He also recommended that students find out who in a company does the interviewing and hiring and try to get to know that person. How much work you do to get an internship often depends on what you are looking for. Joining a professional group within the College of Communication and Information Sciences is also very helpful. In this type of group, students can find out which companies have a solid reputation, how to prepare for interviews, and other information that could be more relevant and current than professors can provide. Once students have learned about the companies they are interested in, the next step is getting hired.
Academic achievement is a factor most companies consider when hiring students for internships.
A straight A student with nothing but grades is not a good catch, and neither is a C student with lots of writing experience. Jim Oakley, placement director for the journalism department, agreed that GPA is not the only factor in getting an internship. It's about the writing. Mullins also suggested students look for part-time jobs with local radio and television stations or print publications. Mullins and Oakley agreed that anything that supplies a student with experience is good.