Carbondale, IL-Poll a group of corporate recruiters regarding the most desired skill sets they are looking for in new hires and you’ll likely get: interpersonal, time management, leadership and a hosts of other soft-skills that are so important. But according to Bobbie Haynes, a Senior in Management at SIUC, “All of these skills are important, however, there is no substitute for experience.” This past February, Bobbie enrolled in the Young Entrepreneurs Program’s, Non-Profit Management Internship.
The 10-week program worked with SIUC’s Professor Sociology 497 class, which paired students with area community organizations. The internship is designed to teach students some of the specifics of managing a non-profit organization while allowing them to gain some practical experience in broader areas of business including marketing, finance and technology.
According to Ms. Haynes, “While doing my internship with the Young Entrepreneurs Program, I gained practical experience that I will need and use in future jobs. It was beneficial for me because it taught me a large array of skills that work well with my two areas of concentration, Management and Sociology. I gained valuable experience that ranged from researching and learning to write grant proposals, to working with the youth of our community.”
According to Cavanaugh Gray, the Executive Director of the Young Entrepreneurs Program, “Although our program focuses on the promotion of entrepreneurship as alternate career path, a good number of our students will graduate each year without the necessary work experience for landing that crucial first job. Our internship program is a great resume builder allowing students to gain some valuable work experience while having the opportunity to explore the world of a small business owner as a career as well.”
The program is open to all Southern Illinois University juniors and seniors of all majors. |
