The Intern Queen, Lauren Berger, spoke to almost 100 students at the Ventana Ballroom in the Memorial Union on Tempe campus Wednesday night to give advice about her specialty — internships.
Berger dubbed herself the “Intern Queen” after completing 15 internships in four years of college. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2006.
“Every internship taught me something,” Berger said. “It’s all about starting small and having a very proactive attitude.”
Berger stressed the importance of communication and said continued contact with potential and previous employers is key.
“Always follow-up,” she said. “Always send a thank you note, email previous employers a few times a year — it all makes a difference.”
Marketing senior Erin Dodds, the current ASU intern at Intern Queen Inc., wants to work with a talent agency upon graduation.
“Lauren has really tailored this internship to give me the experience that I will need working in a talent agency,” Dodds said. “She has so many connections and is so helpful.”
Communication senior and Intern Queen campus ambassador Jeanette Bravo agreed with Dodds.
“She is a mentor to all of us,” she said. “She’s lots of fun to work with and is very knowledgeable.”
Wednesday evening was the first time Berger had met her campus ambassadors and her ASU intern in person.
“It doesn’t draw away from the experience at all,” Dodds said. “I Skype with her all the time; I even manage her calendar.”
Communication studies senior Jenn Magnusson also said her role as the Intern Queen campus ambassador on the West campus will provide her with relevant experience that she can put on her résumé.
“I’m gaining so much experience,” Magnusson said. “I promote her on social networks and through blogging.”
Berger said self-promoting is one of the keys to landing an internship.
“I was told I had a lot of potential,” she said. “I had to learn how to use that potential.”
Berger also explained thick skin is a must in the business world.
“Rejection is going to hit you like a baseball bat,” she said. “We’re all going to get rejected, get over it.”
Interior design sophomore Blaire Schenck came to the event hoping gain tips on how to land an internship.
“I want to intern with a design firm at a national level,” she said. “Hopefully (Berger) can help with that.”
Berger wants to help students succeed. She even gave out her email at the start of the event.
“If you didn’t have any professional contacts before, you do now,” Berger said. “You have me. I’m here, and I want to help.”
Reach the reporter at tksincla@asu.edu
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