Interns want more than cash

“Lifeguarding was fine, but was it really preparing me for a telecommunications career? The answer was pretty clear,” said Deeds, who worked the past two summers as a lifeguard.

This summer, the UNK senior telecommunications major from Gering gave up sitting poolside to work as a computer programmer, technician and installer for Kearney company IntelliCom.

“I wanted to get more accomplished and actually take something away from my job that is going to benefit me after I graduate,” Deeds said. “Exposing myself to things associated with my career choice might be what separates me from another candidate after the same job.”

Deeds is like many college undergraduates who are ignoring traditional student jobs at restaurants, grocery stores and other retailers in favor of positions that offer valuable work experience directly related to their academic fields of study.

“Part-time jobs for students today are about more than just earning some extra money,” said Stan Zimbelman of Nebraska Workforce Development. “They also look at how the job will play into their future. They ask what it will look like on their resumes.”

Students who take internships or work in their career fields have a head start in landing a job, said Brenda Jochum, internship director for UNK’s industrial technology department, which includes telecommunications, industrial distribution and construction management majors.

“Students are very in tune with what they want to get from their part-time jobs,” she said. “They place great value on finding work that will train them for positions after graduation. They realize it helps their professional development and makes them more marketable.”

Deeds has worked at IntelliCom on and off the past two years. He worked 25-hour weeks during the school year and between 40 and 50 hours a week this summer. He says the mentoring and experience at IntelliCom has reinforced his career goal of someday working as a network engineer and IT analyst.

“I’ve really gained a lot of self-confidence because they’ve let me go out and work alone with CEOs of companies and other customers,” Deeds said of IntelliCom’s staff. “This job will open doors for me. It’s giving me opportunities that I could never get bartending or flipping burgers.”

The pool of students holding traditional college jobs also is shrinking because many are finding work that is more lucrative, Jochum and Deeds agreed. Some students work for computer firms, law offices and marketing companies. Others hold down jobs with Fortune 500 companies, manufacturers, architectural firms, pharmacies, medical practices and other firms.

Jochum said the 89 interns she worked with this summer made an average of about $13 an hour. Some earned as much as $22 per hour. “Yes, that is a driving factor. The wages can be very attractive,” she said.

Said Deeds: “The main goal is to gain work experience, but it’s nice to take home a check that puts money in your pocket. I don’t know any student who would go work for $6 or $7 an hour if there’s a job out there for them that pays $10 or $12 an hour.”

While students are laying the groundwork for their careers, many employers are finding it harder to fill jobs once taken by students. Restaurants and retailers have been hit especially hard, said Zimbelman.

“All you have to do is look at all the restaurant marquees around town. They all say ‘help wanted,’” he said.

Wages aside, Zimbelman said students tend to choose computer-related jobs that include more technology over service-oriented positions and those that require manual labor.

“Society doesn’t place as much value today on service-oriented jobs or those that require physical labor,” he said.

In turn, many students don’t realize the opportunities available in those sectors, Zimbelman said. “That’s too bad, because there are a lot of jobs like that with fabulous career potential. Students just don’t find them appealing.”

e-mail to:
todd.gottula@kearneyhub.com

©Kearney Hub 2008