COD Students Gain Invaluable Real-World Experience During Internships

College of DuPage students are gaining invaluable hands-on and real-world experiences during internships with area corporations.

According to Career Services Manager Sara Kirby, internships offer several important benefits to students.

"Internships give students crucial hands-on experience that they can't get from the classroom, an opportunity for excellent networking and employment opportunities and in some cases, the opportunity to earn academic credits and satisfy program requirements," Kirby said. "In addition, students can test the waters of a career path before they've earned their degree when it may be too late to turn back."

Elk Grove Village resident Dan Micholson spent his summer getting hands-on experience working literally in the field. As a groundskeeper for the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field, Micholson's duty was to maintain the playing area of the field requiring a variety of tasks such as trimming the ivy, watering the field or grass, painting foul lines, replacing the field's surface, rolling out the tarp during rain or repairing the pitcher's mound.

Micholson said that he became interested in horticulture while working as a horticultural laborer for his local park district. A student at Harper College in Palatine at the time, he said he was impelled to look for other schools because Harper didn't offer a degree program in horticulture.

"While doing research of colleges in the area, I came across College of DuPage," he said. "My research as well as the reviews of the College's education showed me that the horticulture program at COD was the right choice for me."

Planning to complete his associate's in horticulture at COD by the end of 2015, Micholson said the knowledge he gained in the classroom prepared him well for his duties as a groundskeeper at Wrigley Field.

"The things I learned in my classes helped me to understand what I was doing and communicate knowledgeably with others," Micholson said. "For example, when dealing with trouble areas around the field I could tell what the problem is and what could be done to fix it."

Micholson said that the hands-on work really helped him to clarify and reinforce what he has learned in the classroom. He said he would recommend internships to other students because it can bring a new perspective - a perspective that may lead them into new directions.

"You never know what a career involves until you actually experience it first-hand," he said. "This internship has made me rethink what I want to pursue. Initially, I was aiming for arboriculture work but after my experience at Wrigley, I am considering taking more turf management classes."

Born and raised in Bilbao, Basque Country in Spain, Beatriz Gonzalez is earning an Associate's in Marketing at College of DuPage. Currently a resident of Naperville, she served an internship this last summer as a member of the Social Strategy and Activation team at Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

"I love strategic marketing," she said. "I'm passionate about discovering new trends, implementing new strategies and discovering what people need and want. My internship at Hyatt has given me the opportunity to mix my two passions; travelling and marketing."

Gonzalez, who will be completing her associate's degree program this fall 2015, earned her bachelor's degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of the Basque Country. She said that her studies at College of DuPage have served her well to prepare her for the internship at Hyatt and her career.

"All my fellow team members have gone to four-year institutions since enrolling in college and I don't see any difference between my knowledge and theirs," she said.

She said that while she researched and gained the internship on her own, the Career Services office at College of DuPage played an important role in the post-interview process, guiding her on appropriate email correspondence and helping with paperwork once she got the position.

Gonzalez said that during her internship, she learned the importance of networking and the competitive nature of the corporate world. She also said that internships benefit participants in a variety of ways.

"Internships can help you to familiarize yourself with the corporate world, help you to network and figure out what you like and what path to focus on," she said. "I would definitely recommend serving internships to other students because it helps to open your mind, expand your comfort zone and get invaluable hands-on experience."

Through the College of DuPage Career Services Center, students interested in pursuing internships can gain a broad range of assistance in researching, finding and securing internships across broad range of job roles and industries. Students who need assistance with the internship process are encouraged to attend an Internship Search and Success Seminar or contact Career Services to set up a one-on-one appointment.

Click here for more information about internship resources available at College of DuPage.