University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

March 16, 2001

Contact: Jeffron Boynés (312) 413-8702; jboynes@uic.edu

LOCAL COMPANIES GIVE INTERNS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

One hundred and seventy-five business students at the University of Illinois at Chicago are skipping classes for one day this month. That's because they'll be interning at some of Chicago area's most successful companies as part of UIC's Intern for a Day program.

Ninety companies have signed on to participate in the UIC College of Business Administration's annual one-day internship event. Begun in 1990, the program's main thrust is to help students build experience and help local businesses expand their recruiting opportunities.

Competing for skilled workers in an economy with low unemployment, participating companies gain the advantage of getting an early peek at prospective workers and, ideally, identifying candidates for full-time employment after graduation, according to Beverly Parker, program coordinator.

"The Intern for a Day program is also a good chance for students to map out their careers," said Parker. "The interns get positive exposure to the business community to see whether or not the industry or company they intern for is a good match for them." The program, Parker added, also lets companies expand and augment their recruiting efforts, promote their organizations and strengthen ties to the academic community.

Working with UIC staff members, Intern for a Day organizers pair up interns with host companies in the intern's business concentration, such as accounting, finance, marketing and management information systems. Once matched, the interns will work side-by-side with assigned mentors at company sites and get tips on what it takes to succeed in the work force.

Part of what makes the program successful, Parker notes, is how well it weaves together career guidance with real-world experience for the interns. By doing so, programs like Intern for a Day can serve as "excellent stepping-stones to landing a good job and becoming useful quickly," she said.

For more information, contact Beverly Parker at (312) 996-4118; bjparker@uic.edu

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