Internship. Hearing the word might send many into fight or flight. In an increasingly competitive job market, it can feel like that first internship offer will never come.
To secure our jobs post-grad, internships, for a lot of us, are crucial. Especially for those of us working in the media world, getting internship experience is what they all say we need to succeed.
But an internship, of course, isn’t everything. And it doesn’t make sense to expect one to pop up out of the blue after not having any other experience in the field.
This is not to say I’m preaching to anyone here, though. When I was a freshman, some would say I was a bit aimless. I knew that my public relations major was the right fit for me, but I wasn’t doing anything with it to demonstrate my interest.
Eventually, something clicked in me. I reached out to The Setonian’s then-head news editor. She was so encouraging of my work, and soon enough, she had graduated and I was taking over her role. That was the beginning of the start.
We seniors, are entering into one of the worst job markets for entry-level employees in years. This can feel extremely disheartening. But because I had internships, I felt so much more comfortable entering into that phase of my life than I would have without them.
Those internships, however, were rooted in the experiential learning I took part in on campus and through Seton Hall. I wrote high-profile news stories as part of The Setonian’s editorial board. I ran the Litore Agency, a student-run PR firm here on campus. Last year, when my professor, Jen Maxfield, asked for volunteers to work on a segment with FOX Sports University, I jumped on it. That experience led me to my future internships with ESPN and NBC Sports during the Olympics—because I said “yes” to the experiences right here on campus that built up my resume.
Now, as I’m about to graduate, I was able to avoid the uncertainty that can come with post-grad life by securing a job in television production. I feel so privileged to be in this position, but it truly wouldn’t have been possible without the Center for Sports Media, The Setonian, and all the other great organizations and experiences CHDCM offers.
That campus involvement was key to placing me in the position I’m in today. But another thing that got me to this point was the excellent network at SHU. Last year, at The Setonian’s Pirate Press Club event, I walked up to our guest speaker, an alum, and engaged in a conversation that would end up leading me to the job I just accepted. That one conversation changed my life. So did reaching out to people like Bob Ley, Anna Negrón, and Olivia Mulvihill (not to mention my incredible CHAMP mentor, Jen Lawson), who were more than willing to give me the push and guidance I needed to succeed in this crazy, wonderful industry.
So, my parting words for my fellow seniors, and any other underclassmen reading this: Nothing will be handed to you during your time here. You need to seek it out and show that you have what it takes. Once you do, the world is in the palm of your hand.
Jacqueline Litowinsky is a copy editor and the assistant editor for The Setonian’s Social Media. She can be reached at jacqueline.litowinsky@student.shu.edu.
