Internship Information Session Spring 2016

1. Department of English
Internship Information Session

2. Dr. Michael Shuman, Internship Director
Business/Industry
• 10 years in Newspaper Management
• The Herald-Times, Bloomington IN
• The Herald Mail, Hagerstown MD
• 18 years in Software Development
• Senior Consultant & Support Manager
• Implementation Project Manager
• Over 90 companies: USA, Canada, South America,
South Africa, Panama

3. Dr. Michael Shuman, Internship Director
Academic
• Ph.D. in Literature
• Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing
• Deputy Editor, The Mailer Review

4. Program History
• Started Fall 2010 Semester
– Professional/Technical Writing Requirement
– 270 Interns
– 106 Sponsors
http://english.usf.edu/internships/

5. Program History
• Open to All Students in English
– Spring 2015
• 14 Literature & Creative Writing
• 24 Professional Writing, Rhetoric, & Technology
– Summer 2015
• 5 Literature & Creative Writing
• 12 Professional Writing, Rhetoric, & Technology
– Fall 2015
• 6 Creative Writing
• 3 Literary Studies
• 11 Professional Writing, Rhetoric, & Technology

6. Program History
– Spring 2016
• 14 Creative Writing
• 6 Literary Studies
• 15 Professional Writing, Rhetoric, & Technology
– New Sponsors
• Anthropologie - Fashion & Marketing
• Richter Publishing - Editing
• Device Savers - Technical Documentation
• USF College of Engineering - Book Project
• Florida Medical Clinic - Promotion & Documentation)
• Xylem - Industrial Water Control Monitoring

7. Program Future . . . (At Least for Now)
Summer 2016
Internship Candidates
– 13 Literary Studies & Creative Writing
– 11 Professional Writing, Rhetoric, & Technology

8. Student Benefits
• Course Credit
• Repeat Opportunity for Undergraduates
• Experience working in a professional
environment
• Network with potential employers & professional
contacts

9. Student Benefits
• Gain valuable insight into possible careers
• Enhance your professional portfolio with
authentic projects

10. Graduate & Get That Job
Kristen Battle – Full time, Ruth Eckerd Hall
Lauren (Zane) Hart – Full time, MB2X Web Development
Linda Prior – Full time, Aero Simulation
Angela Baker – Full time, Public Defender’s Office (Julianne Holt)
Danielle Lepo – Full time, West Central FL Fed of Labor
Amanda Cabera – Part time, Hillsborough Education Foundation
Haele McCann – Part time, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation
Athena Moore – Full time, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation
Natalie Kass – Part time, My Reviewers/FYC
Elizabeth Patterson – Internship , Hellesey Designs, NYC
Barbara Sbrocco – Full Time, Bisk Education
Alexandra Millett – Full Time, Bisk Education

11. What They Say
Overall, this experience has been unforgettable and life-changing. . . . It goes beyond the academic setting
and places a foot in the door for a potential career.
Timothy Palmer – Strategic Media, Summer 2011
Having this position on my resume really set me apart from my peers while I was searching for the next step
in my career and I would have never guessed that this would be the case.
Camille Darby – Bisk Education, Spring 2013
I am forever grateful for the lessons I’ve learned while completing my internship course at USF, and what I’ve
learned at St. Jude.
Tiana Byers – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Spring 2013
The experience at Ybor City Museum Society was a very rewarding and engaging experience. I had the
opportunity to learn about grants, grant research, the grant database at the John F. Germany Library in
downtown Tampa.
Joseph Regulski – Ybor City Museum Society, Summer 2013

12. What They Say
It has always been a dream of mine to go on after completing my degree at USF
and become a lawyer. I feel that this experience with the public defender’s
office assured that this is indeed what I want to do.
Chelsea Hughes – Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, Fall 2013
I think that USF’s Technical Writing and New Media program is a tremendous
program meant for people who want to enter into the job world with the right
tools, skills, and experience to do so.
Loren McCollom – Bisk Education, Spring 2014
Dr. Shuman and the internship program at USF did a great job of placing me
with a great company, and helped make this semester one of the most
enjoyable and memorable ones I’ve had at USF.
Shawn Ohtani – Creative Loafing, Spring 2014

