the interview process. I was offered the role just a couple of weeks after applying. This opportunity removed a huge weight off my shoulders. I felt relieved knowing that I finally secured an internship.  

Today, I’ve been with the organization for just over four months, and I couldn’t have asked for a better position. In my internship, I have my projects, with deadlines, and expectations. While I strive for perfection in my work, we all make mistakes. My team here at HWM is supportive of my work and they encourage me day in and day out. I truly feel like a member of the team here.  

My daily tasks consist of developing and curating engaging content for social media platforms, updating the website, talking with candidates, building relationships with our member companies, and writing blogs (such as the one you’re reading now).  

My internship here at HWM sadly ends in late August, but I’m confident I will leave this organization with experience, knowledge, and life-long relationships.