It’s a hot summer for internships
Plus: Symphony hits the road; 4 CLT flights under $100; Charlotte music can 'rival every city'; Checkers' season ends; Sunday ABC sales unlikely; Join us for awards party
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Student internships are plentiful — and often remote or hybrid — this summer. Here’s what the landscape looks like, and tips on how to land one.
Jakari McIver, shown here, completed two internships in recent years through the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program, which led her to decide on a career in architecture. (Photo courtesy of Jakari McIver)
by Grace Paddock
High school and college students hunting for summer internships are finding more opportunities this year and a rise in hybrid and remote experiences that match today’s workplace.
In short: It’s a good year for landing an internship.
New data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows that 80% of companies surveyed planned to increase or maintain the number of interns they bring on for 2023-24.
People familiar with the internship scene in Charlotte say they’re seeing the landscape strong here, as well. Many companies view internships as a way of preparing the way for the next generation of employees — an investment they see as increasingly worthy of staff members’ time, effort and attention.
“It’s a part of our culture and mindset, that teaching and training — there’s only benefits to that,” said Katie Page, director of team development for Charlotte-based Hoopaugh Grading Co. The company puts an emphasis on training and workforce development, Page said, as it strives to promote construction as a strong career option for young people.
Charlotte students are increasingly seeing the benefits of internships, too, and are taking advantage of increased internship opportunities.
The city’s Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP), an award-winning program that teaches high schoolers job skills and pairs them with employers, has had student enrollment in the program rise from a typical 500 students a year to nearly 750 this spring.
“My team did a great job marketing the MYEP to more students … especially to youth in the city’s ‘corridors of opportunity,’” said Dawn Hill, manager of youth programs and business partnerships for the city of Charlotte. (The corridors of opportunity are six economically disadvantaged parts of north, east and west Charlotte that have been designated as focus areas for investment.)
For students who take part in internships like those offered by the MYEP, the payoff continues long after the internship ends. And for some, one internship leads to another.
Jakari McIver’s 2021 internship with Hoopaugh Grading Co. gave her exposure to everything from pre-construction work to marketing to scoping out sites via drone.
“To be in a professional setting like that — I was very excited,” said McIver, who is a senior at Charlotte Engineering Early College, a high school that’s a joint project of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and UNC Charlotte.
McIver had a second internship at LS3P, an architecture, design and planning firm, after her internship at Hoopaugh Grading. While at LS3P, she helped design fencing for Northwest School of the Arts that was aligned to the school’s culture and space.
The internships McIver participated in through the MYEP helped her decide her career path. “My goal is to eventually start and launch my own architectural firm,” she said.
Using technology to land — and work — an internship: As technology has made job-hunting easier, it’s also playing a role in helping students get internships.
Johnson C. Smith University students have access to Handshake, an online recruiting platform for college students, said Christian Varnado, the assistant director for the Smith Institute for Research, Career Development and Post-Graduate Readiness.
“We have one student, he is a rising senior, and he found an internship on Handshake in New York working with Morgan Stanley,” said Varnado. “These students have so many opportunities. … It’s like a kid in [a] candy store for career services.”
The number of companies that are offering hybrid internships is also growing. Some 60% of companies surveyed for the National Association of Colleges and Employers report said their interns will work both in-person and virtually, compared with 2022, when fewer than half provided a hybrid internship experience.
Those numbers are playing out locally.
At Queens University, some 20-30% of students are participating in hybrid or remote internships, up from 10% before the pandemic, said Angela Tsuei-Strause, executive director at the Vandiver Center for Career Development at Queens University.
Hybrid and remote internships are also offered through the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program. Students get access to hot spots, virtual reality headsets and computers. It’s helpful for the approximately 30% of applicants to the program who don’t have reliable transportation, said Bethany Rodriguez, MYEP manager.
Casey Dolan, a senior at Ardrey Kell High School, credited his hybrid internship in the summer of 2023 with stoking his interest in the tech side of finance. The combination of in-person sessions with Ally Bank and Bank of America and remote days worked for Dolan.
Going remote “is a lot easier on your nerves,” Dolan said, while at the same time, networking days and other in-person instruction help students gain soft skills they’ll likely use in the workplace.
The remote-work pathway “is a space we are super passionate about,” said Rodriguez, the MYEP manager. “We know the landscape is changing for the work environment and want you to be ready for every work environment.
