Pearce Center for Professional Communication
Clemson University
Questioning your now but knowing your end goal Everyone experiences moments of doubt about whether or not they have chosen the right college major and life path. College opens doors
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We asked Pearce Center interns how they deal with the inevitable stress of transitioning back into the school year. They shared with us their best practices for ensuring a strong semester, starting with establishing healthy habits early on. … Continue readingThe Pearce Center’s Tips on Managing the Back-to-School Transition
I originally never paid attention to unpaid student jobs on campus because I did not think that I would be able to manage a job on top of a full class schedule. However, after reading through the two mass emails I received about The Pearce Center and what all their projects included in relation to my major, Graphic Communications, I wanted to know more information about this internship. … Continue readingWhen Life Gives You Opportunities, Create Experiences
Every college student is different, but for most of us, our reason for attending school is to eventually land our dream job. Freshman, you may be thinking that this blog post doesn’t apply to you—it does! There’s no time like the present to grow your network and prepare for professional life beyond college. For upperclassmen, now is the time to grow your network and create lasting professional relationships. … Continue readingHow to Network Effectively
We’re almost one month into the new year, and that means it’s reached the point of January when New Year’s resolutions are slowly abandoned and forgotten. Rather than letting your good intentions and healthy habits slip away, take a moment to recommit to them. Personally, my resolutions this year include making weekly trips to the recycling center, the usual “drink more water,” and most importantly, to read 19 books in 2019. I believe that setting (and sticking to) a reading goal should be one of your resolutions this year, too. … Continue readingRead More Books in 2019: Why Reading for Fun Should Be Your Top Resolution
If there is one thing my internship taught me this past summer, it is the value of forming connections and networks. In my time at Bank of America, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Clemson’s Board of Trustees member and Bank of America South Carolina Market President, Kim Wilkerson and on a day to day basis, work alongside Clemson graduates who are high up in their respective lines of business at the bank. In my interactions with these individuals, I realized the importance of growing your network while a Clemson student, utilizing that network post graduation and giving back to the institution that has given so much to us all. … Continue readingInterning in Corporate America
Last spring, I took a class at Clemson that changed my life. I think it could change everyone’s. It was a seminar on leadership that proved to each student that all of the theories and formulas they previously were taught on how to develop one’s self as a leader – through both school and personal experience – were wrong. I think an activity we did as a class in February can best sum up what I took away from the course. … Continue readingChanging the Way We Think About Leadership
In today’s competitive job market, employers are searching for the best of the best. Although at the beginning of freshman year many are simply thinking about surviving their first year of college, graduation and entrance into your next phase of life comes faster than you realize. Internships during your college years are the most remarkable experiences that will best prepare you for the transition into a professional career. Employers seek solid and well-rounded resumes, and the professional experience of an internship greatly enhances your appeal to employers. The array of benefits from an internship are perennial, however there are a few very significant reasons I believe that everyone should participate in an internship program during their freshman year of college or the summer after. … Continue readingThe Benefits of an Internship Early in College
We are SO excited for all the new talent we have welcomed to the Pearce Center this semester and for our returning interns! Driven and determined Pearce Center Interns are always busy pursuing their passions in the summertime. If you want to get to know a little more about our Fall 2018 interns and what we were up to this summer, keep reading! … Continue readingWhat Were the Pearce Center Interns Up to This Summer?
As I am finishing up my college career here at Clemson University, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my experiences over the past four years. When I came to Clemson as a Communication major, I never imagined myself having the opportunity to regularly work with children, being able to do a webcast for an experiential service learning website, and even creating promotional materials for real-life events and businesses. With just my courses at Clemson, I would not have had most of these opportunities. However, by obtaining an internship at the Pearce Center for Professional Communication, I’ve been able to gain many valuable experiences that I would not have been able to have otherwise. I am currently finishing up my fourth semester at the Pearce Center and have gained skills I will use when I graduate, and made so many memories that have become a key part of my time at Clemson.
These days, it seems like having an internship is a vital part of a college career. I can confidently say almost all of my friends and peers at Clemson have had an internship at one point or another, whether it was paid, unpaid, or for course credit. Whether your internship is paid or unpaid, the knowledge gained is not only incredibly valuable, but serves as an investment in your future.
Like I previously stated, an internship allows you to gain real world experience and the opportunity to work in a more professional environment. In a college class, if you don’t do an assignment you’re just hurting your own personal grade in the course. But when you do not do an assignment for a business or organization you are partnering with, you are letting them down and also diminishing your own personal dependability You’re held more closely accountable for these assignments and have a larger repercussion if you do not complete them. This can teach you a sense of responsibility that you will use throughout any career you have later in life. You also able to gain industry knowledge that you can help you determine if that is definitely the field you want to be in.
Another benefit of an internship is the connections you are able to establish. Building a network is so important to do during college because when it comes to getting a post-grad job, it has become more of a “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” situation. An internship can connect you to so many new people, and more often than not, they will be already established in the field you are interested in. Having some sort of previous relationship with someone at an organization you are looking at jobs for can give you that “in” that you need to get an initial interview or simply get your foot in the door. I’ve learned it is super helpful to start building your network during college because you never know when you will need to reach out to someone for a potential favor.. You also can gain contacts that can serve as a professional reference for job applications, rather than just a family-friend.
The main benefit I noticed from having an internship in college was my overall increase in confidence. Once I saw how much I could contribute to a project, I realized my importance to the the team of interns. I was lucky enough to be in a collaborative environment where we pushed each other to be creative and come up with innovative solutions for our clients. I also gained experience which made me more confident in my future abilities. Having the internship on my resume also allowed me to build a portfolio, showcase my skills, and have an organization to back up those skills. When searching and applying for jobs, I was confident in myself because I knew I had the experience they were looking for in a candidate. The experience you can gain at an internship is unlike any you can gain in a classroom setting. Applying the knowledge learned in a classroom can give you more perspective on what working in a field is really like, and can cultivate and enhance your skills for when you do begin a career. Overall, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to have had an internship while in college, and I think if it is an option for any student, then they should absolutely take advantage of that experience.
… Continue readingHow Having an Internship Helped Me in College