UNIVERSITY

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testimonial
viu.edu
Internships: the Ultimate Résumé Builders
“ ”
My education was a big investment
not only for me but for my whole
family, and it was worth it! My goal
was to earn a great education at
VIU, gain experience, and expand
our family company globally.
By Kathleen Covington
Employers are looking for people who have diverse backgrounds
and experience and who are familiar with the workplace setting.
This means gaining practical experience through internships,
building your résumé while you are in school, and developing
skills which will help set you apart from the competition. A 2012
National Association of Colleges and Employers study found that
companies are hiring close to 60% of the interns they work with and
that this percentage is increasing year by year. Internships really are
the new interview! At VIU, our goal is to provide students with an
excellent, affordable education that is also practical. We want our
students to be able to take the skills they learn in class and smoothly
transition into the workplace, which is why we encourage our students
to start building a professional network and we work hard
to place them in companies as interns. In the past, VIU students
have worked with companies in the fields of information technology,
business, health care management, and education, and we are
continually expanding our contact base to help our students search
for and obtain employment. If you are looking for an internship,
check out our database of employers who have worked with VIU
students in the past. Sometimes it takes a little bit of footwork, but
it will pay off in the end.
INTERN SPOTLIGHT: Advice to future students
Olga Avraamova
(Malvin & Riggins)
Most of us have
no idea how people
behave in the
American workplace
among their
colleagues. Being
an intern gives you
an opportunity not
only to get work
experience in your
field and develop
helpful business connections, but also to
see the business culture inside an American
company. My internship really helped
me understand the US tax system as well
as the difference between Ukrainian and
American business cultures.
Stephane Victorino
(America's Future
Workforce AFW, Smart
People Podcast)
America’s Future
Workforce in DC
offers fellowship
programs
throughout the
year and place
interns with host
companies. I
worked for a podcast
website identifying
professionals
willing to offer
their expertise and conducted marketing.
During my time there, I was able
to do a lot of networking with people
including writers, CEOs and journalists,
and I am still in touch with many of them.
Rose Obi
(VIPI Medical Center)
During my internship,
I was able to
learn about managing
the front
desk, tracking patient
information
and treatments,
follow-ups. Both
my internship experience
and my
VIU education
helped me to develop good interpersonal
skills. I would recommend students
complete an internship! It is very important
for students because they enable
them to showcase their potential and
talent.
Sanda Rahanta comes from the highlands near Antananarivo, the
capital of the beautiful island nation of Madagascar, located southeast
of South Africa. Even though it was hard for her to be away from
her big, close-knit family, her friends, and her country’s events, VIU
helped her feel at home in America. Her parents taught her to work
hard to achieve her dreams of starting her own company.
40 University Magazine, VIU Summer 2014
Summer 2014 University Magazine, VIU 41
Baobab Alley, Madagascar pink sunset