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Tips for landing a student internship
Internship possibilities abound in the summer, but some companies also offer them during the academic year. Here are some tips for searching and applying for an internship, no matter the season:
Search widely, apply everywhere. Set up alerts on job sites such as Indeed.com tailored to your focus and look on company websites. “Even if the application period isn’t open yet, look around and talk to people,” said Sabrina Houlihan, a Queens University student.
Build your network. Craft a short explanation of what you’re looking for and share it (verbally and by email) with any adult you know: teachers, friends of parents, people from church, sports teams, businesses you frequent or neighbors. Something as simple as, “I’m interested in getting hands-on experience in engineering this summer and I’m a hard worker who shows up on time and works well on a team” can be an opener. Ask: Who should I talk to?
Cover letters count. Unless an online application won’t let you submit one, always include a cover letter. Cover letters make people want to read your resume. Look at the company’s “About us” section online and read its mission statement. Write about how you would support what that company is about. Get someone to proofread it.
In an interview, show what you know. Arm yourself with knowledge about the company, questions about their work and a list of what you want them to know about you. “Show that you are more than your resume,” said Mason Barish, a UNC Charlotte student. “Show compatibility with the workplace.” And of course, make eye contact, smile and project energy.
Mom is right: Thank you matters. Anyone who offers to help or listens to your pitch should get a short, immediate note of thanks, and if you land an interview, send thank you notes (email or paper) to each person with whom you speak. To make this easier, get their full names, titles and contact information while you’re there.
If you get the gig, be the intern they remember. Chris Carnes, who manages Scott Clark Toyota’s high school internship program, said ambition, passion and eagerness make interns stand out. “This is not going to be a teacher-student relationship, this is going to be an employee-employer relationship,” Carnes said. Impressive interns have landed permanent jobs at Scott Clark, Carnes said.
Grace Paddock is a senior at East Mecklenburg High School. She plans to study exercise science at Anderson University and pursue pediatric occupational therapy as a career.
Go deeper: In this first-person piece, Grace Paddock describes the experience of completing a summer internship with the Charlotte Mayor’s Youth Employment Program.
Grace writes:
I was nervous my first day, dressing up in what I hoped were professional clothes, making a bag lunch and heading off to the office. But the team was so friendly and welcoming. With their help, I learned how home health care works, about the impact home health aides can have on their clients, and how to schedule caregiver visits.
The very best part of the experience, though, happened outside the office. I was invited to join my work team at an open house and networking event at Back to Independence Rehab. At the event I made contacts who offered encouragement for my career path and told me about how broad occupational therapy can be — and how I can put those skills to use in other fields.
Today’s supporting sponsor is By George Communications, an award-winning public relations firm. We love shaping stories and helping our clients gain coverage in local and national news outlets. Telling your story isn't a "nice to have." It's essential business strategy. What are you waiting for?
Cheap getaways: Where could you fly from CLT in the next few months?
Charlotte to New York LaGuardia, $62 round-trip on Spirit (nonstop), May 11-13
Charlotte to Baltimore, $58 round-trip on Frontier (nonstop), May 11-13
Charlotte to Miami, $77 round-trip on Spirit (nonstop), May 11-13
Charlotte to Boston, $85 round-trip on Spirit (nonstop), May 17-20
Charlotte to Los Angeles, $133 round-trip on Spirit (nonstop), May 30-June 3
Charlotte to San Jose, Costa Rica, $235 round-trip on Spirit (one-stop), May 27-June 4
Charlotte to San Juan, Puerto Rico, $178 round-trip on Frontier (nonstop), June 2-8
Charlotte to Copenhagen, Denmark, $621 round-trip on American/British Airways (one-stop), Aug. 18-27
Charlotte to Porto, Portugal, $624 round-trip on United/Lufthansa (one-stop), Aug. 19-28
Source: Google Flights. Fares retrieved Monday morning. They might have changed by the time you read this.
🎶 Concert review: Symphony draws a diverse crowd with first 'CSO Roadshow,' in east Charlotte parking lot
Ledger arts critic Lawrence Toppman attended Sunday afternoon’s first CSO Roadshow performance, in which the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra played on a mobile stage in east Charlotte.
In his review for the Ledger, Toppman writes:
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra achieved its audience-building dream Sunday: a crowd whose faces really reflected the city in which it plays. On a pleasantly warm afternoon, a racially and ethnically diverse crowd soaked up sun and musical rhythms from south of the U.S. border.
And all it took was to pack up the players, truck them five miles east of Belk Theater, and plop them down on a mobile stage in a parking lot off Central Avenue. CSO Roadshow made its smooth bilingual debut behind the Latin American Coalition building, performing for the most diverse classical music audience I’ve seen here in years.
