Intern Testimonials

"This summer I was chosen to participate with 14 other students in the Albany-Chamber of Commerce Internship program. During this 10 week internship program, I was selected to work with the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District in Downtown Albany. The Downtown Albany BID is a not-for-profit organization that "restores, promotes, and maintains viability in downtown Albany and improve the quality of life for those who work, live, and visit the Capital City. "During this internship, I was exposed to some incredible experiences. I attended press conferences, grand openings, and committee meetings. Personally, I was responsible for creating and delivering a survey during our first music series. This gave me the opportunity to communicate with the public as well as the entertainers. I also worked with the BID property database. I was given the responsibility to clean up this database and design a more efficient updating system. Overall, I found this experience to be very rewarding. I learned the importance of running a non-profit organization and how social responsibility played a major role in the management of the organization."

Nicole Hanks, alumnae, Business Major On her experience as a panelist for the Internship Workshop Sponsored by the Allies Center for the Study of Social Responsibility, October 9, 2003... "One of the best ways to learn is to teach. This is exactly what the Internship Panel that I served on allowed me to do. It was an incredible experience! I was able to teach underclass-women about the value of an internship. I watched them shift from not interested to interested in a matter of minutes. They were suddenly curious and motivated to learn and act. I was able to share my experience, and in return, create an experience for others. What more could you ask for!"

Sarah Galimore, Student Internship Panel, October 9, 2003 I can't begin to describe the value of my internship experiences. Its one thing to do well in class but being able to apply the concepts and skills we are learning into a professional environment requires an entirely different level of understanding. That is what my internships did for me. I first interned with the New York State Assembly. I was treated as a professional and given meaningful tasks to complete. From attending press conferences, preparing the Assemblywoman for legislative sessions, to drafting letters and researching for speeches, I was an integral part of a team effort to ensure that the office was effective and efficient. That experience added core competitive competencies to my educational background and opened doors of opportunity for me. I was able to land a second internship in which I coordinated a market research endeavor. Not only did I design the research methods, I collected and analyzed the data and presented my information to the Board of Directors of the Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce. In both experiences I established valuable networks within the community. From governmental officials, to executives of leading organizations, I now have supportive relationships throughout the community. As I am poised to graduate, I am not concerned about for whom or where I will work. Employers are asking me to work for them because I have the professional and educational experience they need. That's the value of professional development--the value of internships.

Chrystean Keil, alumnae, Business Major

On her experience as an intern… "In May of 2003 I began an internship with Home Funding Finders. I was under the direct supervision of a mortgage originator several days a week who taught me many aspects of the trade. During the course of the summer I was able to move from her direct supervision to working with clients on my own. This internship has provided me with a few job opportunities after graduation. I still have quite a bit to learn, but I believe I am in the right position to move forward."