Shannon Kelly
LinkedIn
Graduation Year: May, 2016
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Minor: Global Studies
Hometown: Elmhurst, Illinois
Internal Communications intern - Carle Foundation Hospital
What were your duties?
I help maintain CLICK, an interactive electronic employee intranet for the 6,000+ employees of Carle and Health Alliance. I also interview subjects and research, write and edit stories ranging from 300-1000 words.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I am a part of the Carle Marketing and PR department, which is a team of very professional and established individuals in the field. My supervisor treats me like a real employee and expects me to produce good work. I enjoy writing articles about a variety of topics. Through this I have met many new people and learned about new topics. I have written articles on the Pastoral Care department, a new E-learning initiative, an employee's memorabilia collection and I am currently working on an article about the new Pharmacy Residency program.
What was the most difficult aspect of your internship?
Since I am treated like an employee, my supervisor trusts me to meet my deadlines and represent myself in a professional manner when interviewing subjects. When I write stories, I have to make sure I report accurately and effectively in order to maintain my personal reputation and the reputation of Carle. Since I am only in the office 6 hours a week, I sometimes have to work from home in order to get things done.
How did your experience at Illinois and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
Being a journalism major has prepared me for this internship in a number of ways. Time management and working on a deadline is huge. Taking radio, multimedia, TV1 and now TV2 has taught me how to create quality content on a time limit. I have also learned how to report on topics that I am unfamiliar with, and how to interview people in an effective way.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
The internship has helped me represent myself in a professional manner and I have learned so much from working with people who have been in the field for years. It has made me a better writer, and has helped me become more confident in my interpersonal skills.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
I think internships are great, because it gives you a taste of what working at a specific company can look like. Through internships you can discover what you want to do and what you don't want to do in the future. They are a learning experience and it is okay to make mistakes. It is a time to ask questions and to learn from people who are established in the field.
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