Learn More & Earn More - Marketing Department Internship Event
On Tuesday, October 16th immediately prior to the University of Akron – University of Michigan soccer match, the University of Akron Marketing Department and Marketing Executive Advisory Board will hold its third annual “Learn More & Earn More” Internship Event. The event promotes the value of internships to students and employers in a casual meet and greet setting. Last year, it attracted approximately 75 students as well as representatives of prominent area employers including the J.M. Smucker Co., MTD Products, Oracle Corporation, Veyance Technologies, Quez Media Marketing, Tremco and Premiere Global Sports. Employers without internship programs are encouraged to attend to learn about the different type of programs and projects marketing interns can perform. Fifty reserved seat tickets are available for employer representatives on a first come first serve basis.
Internships afford employers a low cost and low risk means to evaluate talent. The 15 week internship period allows firms to evaluate the skills and fit of prospective employees much more thoroughly than traditional interview-based hiring practices. As noted by Nichole Grambo, the Internship Coordinator at the University Of Akron College Of Business Administration, “Internships also provide other benefits such as initiating and completing projects without over-burdening full time employees and giving junior level employees management experience through supervising intern programs.” Also, research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers reports significantly higher one and five year retention rates for employees hired out of internship programs.
A recent Associated Press study reports that a staggering 54% of bachelor’s degree holders under the age of 25 are jobless or underemployed. Internships are perhaps the best single measure college students can take to mitigate this problem. According to the aforementioned NACE study, 67% of employers offered their interns full-time positions. The overall conversion rate of interns into full time employees was 58%. These percentages as well as the number of internship programs are increasing. According to William Baker, Chair of the Marketing Department at the University of Akron, “It is risky, particularly in today’s job environment, for any undergraduate not to take advantage of the many internship opportunities at top firms in the Akron-Cleveland area”
The event is scheduled for 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm just outside the entrance to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on the University of Akron campus. Look for the large white tent. Please contact Nichole Grambo at 330-972-6445 or njg9@uakron.edu for more information.