Making the talent connection

Published 10:00 am Saturday, March 18, 2017

VALDOSTA – The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce is hosting more interns than it ever has before with a total of seven Valdosta State University students earning college credit through their work at the chamber.

Interns are given any number of tasks that their skills qualify them to perform. Interns do everything from writing the chamber’s weekly newsletter, keeping track of its social media accounts and assisting with the SEEDS Center and Government Affairs Council programs at the chamber.

“We take our responsibility as an intern worksite very seriously,” Chamber President Myrna Ballard said. “When we assign a task to an intern, we ask ourselves, ‘Will the intern be able to include this on his or her resume?’ If the answer is ‘no,’ then it’s not an appropriate task for an educational internship.”

The chamber filters its interns into several categories: communications, social media, public relations, government affairs and the SEEDS Business Resource Center. Interns are placed according to their skill set.

The Chamber of Commerce works primarily with the English, journalism, communications and business departments at VSU to find interns.

Chamber intern and senior English major Allison Gay said the opportunity has allowed her to step out of her comfort zone.

“The internship has allowed me to peek into the world of business instead of staying in the realm that most English majors are familiar with,” Gay said. “I think that the internship will strengthen the possibility for my application to be set apart because internships are not as common today as they have been in the past.”

Other interns also agreed internships are a defining factor when applying to future employers.

“I am currently looking for a job so having this internship on my resume will boost me even higher than before,” said Adrianna Small, a VSU communications major.

Internships such as the one offered by the Chamber of Commerce allow students and businesses to build connections and create a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial to both the student and the business.

“Internships are a true win-win for both VSU students and for those places of business in our community they serve,” said Richard Carvajal, VSU president. “I am grateful for the chamber’s long-standing commitment to VSU’s internship program and I have loved learning since my arrival about the difference our students have made supporting our business community at the chamber.” 

In this partnership, the student gains valuable experience, while the employer cultivates an opportunity to hire someone whom they know will fit their needs.

Many of the interns agreed the chamber is an excellent link to businesses in the area.

“Being associated with it shows that I am professional, reputable and want to advocate for local businesses,” said Lauren Pope, a public relations major at VSU. “The chamber helps so many businesses that one of them may even be willing to hire me one day.”

Internships within the community provide students with opportunities to test their skills in a professional setting while simultaneously networking themselves for future job opportunities.

According to VSU’s website, a recent study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that overall, employers extended job offers to close to 65 percent of their interns. Internship programs are vital not only to graduates seeking employment but also to businesses looking to hire competent and reliable employees.

Keeping talented students in local jobs allows the community of Valdosta to thrive and thus attracts other talented individuals to the area.

Student internships are essentially a three-way win with the student, the business and the community benefitting from the connection.

At VSU, the sociology, criminal justice, engineering, computer sciences, mass media and business administration departments all provide extensive internship programs for students.

Many professors and staff members at VSU have credited internships with the success of their graduates.

Krishnendu Roy, VSU interim department head of computer science, said through internship programs, his students are finding jobs at local businesses such as Azalea Health and Nexxtep.

“We encourage our students to seek internships,” Roy said. “We believe this makes our graduates more marketable and is one of the reasons why our graduates are finding employment in great companies both local (Azalea Health, Nexxtep) and national (Google, Netflix, LinkedIn).”

Engineering studies Professor Barry Hojjatie said internships provide real-life problem-solving opportunities for his students.

“Local businesses such as SAFT and PCA in Valdosta have accepted our students for internships,” Hojjatie said. “This is an excellent opportunity for the students to learn about applications of their course work in science, math and technology.” 

Carvajal said VSU is always looking for ways to expand opportunities for students.

“We are looking forward to increasing internship opportunities elsewhere, as we know that internships provide a great way for businesses to get to know potential future employees, while also providing students with real-world experiences that they simply cannot get otherwise,” he said.

Valdosta businesses offering internship positions are contributing to an important exchange of skills that takes place when a student is given the opportunity to experience hands-on learning.

Cole Parker, chief operations officer at In The Game Sports Network, said it is not your typical “go get coffee for the boss” type of experience.

“Interning here affords young, developing professionals the opportunity to have a tangible impact on a growing company,” Parker said. “We host a steady stream of interns here in our corporate office in order to provide them with on-site education, industry experience and the real-life platform to utilize creative ideation and implementation strategies.”

Parker also credited interns with providing new outlooks for the already existing employees.

“Our staff benefits from these relationships thanks to the fresh perspectives and determined efforts, benefiting the company as a whole as it continues to innovate,” Parker said.

Businesses such as In The Game are setting themselves and their community up for success by taking advantage of local talent.

Internships offer an invaluable talent connection for all involved, providing a steady two-way stream of experience and fresh perspective that ultimately allows the community to prosper as well.

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1256.