So let’s have a little chat about internships.

You know you have to do one to graduate as a JRN major. But there’s a lot more art to the game than just getting one and checking it off the graduation to-do list.

At best, the right internship can set you up for a job when you graduate, give you connections and skills that make your resume matter, and put your sports journalism career at motion.

At worst, it can do nothing for you, other than to tell MSU that you did it.

Some of the most attractive JRN candidates – aka the ones getting multiple job offers – have done 2, even 3 internships.

So how do you land an awesome internship?

A few tips:

1. Don’t wait until the last minute to do one. Your options will be very limited if you wait to the last second of your last semester. Deadlines for the best internships for Summer 2017 are already rolling in the fall. If you wait until January…the good stuff may be gone.
2. Think. Where do you want to work in the future, what kind of career do you envision? Planning out where you want to intern can be the door that opens to a company. Look at the internships board on this site! Be part of the closed Facebook internship group (ask Professor Haimerl for admission).
3. Now think big. MSU Sports JRN students are interning at ESPN, U.S. Olympic Committee, PRO Sports Communications, SEC Network, BTN. If you want to intern at the New York Times, ESPN, Major League Baseball (as examples), there is no reason why you shouldn’t go for it. Don’t limit your options because of geography or the “bigness” of the organizations. Apply. Get in the game.
4. Get organized. Is your resume on point? Are you picking the right clips/demo reel/podcast to best show your work? How’s your cover letter? How’s your interview game. We can help with all of it. Contact Prof. Amy Haimerl (Haimerla@msu.edu)
5. Be brave. Networking, having the courage to reach out and ask for help, and plain determination goes a long way. You can do it!