Employer Relations and Internship Coordinator Max Kalchthaler works with Senior Emily McKaigin the Career Center. The Office of Career Services helps students find employment and internships, and is located in the lower level of Oricco Hall. (Kevin Kadooka -- The Beacon)
By Laura Frazier, Staff Writer -- frazier13@up.edu
For students looking for internships, Office of Career Services Assistant Director and Employer Relations and Internship Coordinator Max Kalchthaler encourages students to look past the obvious postings.
"Most jobs are not posted and most internships are never posted as well," he said.
He suggests that students look online and students take advantage of the Office of Career Services.
For example, the Office of Career Services provides access to College Central Network Services at http://www.studentcentral.com. Students can access the website from the Career Center site, then make an account and search for jobs or internships both on and off campus. The website also offers résumé and portfolio help in addition to other resources for students.
Another way that students can find internships is by directly calling companies and inquiring about openings, even if the position is not initially as an intern. Kalchthaler said that starting with volunteering at a company can lead to an internship position.
Kalchthaler puts this strategy in the hands of students.
"It's really on the student to pursue that," he said.
There are also resources such as the Portland Business Journal that supply listings for positions in different academic fields.
The Office of Career Services recently hosted an internship fair in Franz Hall, which allowed students to come and meet with potential employers who had booths set up. Kalchthaler said that the fair is both an effort toward raising awareness for students looking for positions. Provides recruitment opportunities as well. Kalchthaler said that for visiting employers, students who attended the fair had the benefit of being UP students.
"The advantage of this is that they have worked with University of Portland students in the past," he said. "This sets you apart, and they are looking for you."
Overall, Kalchthaler thinks that internships are found in a variety of different ways, and it all depends on what works for the student.
"There is no straight path to finding internships," he said. "Our offices provide a few of these opportunities, and also support students who are seeking the others."
As far as paid internships, Kalchthaler explained that students can sometimes earn college credit for an internship, and there are both unpaid and non-credit internships in addition to paid and credit-earning positions.
"It depends on the company and availability of the internship," he said.
But even without a salary, students should understand that the experience is what makes it worthwhile, Kalchthaler said.
Kalchthaler said that though career services can't fully track how many students are currently interning, UP students are successful in their positions.
"I would say a majority of students graduate with internship experience," he said. "UP students have a reputation as being truly wonderful interns."
Katchthaler stresses how important it is for students to intern at some point, and how this is different from a part-time job.
"What separates a part-time job from internship is the opportunity to apply the skills that are gained in your specific discipline," he said. "Internships are important, and employers expect you to have them."
UP students and interns, Ashley Donahoo and Mckinley Pfahl agree that it is important for students to pursue internships.
Pfahl suggested inquiring for a position in an area of interest.
"Just focus on what you want to do, and find somebody who does that," he said. "Call, but if they don't call you back, don't let it hold you down."
Donahoo advises that students need to be prepared.
"Keep your ears open, and always have a résumé ready," she said.
Pfahl also suggested being persistent.
"Just keep calling them, you can't let off," he said. "The worst they can do is say no."
Donahoo thinks that UP has helped her prepare her for life after college.
"The real world is definitely different than school," she said. "School prepares you but you don't know exactly what you will be doing. I really do think UP has prepared me for my internship and when I get a real job after I graduate."
Ashley Donahoo on Her Internship
Senior Ashley Donahoo has a paid internship position at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which is the agency that manages all federally-supported hydroelectric projects in the Pacific Northwest. Donahoo works for about eight hours a week.
She started with the BPA over the summer. Donahoo decided to stay on for the current academic year.
"They treat their students really well, and try to teach them as much as they can," she said.
During the year Donahoo commutes to Vancouver, Wash.
Donahoo interns in the communication planning department and works on different ways that aspects of the power site, such as the control center and meter, communicate with one another.
Donahoo does this by making databases and drawing diagrams for equipment.
Donahoo found out about the position from engineering professor Robert Albright. Albright's connection was helpful, as she was able to meet with the student board for the company more informally.
As an electrical engineering major, Donahoo loves how her internship works directly with her education.
"Though some of it is tedious work, I do feel like I am doing real engineering work," she said.
As an intern, Donahoo has to be aware that she is not yet a full-fledged engineer and that everyone is still learning.
"I understand that I am the intern," she said. "They are all still learning, but I am really still learning."
Donahoo said she plans on working at BPA after she graduates, and the internship helped her see what it will be like.
However, she says it can be hard to handle interning and staying on top of schoolwork, especially with her senior design project.
"Sometimes it's difficult," she said. "I don't feel it's just my internship. It could be any job."
But Donahoo likes how her internship is separate from the stresses of schoolwork.
"I like that I don't have to take home any work," she said. "I love what I am doing right now, and I can go home and relax after."
Donahoo stresses how important it is for students to intern before they graduate.
"You gain work experience," she said. "It's just going to give me a step up over an undergraduate without experience."
Mckinley Pfal on his Internship
As an intern for the Portland Winterhawks, the local junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League, junior Mckinley Pfahl has found a way to live out his dream.
Sort of, that is.
"I am a huge ice hockey fan but not good enough to go pro," he said. "So I figured I would go to college and then try to get into the National Hockey League somehow."
Pfahl came across the internship on the team's website and then contacted people in the company. Pfahl said it took several phone calls, but eventually he was hired into the program.
By interning, Pfahl is working in professional hockey as he always wanted to, although his internship is unpaid. Technically, Pfahl is earning "volunteer hours."
Pfahl has a variety of tasks, including setting up for home games, helping with sponsorships and advertisements and reporting on statistics for games. Pfahl has even met some of the players, such as Winterhawks Captain Brett Ponich.
However, it is not all fun.
"Some of it is total internship work," he said.
For example, Pfahl said he often does office work, which includes filling envelopes and other tedious tasks.
Pfahl works four times a week at the home games for the Winterhawks and other times during the week depending on his schedule. Pfahl appreciates that his managers understand he is a student as well as an intern and are flexible as to when he comes in during the week.
However, Pfhal admits, it can be hard to balance schoolwork and interning.
"It's just a little time consuming," he said. "But it's just good that I enjoy going to work."
As an economics major, Pfahl is interested in finding another internship at some point that is more closely related to his area of study. His current position does not specifically cater to his college education.
"I am in game operations, and they are not using me the right way, because I actually have an education," he said. "But it's somewhere to start and I couldn't ask for anything more."
Mckinley Pfahl (Photo courtesy of Mckinley Pfahl)
