The USF Muma College of Business Dean’s Office is seeking interns for the spring 2020 semester. With registration around the corner, now is the time to apply as we prefer students earn course credit through the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. Marketing students enrolled in the Marketing Practicum course are also encouraged to apply.
We may be biased, but we think this is one of the best internship experiences for marketing, PR, journalism or advertising students.
- You will be part of a team but you will direct yourself when it comes to your parts of a project.
- You will get to put skills you have now into play while you learn new ones – such as how to send email blasts, how to pull and decipher metrics used to evaluate PR efforts, and how to implement special events.
- You will be able to contribute ideas while working on some established projects that prior interns have already launched and made successful (so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel).
ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIP AT USF MUMA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
The interns work in the USF Muma College of Business Dean’s Office, serving as a regular team member for the 3.5-person staff who handle the business school’s newsletter, special events, marketing, and public relations projects – along with a million other things.
Interns typically work a minimum of 10 hours per week (24 hours per week for those seeking three credit hours – which we prefer!). Work hours vary but are typically during the 8:45 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. time frame, though some projects can be done at the intern’s home, after hours, on the sofa, while watching American Horror Story.
Some examples of projects that the spring interns handle:
- Help plan an event featuring a nationally known speaker as we kick off the Thought Leaders Series. Tasks will range from clerical (we all stuff nametags) to bigger picture (how to promote the event on social media to day-of-event tasks (yes, interns will staff the check in table, help set up, and help clean up after the event). Interns may assist with the creation of supplemental materials (handouts, imagery for event signage, scripting). All will be done under the supervision of college staff.
- Create a promotional campaign for the 25 Under 25 program targeting current USF business majors – and implementing the campaign in order to get a minimum of 125 applications. This means interns will make presentations to fraternities and sororities on the weekend, visit larger classes to promote the program, etc. Interns will create flyers, post banners, send out email blasts – and do whatever other ideas are included on the intern-created promotional plan.
- Plan and implement the recognition event for the 25 Under 25 program, which is typically held at Busch Gardens. Interns help write the script and completely handle set up and most of the logistics for the special event.
- Once the 25 honorees for the 25 Under 25 campaign have been selected, write at least seven of the 25 bios for the students and schedule photo shoots, video shoots, etc. Interns help with a social media campaign to garner votes for the “most remarkable” honoree, aiming for 30,000+ pageviews for the profiles (the most important part of the project). Interns update display cases to showcase the newly selected honorees. Interns with videography skills may be invited to shoot the videos for the project.
- Reach out to prior honorees to update the “where are they now” pages and, using InDesign, produce the 25 Under 25 booklets. This means making a LOT of phone calls and sending out lots of emails.
- We have a video wall in the college now; interns with experience producing videos will have an opportunity to contribute content and help manage the wall. This would be a terrific opportunity for telecommunications students!
- There are several smaller special events that interns will help with: an open house for the Bulls Business Community to help recruit top performing high schoolers (interns help with the direct mail and email efforts, as well as the actual event). Other events might include the Intercollegiate Case Competition or graduation receptions.
- Write at least three stories for the college’s general newsletter and/or the website.
- Other duties as assigned, likely “one-off” projects where intern will handle HTML email blasts, design/distribute event invitations, help plan Executive Advisory Council meetings, or help proofread scripts and printed collaterals for lots of events.
Specific projects are assigned once the full internship team has been brought on board each semester.
WHAT YOU GET FROM THIS INTERNSHIP
This is an unpaid internship but that doesn’t mean you walk away empty-handed. We guarantee that our interns leave with valuable new skills that will help them land a job. We work (almost) as hard as the interns to make sure that you have portfolio items and metrics that you can use to showcase how your work impacted project results.
Because we are located in the Dean’s Office, students selected for this opportunity have many opportunities to build their network and to meet influential business and community leaders.
Other bonuses: attire is (most days) business casual (no jeans, no shorts). The office is near the Dean’s Office kitchen, where all the leftover food from lunch meetings seems to head – meaning interns frequently enjoy free lunch! Few internships will work around your class schedule more than this one will. You won’t have to worry about driving downtown or paying for parking because we are located on campus, in BSN 201.
WHO DO WE WANT AND HOW DO YOU APPLY?
We want interns who like being part of a team. We prefer interns who are juniors or seniors (but will consider sophomores who are go-getters!). We like interns who have a sense of humor (but know when it is time to be serious and just get the work done). Our favorite interns have been those who asked for direction on a project and then did it – coming back to ask questions or to clarify things but not waiting to be told exactly what to do and when.
We are not micromanagers. Our office is noisy and is often crowded. Our “to do” list never ends. Seriously. Ask any prior intern.
We share this because we believe that our interns should know a few things coming in:
- If you like a quiet, orderly workspace, this might not be the internship for you.
- If you always tackle Step A, then Step B, and would never-ever move on to Step C while you are waiting for elements needed to finish the first two parts, then this internship is probably not for you.
- If you want someone to tell you exactly what to do when you arrive in the morning and to have your tasks for the day all lined up before you arrive, then you probably would not enjoy this opportunity.
However, if you relish being able to take big chunks of a project and make it your own, then this this might be the perfect internship for you. If you like contributing ideas that might make a project more successful (or run more smoothly), then this could be a great fit. If you are comfortable multi-tasking but you know when you have to plow through dreaded chores because the deadline is looming, this could be the internship you dream about landing. If you like to write (and know that editors make your writing better) then this is the internship for you!
For the spring semester, we would ideally have 1-2 marketing students and 1-2 mass communications majors join us. It would be terrific to have at least one telecommunications student on the team, too. Last spring, we had seven interns. That was too many. We will select a maximum of five interns. This means you must set yourself apart from your peers. We are not as concerned with the amount of experience you have had thus far (an internship is to help you get experience, right?). We are more interested in your willingness to learn, your fit with the larger team, and your understanding of what we offer as well as what we need – and the fit between the two.
To apply: send a well-written cover letter and résumé to Lorie Briggs, lbriggs@usf.edu. Résumés submitted without cover letters are rarely considered.
Last spring, we had seven interns. That was too many. We will select a maximum of five interns. This means you must set yourself apart from your peers with an error-free cover letter and resume. We are not as concerned with the amount of experience you have had thus far (an internship is to help you get experience, right?). We are more interested in your willingness to learn, your ability to work independently AND your willingness to be part of the larger team project.
Applications will be accepted until December 2 for internships that begin in January. Applying early is to your advantage: candidates who apply early will be interviewed early (meaning the slots could be full if you wait until December to apply).
