Facts about Internships

*** According to new data from LinkedIn, interns are almost 25% more likely than non-interns to start a full-time position within 6 months of graduation. 

*** According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), over 70% of employers prefer candidates who have internship experience.

*** According to another study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, on average 60% of interns receive full-time job offers from their internship companies.

Quote about importance of internships

"Internships are an opportunity to put the knowledge and skills acquired in school to use — where the rubber meets the road. Good mentors and internships shape the way young professionals view the world of work and prepare them for their next steps. Great internships and mentors light a spark, giving young professionals an opportunity to experiment, make mistakes and learn in a safe environment." – Kshitij Jain, Joveo 

What internship opportunities are available, how do I find them, and what is the process? 

While we don’t require an internship, the communication faculty highly recommend that you do one or more internships during your time with us. Perspective employers privilege graduates who have done internships because it shows that you have taken initiative to do more than just take classes and because internships introduce you to and prepare you for working in a real-world environment.  

Even if you understand the importance of doing an internship, starting the process of finding one can feel overwhelming, but the communication faculty are here to help you. Just follow these simple steps: 

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Chris Demaske, communication faculty member and internship coordinator. Schedule this appointment as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you’re a senior about ready to graduate. Make an appointment during your first or second quarter at UWT so that you can think more strategically about which classes you want to take to prepare you for your career and to give you ample time to research and secure the best internship(s) possible. 

  1. Research your internship opportunities focusing on what areas in the field of media and communication are of most interest to you and what internship will best fit your specific needs and be a workable balance with your other life obligations.
  2. Check out internships posted through campus by going to the UWT Handshake site: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/career/handshake or the UW Seattle Handshake site: https://careers.uw.edu/resources/handshake/. Please note, though, that you must expand your search outside of handshake as the options there are limited.
  3. Apply for the internships. Make sure to follow the directions on how to apply. You will in most circumstances need a resume. You can work with career services to help you develop a solid resume. You can find more information to help with your resume at  https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/career/resume-cover-letter
  4. Work with a communication faculty to complete your internship paperwork and get registered for your internship credits. 

Past Internship Experiences

Over the course of the past 25 years that the communication major has existed at UWT, we have had hundreds of students complete internships with many of them obtaining employment as a direct result of the internship. Some of the specific internships that students have had here include: 

  • Metro Parks (social media content creator)
  • South Sound Magazine
  • Tacoma Public Utilities
  • Tacoma School District
  • JayRay Ads and PR
  • King 5
  • Fox Sports News
  • Grit City Magazine
  • National Geographic
  • Tacoma Weekly
  • Red Bull Pacific Northwest Headquarters (marketing)
  • The Broadway Center
  • Mi Centro (communication assistant)
  • UWT Office of Advancement (writer) 

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