Interns leave good impressions

Interns from Southeast Missouri State University are a welcome addition to area businesses.

While interns are garnering career-relevant work experience, they benefit the businesses where they work. After graduation, some return to those businesses as full-time employees.

Linda Laws, an internship coordinator in the Human Resources Department at TG-Missouri in Perryville, said that in 2005, TG had 26 interns in various positions in the company, and four of those are now full-time employees.

"It's a win-win situation all the way around," said Laws. "This company has been using interns since the 1990s, and I've been involved in the program for about five years. All the interns we've had have been very good, and all have shown a willingness to help."

Laws said interns help on special projects, and they gain hands-on experience in the assembly areas.

"It gives them a realistic view of the world outside the classroom," she said. "They get to network with others in the profession, and can use co-workers as references. They even assist senior engineers."

Laws said interns are supervised by managers, and she knows of no interns who have not been a benefit to the company.

Rhonda Ruark, assistant general manager of corporate administration at TG-Missouri, said two interns have been hired in the Human Resources Department the past two years.

"The one who was hired in 2004 came to us right after graduation" said Ruark. "She had been a hostess at Cracker Barrel, but her managers let her get some experience in marketing-type administration. So when she joined us her maturity level and sense of confidence was high. That helped her quickly adjust to her job in a very fast-paced environment."

At Good Humor-Breyers in Sikeston, a maker of ice cream novelties, the company tries to accommodate interns hours if school is an issue, says Human Resources supervisor Jim Duncan.

Duncan said former interns often return to seek full-time employment with the company; some have been hired in supervisory positions.

Jennifer Chronister is general manager for sales at KBSI-TV Fox 23 in Cape Girardeau. She said the station has been using interns for 15 years or more.

"I have a sales intern now who's working on presentations," she said. "Interns really want experience and to learn about the business."

Dr. Bert Kellerman, associate dean at Harrison College of Business at Southeast, said other area businesses that have successfully used student interns include Westfield Shoppingtown, Old Town Cape, the Southeast Missourian and radio stations.

At Nordenia USA, human resources generalist Donna Wikel said the company had a Southeast intern last year.

"She worked in our marketing department, and she sure did work out okay," said Wikel. "She helped us in sales and got some good experience, then she graduated from Southeast and found a full-time job."

Tim Arbeiter, director of Old Town Cape, said he "absolutely" uses interns. "I use them as often as I can get my hands on them. I can pretty much assure an intern that they'll work on something relevant to their education."

Arbeiter said that last year an intern helped him build a mapping data base of downtown businesses. Another intern assisted him in reviewing mission statements and strategic planning.

"Last fall an intern helped me coordinate the Downtown Christmas Parade of Lights," he said. "So I have had great experiences with them."