The Ultima Nota septet performed in front of Charlotte Symphony musicians in east Charlotte as part of the symphony’s first CSO Roadshow concert. (Photo by Lawrence Toppman)
Check out Toppman’s full review, with info on upcoming CSO Roadshow performances:
Join us tomorrow as we honor our 40 Over 40 winners!
The food and drinks are ordered, the weather is expected to be favorable, the entertainment is lined up … all that’s missing is you!
The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards, presented by U.S. Bank, are tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6 p.m., and we’d love for you to join us as we celebrate 40 people over age 40 who are making our city better. They’re doing it in a variety of ways. You can read all about this year’s winners here.
This is no snoozy and stale awards banquet, where you’re constantly looking at your watch and plotting an early exit while finishing your chicken-and-rice dinner as someone drones on endlessly. This is a celebration — a party, with music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s; a costume contest; mouthwatering food from the Charlotte company behind Mama Ricotta’s, Yafo Kitchen and Paco’s Tacos & Tequila; and an entertainment surprise we’re confident will be a hit.
Many thanks to our event sponsors: U.S. Bank; Ducie Stark, residential real estate broker with Dickens Mitchener; Apparo — Amplifying Nonprofit Impact; QC South Dentistry; and Charlotte ToolBank.
We hope to see you there!
Charlotte’s outlook on music: ‘We rival every city’
With just days until the Lovin’ Life Music Festival kicks off May 5, South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club hosted a panel discussion Friday at The Amp in Ballantyne with three figures in Charlotte’s music and entertainment scene. Rick Thurmond, chief marketing officer at Charlotte Center City Partners (far left) moderated a discussion with Middle C Jazz owner Larry Farber (second from left), Bob Durkin of the Lovin’ Life Music Festival (third from left) and Ted Mueller, senior vice president for IT and operations of The Amp Ballantyne, a division of Northwood Office (far right). “Years ago we might be a third or fourth option for acts coming to our city. Now we’re number one. We rival every city,” Farber said. “The venues, the quality of acts and the quantity of acts … we now have acts for every genre, for everybody to see.”
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
THURSDAY: SouthPark After 5, 5-9 p.m., Symphony Park, Charlotte. Experience free live music, food trucks, and interactive art experiences at SouthPark After 5 at Symphony Park. On May 2, expect music from Shelley Ruffin with Sounds of Memphis and a free coloring station with The Broken Crayon. Free.
FRIDAY: ‘Chasing Away the Blues’ Gala, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Southern Pecan Gulf Coast Kitchen. A night of fun to raise awareness and funding to support NAMI: Charlotte’s free mental health programming which includes classes, support groups and community outreach. In addition, a live and silent auction will help advance our commitment to improving lives. $250.
◼️ Check out the full Ledger events board.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Chapel Hill tent showdown ahead? Pro-Palestinian protestors at UNC Chapel Hill on Sunday re-erected tents they had removed last week. Organizers told students putting the tents back up carried “elevated risk,” as administrators had told them that “the tents are coming down tonight [Sunday].” (Raleigh News & Observer)
Sunday ABC sales unlikely: State legislators are expected to eliminate a provision from an alcohol-regulation bill that would permit local governments to authorize liquor sales on Sundays as well as certain holidays including Labor Day and the Fourth of July, according to an industry official. The idea surfaced last year, but it is a controversial measure among lawmakers. (NC Tribune newsletter, subscriber-only)
Checkers’ season ends with playoff loss: The Charlotte Checkers’ season ended on Sunday, as the minor league hockey team lost a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs to the Hartford Wolf Pack. (Charlotte Checkers)
Charlotte exec agrees to SEC settlement: Marty Sumichrast, former CEO of cbdMD Inc., agreed to pay the SEC $350,000 to settle a civil suit accusing him of fraud and self-dealing from his time leading Stone Street Partners after the suicide death of Rick Siskey. The settlement, which requires court approval, includes no admission of liability. Sumichrast is also co-authoring a book on the Siskey Ponzi scheme. (Biz Journal, subscriber-only)
Credit card auctioned: Two weeks after his death, O.J. Simpson’s expired Bank of America credit card has been auctioned off for $10,675. (TMZ)
Taking stock
Unless you are a day trader, checking your stocks daily is unhealthy. So how about weekly? How local stocks of note fared last week (through Friday’s close), and year to date:
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman, BC Creative