13. What They Say
I’ve had a very full semester and I’m excited to graduate with having had this internship
opportunity. It was great practice for the parts that involved writing and I can’t wait to
apply my skills to the real world, which pays real money for these sorts of things.
Kiele Nelson – Le Blanc, Spring 2015
I think I got a taste of what the workforce will look like. It gives me a sense of peace and
confidence to know I can be successful in both an academic and work-related setting.
Melanie Rosler – Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Spring 2015
I am pleased with my internship experience and I am glad that I got the opportunity to
work with such knowledgeable people. I know they will help me in any way that they can
in the future.
Chelsea Rueffer – Office of US Senator Bill Nelson, Spring 2015

14. Sponsor Benefits
• Stay at the Top of the Technology Slope
• Audition New Talent
• Develop Current Employees
• Revise Business Practices

15. Qualifications & Prerequisites
• Undergraduate Student in English
• Final Year of Studies Recommended
• Required for Professional Writing, Rhetoric,
and Technology Undergraduates

16. Skills & Resources
What Do I Need?
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Organizational Skills
• Interview Skills
• Time Management
• Web Development & Content Update
• InDesign & Other Desktop Publishing Software

17. Skills & Resources
How Can I Develop?
From Career Services:
• SLS 3308 The Job Search
– Resume, Career Assessment, Social Media,
Interviews, Professional Portfolio
From English Department:
• ENC 3250 Professional Writing
– Resumes, Business Document Format
• ENC 3310 Expository Writing
– Explain, Describe, Give information

18. Application Process
Advice &
Planning
Undergraduate
Sarah Ayers,
Academic Advisor
Dr. Ylce Irizarry,
Undergraduate
Program Director
Dr. Michael
Shuman,
Internship
Coordinator
Graduate
Dr. John Lennon,
Graduate Program
Director
USF Career
Services
My Plan
Employ-a-Bull

19. Application Process
Apply
• Complete Online Application Form & Email to Dr.
Shuman:
http://english.usf.edu/internships/forms/
by mid-term of the semester immediately proceeding
the anticipated semester for your internship

20. Placement Process
Preliminary Interview
with Dr. Shuman
Assess Career Goals
Assess Academic
Accomplishments and
Previous Employment
Experience
Discuss Sponsor
Options

21. Placement Process
Interview with Prospective Sponsor
• Business Attire
• Résumé
• Know the Company Mission & Enterprises

22. Program Requirements
Work Component
Requirements
• Complete all assigned projects and tasks in a
manner consistent with professional employment
• Observe all policies and practices of the
sponsoring organization
• Submit a Weekly Status Report
• Complete and submit Mid-Semester and End-of-
Semester Internship Evaluation Forms
• Demonstrate successful job fulfillment in the
Sponsor Evaluation Forms

23. Program Requirements
Required Student
Work Hours
Per Week
• Sixteen-week Fall or Spring
Semester: 10 to 12
• Ten-week Summer C
Semester: 13 to 16

24. Program Requirements
Academic
Component
Requirements
• Enrollment in ENC 4940 Internship Class
• Conferences with Dr. Shuman
• Completion of assigned readings related to
internships and the workplace
• Maintenance of a professional portfolio of
documents and media projects completed
during your internship
• Write a final reflective essay

25. Portfolio

26. e-Portfolio
Robert R. DeBok – Strategic Media
http://debok.myweb.usf.edu/index.html
Janelle Allen – St. James Church
http://janelleallen.carbonmade.com/about
Melissa Filer – Career Services and Internship Program
http://www.mfiler.portfoliobox.me/
Kellie Karbach – Fort Myers Miracle Baseball Team
http://www.apojigo.com/kelliekarbach
Allison Summers – Runway Rep
http://allisonsummers.carbonmade.com/about

27. Department of English
Internship Information Session